Pourings, promotions begin for Washington State Wine Month

As they love to say at the Washington State Wine Commission, “It’s a beautiful day to love Washington state wine,” and today marks the start of an especially august period — Washington State Wine Month.

Each year, the nation’s second-largest wine-producing state develops promotions and offers savings as wineries and tasting rooms throughout the state. And a newly designed section of the wine commission’s website provides a mouthwatering array of ways to enjoy Washington wine during August.

“Washington State Wine Month is the time to raise a toast to Washington’s more than 850 wineries,” said Steve Warner, president of Washington State Wine Commission. “We’re proud of our collaborative, down-to-earth wine community and our critically acclaimed wines.”

The passage of Initiative 1183 by voters in Washington shuttered the state-run liquor stores on June 1, 2012, and those government outlets provided some remarkable savings on wines produced by many of the state’s most popular wineries. For the frugal wine lover who enjoyed sniffing out deals, trips to their favorite state liquor store offered particular charm during August.

WAWineMonth.com highlights #wawinemonth

These days, Washington State Wine Month comes with free tastings and specials at wineries as well as discounts at retailers. And WAWineMonth.com brings up a live tagboard that follows the hashtag #wawinemonth to track offers, promotions and special events.

The wine commission, created in 1987 by the state Legislature, represents Washington’s licensed wineries is funded largely through assessments on grape growers and wine sales. And for this month, the commission developed a marketing strategy with a goal of generating 8 million impressions on WAWineMonth.com through increased print, web, television and radio advertising.

This morning, the start of Washington Wine Month, a smile crosses my face as we remember our dear friend — the late Robert August “Bargain Bob” Woehler. Below is a trip down memory lane via an entertaining YouTube segment he narrated five years ago with Andy Perdue for Wine Press Northwest.

We lost Bob on Aug. 24. 2011, four days after his 79th birthday and near the end of what ultimately was the the final Washington Wine Month for the state liquor stores. For his family, friends and fans, August has never been quite the same.