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7 Wine Pioneers to Get Awards

Posted on: Tuesday, 18 April 2006, 12:00 CDT

By Anna King, Tri-City Herald, Kennewick, Wash.

Apr. 18--PROSSER -- Winemaker George Herman Carter, 93, still occasionally works in the vineyards of his sons' Mid-Columbia farms.

Carter is one of seven Mid-Columbia wine pioneers nominated for the 2006 Legends of Washington Wine Hall of Fame. The honor -- new this year -- recognizes the people who developed a Washington wine industry that today boasts more than 30,000 acres of wine grapes.

Carter made wine for Dr. Walter Clore at Washington State University's Irrigated Agricultural Research Station in Prosser, using juice from more than 100 different grape varieties. Clore is considered the father of Washington wine because he grew some of the state's first vines and proved high-quality wine could be made from the grapes.

"I think my favorite was cabernet sauvignon and merlot," Carter said. "Lemberger was so easy to make and it was pretty good, but I think the name was what killed it."

The other nominees are S.W. "Bill" Preston, Norman V. McKibben, Andy and Betty Tudor and Vince and Carol Bryan.

A committee made up of representatives from each of the viticulture regions in the state chose this year's winner. They ranked the nominees based on their service to the community, participation in the wine industry and the historical value of their contribution to the wine and wine-grape growing industry.

The winner will be inducted into the hall at a gala July 8 at the Prosser Wine & Food Park in Prosser. Rick Small of Woodward Canyon will create an exclusive legend's blend wine that will be available at the gala.

About 300 people are expected to attend the event. Tickets are $100 each.

Preston, who died in 2001, was one of the first pioneers to plant wine grapes in Washington. The Preston Family Estate, just outside Pasco, grows nearly 200 acres of grapes.

McKibben worked closely with Leonetti Cellars, Woodward Canyon, and L'Ecole wineries to improve farming procedures and trellising on the 191-acre Pepper Bridge Vineyard. In 1994, McKibben purchased Seven Hills Vineyard, which has expanded to almost 200 acres. He also consults on 600 acres of the top vineyards sites in Walla Walla.

The Tudors' early work in the growing of wine grapes and how they promoted Prosser-made wines has been chronicled in a book, The Way it Was, written by Helen Willard. Andy Tudor encouraged growers to plant wine grapes in the state and identified fine growing sites, including Red Mountain.

The Bryans were the first to recognize the grape-growing possibilities of a remote area of Eastern Washington known as the Ancient Lakes Region in Grant County. They built the Gorge Amphitheatre and recently established the Northwest's first destination winery resort, called Cave B.

The awards will be housed in the Walter Clore Wine & Culinary Center in Prosser.

"There are other awards, but none of them honor the pioneers that paved the way for the exponential growth in today's Washington wine industry," said Debbie Toner, event organizer. "We expect it to grow every year."

A bronze plaque with the likeness of the winner will be displayed in the Walter Clore center.

Carter said he is impressed with how much the state's wine industry has grown since the early days of making wine with Clore.

Carter turns 94 in June and said he still enjoys tasting a well-made Washington cabernet sauvignon.

"I sure think wine is a great substance to drink when you get older," Carter said. "It's good when you're young too."

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Copyright (c) 2006, Tri-City Herald, Kennewick, Wash.

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Source: Tri-City Herald

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