Ginkgo Forest Winery move could help tourism

MATTAWA — Ginkgo Forest Winery is moving to Prosser.

But don’t panic if you’re a Wahluke Slope cheerleader.

Ginkgo Forest will have a second winery in Prosser, one of the state’s wine hot spots. It will produce only a couple of wines.

Mostly the new winery and tasting room will be there for the marketing of all Ginkgo Forest wines. It should draw attention to the original winery and the picturesque wine growing region the Slope has become.

The Wahluke Slope is the latest area in Washington State to gain AVA (American Viticultural Area) status. With 8,491 acres in wine grapes, it now has 15 percent of Washington’s wine grape acreage. The Slope is home to more than 20 vineyards and at least three wine production facilities.

Wahluke wine grapes are sold to wineries across the state and Northwest. Many end up as award winning wines. Ginkgo Forest alone boasts of dozens of gold medal awards and higher.

The top grape varieties produced on the Slope are Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, Chardonnay, and Chenin Blanc. Wahluke Slope has one of the driest, warmest climates in the state, allowing nearly complete control of vine vigor and ripening through irrigation.

But Wahluke Slope is still relatively unknown among wine tourists. That has been a problem for Ginkgo Forest. It produces more wine than it sells every year.

There are not enough wineries on the Slope to attract wine tourists in the same numbers that visit wineries from Yakima to Walla Walla. So Ginkgo owner Mike Thiede and Manager Charlie Guthrie went to Prosser in January looking for answers. Prosser was the answer.

“It turned out to be a perfect fit,” Guthrie said. “Prosser is well known as a winery area.”

Ginkgo will place its new winery in the Wine Maker’s Loft in Vintners Village. It is off exit 80 on Interstate 82, beyond the rest area and fast food restaurants.

“We needed to get our wines in front of more people.” Guthrie said. “Mike makes some of the best wines a lot of people don’t know about.”

Vintners Village is a park-like area of about four blocks that contains a half dozen stand-alone wineries, in addition the Winemaker’s Loft. The Loft is shared by several wineries.

One of the aspects of Vintners Village that got Guthrie’s and Thiede’s attention is the 33 events held there each year. And Prosser enjoys 40 community events, as well.

Things are going to get busy for Ginkgo, Guthrie said. Her plan is to hire a full time person to manage the tasting room here and another for the tasting room at Prosser. She will travel back and forth as the overall manager.

No great investment had to be made to make the Prosser winery a reality. Ginkgo is leasing the space.

“Prosser will be very good,” Guthrie said. “We should easily double our sales.”

Maybe even at the Mattawa winery. Visitors to Ginkgo Forest Winery Proser will have the opportunity to learn about it and the lush vineyards that lead to it along Highway 243.

“Once people come to the area, they’ll tell others about it,” Guthrie said.

That’s sure to increase tourism on the Slope.