In the wake of decreasing grape demands from large wineries in Washington State there is an immediate need to resolve the impact that this has had on bulk wine supply. The impact is dual on the wine grape market due to decreased demand and bulk wine in storage becoming a limiting factor on stainless and barrel storage in Washington State. Current trends in the global market indicate that it is unlikely that a transcendant producer will come and rescue Washington State’s bulk wine and grape market from this surplus at any price.

The idea has been bandied about regarding Washington’s wine grape growers and bulk wine producers coolaborating to form a distillation cooperative to convert surplus wines into distillation material. Generating Washington State grown products such as RTDs, clear spirits like vodka and gin, as well as longer term projects like whiskeys and brandys. What has become a burdensome commodity could be re-viewed as an opportunity to breach new markets and find new solutions to the oversupply issues.

Social consciousness has become a bellwether of young consumer’s interest in consumable products. Supporting farmers doing work around business and ecological sustainability could be compelling to these sub 40 demographics, and it isn’t without precedent.

Treetop and Welch’s have proven that farmer led cooperatives can be successful models for turning a surplus into a value add. Barbaresco’s Produttori cooperative has become a global brand, bringing great acclaim to the wines of this region in single vineyard and collective models.

When it has become clear that there is no redeeming figure from the wine industry providing a solution to Washington State’s over supply woes, then the solution must come from within. The idea that Washington’s diversified agricultural community has been under represented in our collective marketing and storytelling has been discussed in agrarian circles, but not yet acted upon in concerted efforts. The opportunity has arrived to grab a global megaphone and tell Washington’s beautiful agricultural story.