Washington Wine Board Meeting

Join the Washington State Wine Commission for this board meeting, one of several throughout the year. The Washington Wine board and staff will discuss current issues relevant to the state’s wine industry, ongoing events and campaigns, and the organization’s broader strategies.

Per the Open Public Meetings Act, anyone is welcome to join this meeting. Washington wineries and vineyards are encouraged to join, and board meetings are a great way to stay abreast of current programs and ways that they can benefit from Washington Wine’s marketing, communication, and research & efforts. The agenda will be posted here one week prior to the meeting.

Location: Walter Clore Wine & Culinary Center
Date: November 14, 2025
Time: 9:00am – 2:00pm

• Opening- Todd Newhouse (15 minutes)
  • Welcome Guests and Introductions
  • Public Comments
  • Approval of the minutes of the August 15th meeting
  • Welcome new Research Program Manager Julie Tarara
• Harvest Comments-All Board members

• Guest Presentations
  • Mark Gmur, President & Founder the Mark Wine Group (5 mins.)
    • Introduction and outline of work for National Account initiative
  • Danny Brager-Brager Alcohol Category Consultant (35 mins. & 10 mins. Q & A)
    • Deep Dive into Wine Trends, Data and WA Wine Sales
    • Consumer Insights
  • WSU Wine and Science Center (20 mins.)
    • V & E Department Chair- Jean Dodson Peterson, Anneke Rachinski, Sr. Director of Advancement and Kaury Balcom, V&E Manager
      • Department Update
      • Fundraising priorities and initiatives
    • Sara Higgins, Executive Director Washington Winegrowers (15 Mins.)
      • Update on Sustainable WA for wine efforts
      • Feasibility Study outcomes and grant application for continued effort
    • WA Wine Institute Josh McDonald (15 mins.)
      • Legislative Update
      • Update on World Cup Fan Zone Legislative approval
      • Open Board Position Vetting Process
  • Committee Reports
    • Finance Committee – Tom Dugan, Kristina Kelley, Chris Stone, Renee Meadors, (20 minutes)
      • • Introduction of Paul Capelle, Accountant
        • Grape Assessment Update
        • Finance Balance Sheet and KPIs
    • Marketing Committee – Devyani Gupta, David Flaherty and Mac Pedersen, (30 mins.)
      • • WAugust Results
        • WA Wine Education Portal
        • ABC Fine Wine and Haagen Multi-Store Training
        • Update in FY’26 Key Strategies and Tactics
        • Taste WA
        • Taste WA Month
          • Multi-Commission Creator House Update
        • WA Wine Exchange
          • Objectives
          • Options for Venue, and Dates
        • Vancouver Industry Night, April 2026
        • Alumni Night Target Markets
        • Mark Wine Group Update
        • Distributor Engagement and Trade Outreach
          • PLCB Inbound Trip
          • Winebow

• LUNCH BREAK (Noon)
  • Committee Reports Continued

• • • Export Committee-Becca DeKleine and Chris Stone (5 mins.)
      • Canada updates
      • Europe Tour Plans
        • Stockholm
        • Zurich
        • Wine Paris (with visuals of new booth design)
      • New funding program 

• • • Communications Committee– Lynda Eller, Heather Bradshaw, Averyl Mooney (30 mins)

• • • • Reviewer hosting (Averyl)
      • Creator House results (Heather)
      • Update in FY’26 Key Strategies and Tactics
        • NY Media
        • Q’4 Buy Local social media
      • Sustainable WA Update
        • U.S. Sustainable Winegrowing Summit
      • Joint Agency Meeting

• • • Research Committee Dick Boushey, Melissa Hansen and Julie Tarara (20 minutes)
      • Julie Tarara Introduction
      • SCBG submittal
      • Nursery Grapevine Genetic Initiative
      • WRAC Update
      • 2026 WAVE/Ravenholt Seminar

• All Other Business – Todd Newhouse (10 minutes)
  • Next Board Meeting
    • Friday, January 23, 2026, Woodinville
  • Board Dates for 2026
    • January 23, Woodinville
    • April 17, Woodinville
    • June 12, Prosser

If you would like to attend virtually, please reach out to info@washingtonwine.org for the meeting link. For the full list of board meeting dates, check out this page on our website.