Washington Wine Institute

11/08/2024

L&I Education Minute: November 14 deadline approaching for small businesses to apply for disaster loans related to excessive summer heat and agricultural shortfalls

Small businesses in 22 of Washington’s 39 counties may apply for disaster loans to help compensate for lost revenues attributable to excessive summer heat’s effects on farming and ranching. The Secretary of Agriculture this summer declared an agricultural disaster, and now small businesses that support farm and ranch businesses may apply for low-interest loans to help compensate for lost business during the disaster period of March 15 through July 21, 2023. The deadline to apply is Nov. 14, 2024.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Francisco Sánchez Jr., associate administrator for the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the Small Business Administration, today reminded small nonfarm businesses in 22 Washington counties and neighboring counties in Oregon of the Nov. 14, 2024, deadline to apply...

11/05/2024

The Washington Wine Institute would like to congratulate supplier member Vintners Logistics, the Northwest's premier wine logistics company, on 17 years in business! Vintners Logistics LLC has you covered during grape harvest season with its temperature-controlled, licensed, and bonded food-grade warehousing and transportation.

10/29/2024

The Washington Winegrowers Association, Washington State Wine Commission and Washington Wine Institute are working together on an industry-wide acreage report.

10/23/2024

A New Benefit for Your Winery! Tracking for Failed Delivery Attempts

Enjoy new tracking features along with significant shipping savings through FedEx Advantage®. Washington Wine Institute Advantage members can now see picture proof of delivery attempt when a FedEx driver attempts delivery of a wine shipment(s), but couldn’t release the package due to an adult signature. Photos will appear on the FedEx tracking page (including in the FedEx app), where recipients will also see options to get their package on the next attempt.

For WWI members, they’ll see why their delivery wasn’t completed – plus options for picking up their package elsewhere. The new service will help reduce delivery disputes when verifying a delivery attempt was made. 📦☑

Take advantage of shipping discounts (see below) and tracking features by clicking here: https://www.wwi.wine/fedex-benefits/
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WWI Member Discounts
53% off Select FedEx Express® U.S. services
65% off Select FedEx Express international services
32% off Select FedEx Ground® services
24% off Select FedEx Home Delivery® services

Additional Savings
67% on the Adult Signature Required (ASR) Fee with your Washington Wine Institute membership
25% off residential delivery fee and FedEx home delivery fee (NEW!)
2% on FedEx Express and FedEx Ground shipments if you average more than $20,000 in annual shipping with FedEx.
20% on FedEx international shipments when you average more than $25,000 in annual shipping with FedEx.

10/11/2024

L&I Education Minute: 2025 Minimum Wage Increase Announced

Minimum wage is adjusted annually based on the federal Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). On Sept. 30, L&I announced the minimum wage increase for 2025. With a $0.38 increase, the minimum wage will be $16.66/hour beginning Jan. 1, 2025.

Many regions throughout the state, especially in King County, have a higher regional minimum wage. Wherever there is a variance, the more generous minimum wage must apply. There are currently five regional variances, with more coming in 2025. Check out the Minimum Wage section of the Small Business Guide as a useful tool for regional variances.

10/10/2024

THANK YOU to the Glass Packaging Institute for inviting the to their membership meeting in Lodi, CA. Glass packaging options are paramount to the wine industry, and this meeting was an opportunity for us to address challenges and discuss ways we can work together to connect WA wineries with domestic glass makers. We look forward to teaming up! 🍾

During GPI's membership meeting, we toured the beautiful in Lodi, CA. We enjoyed learning more about their history, winemaking process, and the harvest season in California.

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10/07/2024

THANK YOU to the Glass Packaging Institute for inviting the Washington Wine Institute to their membership meeting in Lodi, CA. Glass packaging options are paramount to the wine industry, and this meeting was an opportunity for us to address challenges and discuss ways we can work together to connect WA wineries with domestic glass makers. We look forward to teaming up! 🍾

During GPI's membership meeting, we toured the beautiful Michael David Winery in Lodi, CA. We enjoyed learning more about their history, winemaking process, and the harvest season in California. Choose Glass

09/27/2024

"It's Crush, and your wine club members are eager to help with harvest. Your neighbor offers to lend a hand with bottling your 2021s. A friend knows that you're short-handed in the winery and offers to organize your case good storage. All of these folks are volunteers, hoping to support the winery as your friends, neighbors and colleagues. The question is – can for-profit wineries in Washington legally use these unpaid volunteers?"

