50 years of Chardonnay: Celebrating the grape that put Washington on the wine map

In honor of the 50th anniversary of Chardonnay being grown in the state of Washington, the Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers (WAWGG) Annual Convention's popular Grand Tasting will focus on Chardonnay.

"Chardonnay has always been on the war front as the top variety," said Andy Purdue, session speaker. "As recently as 1985 grape growers in Washington were recognizing the future of Chardonnay."

The Many Faces of Chardonnay, scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 5 will be held during the Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers 2014 Convention, "Fundamentally Important." All growers and wineries currently or planning to grow or make Chardonnay, plus those that sell and market Chardonnay and those interested in the impact of this variety, are invited to attend.

The three day event, held February 5, 6, and 7, is the second largest of its kind in the nation and boasts sixteen educational sessions and will be held at the Three Rivers Convention Center with the trade show, featuring 180 booths, held in the adjacent Toyota Center, in Kennewick.

The session will cover what styles of Chardonnay are being made in the state Washington and what can be made in the future, and potential changes in practices. It will take a look at Chardonnay from the influential perspective of sales and marketing to discuss what is selling now and what might sell in emerging markets.

"Chardonnay is the number one grape in the state," Purdue said. "We make a different style than the rest of the world [in Washington]."

Leading Chardonnay makers and grape growers in the state will speak during this session. Purdue, the Editor and Publisher for Great Northwest Wine, will discuss the history of Chardonnay and its economic impact in the state. Global Wine and Grape Broker Glenn Proctor will talk about Chardonnay sales in the world, the US, and the state.

There will also be two panels held focusing on the styling of Washington Chardonnay (making wine from a variety of regions, and the grand tasting. During these panels discussion from guest lecturers will include the Napa-based Lars Ryssdal, Ackerman Family Vineyards General Manager, and David Ramey, Ramey Wine Cellars of Healdsburg.

For answers on marketing Chardonnay, Ryssdal, a general manager, and Ramey will discuss how to market the many faces of Chardonnay.

"Chardonnay is the most important white wine grape and most accepted grape in the country," Purdue said. "There are a lot of wineries that make a lot of money off this grape every year. They can turn it around fast. From a viticulture standpoint its important, from a monetary stand point its important, and there a whole lot of people who drink Chardonnay and that's good for the Washington wine industry."