The short answer is no.

's legal team of alcohol attorneys provides Washington wineries with everything they need to know about volunteer work, the use of interns, and why unpaid labor for a for-profit business in Washington is illegal: https://tinyurl.com/49bz4dee

08/15/2024

08/14/2024

Thanks to the for having us at the Winemaker's Picnic & Barrel Auction at ! This event brings together Washington wine makers and wine lovers-- always a vibrant crowd! 🥂

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08/08/2024

During busier seasons, wineries may want to seek extra help through volunteers. Under WA law, volunteering is not allowed in a for-profit business. These activities may include but are not limited to event set-up and/or clean-up, bottling, and grape punch down.

For seasonal workers, several factors may increase risk for injury. Wineries that train and prepare seasonal workers can find safety videos, training materials, and sample programs at Seasonal Safety page.

seasons can expose workers to serious injuries like broken bones, cuts and lacerations, amputations, electrocution, chemicals, and head injuries.

08/02/2024

Happy !

WAugust is a 31-day celebration of Washington wine. Find events near you at WAugust.com and be sure to sip and support all month long.

Is Back!!!
The 31- day state-wide celebration of brings the fun! Whether you’re dining on the patio, at your local restaurant, shopping for in your neighborhood, or sipping rosé in your backyard – there’s no wrong way to . Find events near you at WAugust.com and be sure to sip and support all month long.

07/31/2024

07/30/2024

Reminder! The Annual WSLCB "Be Confident, Be Compliant" educational webinar for wineries is happening tomorrow, July 31.
For more details and to register, click here: https://www.wwi.wine/event/be-confident-be-compliant-webinar-ttb/

07/22/2024

L&I's Wildfire Smoke Rules Update Includes New Air Quality Measurement Method

Recent changes in the way that federal authorities measure air quality have led to similar in L&I’s wildfire smoke rule. In May, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) strengthened its standards with a more precise representation of particular matter (PM) 2.5 levels. Subsequently, L&I Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) adjusted its rules to align with these modifications.

Due to these changes, L&I has discontinued using the AQI measurement. Instead, it will now use PM 2.5 levels directly, as this method is more dependable and less likely to be altered in future rule changes.

Follow Washington State Department of Labor & Industries for critical updates and information on wildfire smoke safety.

Requirements, guidance, and resources for employers working in wildfire smoke.

07/12/2024

Questions about your winery? 🍷❓Join us for this informative webinar series to ask your questions anonymously and hear directly from TTB and WSLCB experts!

Registration Page: https://tinyurl.com/33phx2h5
When: July 17, 2024, 9-10 a.m. (TTB), July 31, 2024, 9-10 a.m. (WSLCB)
Where: Virtual on Zoom
Cost: Free for active Washington Wine Institute or Washington Winegrowers members. $50 for non-members.

Register today for the annual Be Confident, Be Compliant webinar series hosted in partnership by the Washington Wine Institute and Washington Winegrowers for an opportunity to hear from these experts on topics including
wine licenses,
record keeping,
what wineries can and can't do with their license,
tax audits,
changes to state and federal rules,
common violations,
and more.
These webinars break down top compliance issues with the goal of making lawful operations easier to understand and implement.

A big thank you to event sponsors Sovos ShipCompliant, Foster Garvey, Banner Bank, and Marsh McLennan Agency.

Hope to see you there!

07/03/2024

Be Confident, Be Compliant: WSLCB and TTB webinars for Washington wineries

The Washington Wine Institute and Washington Winegrowers Association are partnering to make both Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board and Alcohol and To***co Tax and Trade Bureau regulatory experts accessible to you. These webinars will break down top compliance issues with the goal of making lawful operations easier to understand and implement! We’ll also review recent legislation and rule changes.

This webinar series is FREE to WWI and Winegrowers members. Non-members may also sign up for $50.

Registration is for both webinars and you only need to register once: www.wwi.wine/event/be-confident-be-compliant-webinar-ttb/

06/29/2024

Mark your calendars! Hear directly from the Alcohol and To***co Tax and Trade Bureau and the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board at the Be Confident, Be Compliant webinars for Washington wineries. These webinars are free to Washington Wine Institute and Washington Winegrowers members.