WASHINGTON WINE SALES GET BOOST FROM STATEWIDE PROMOTION

STEPHANIE FAGNANI

SEATTLE -- Wine sales are expected to increase in supermarkets here this month due to promotional activity surrounding the annual Washington Wine Month campaign, held in March and August.

According to Stacie Jacob, communications director for the Washington Wine Commission, retailers including Albertsons, Brown & Cole, Fred Meyer, Haggen Top Foods, Larry's Markets, QFC and Safeway are currently running consumer sweepstakes promotions in their wine departments. Winners will receive tickets to Taste Washington, an April event that pairs 150 wineries with 100 restaurants throughout the city to provide samples to attendees.

"[The promotion] has always been really focused on Seattle, but this year it has extended into the Portland area where we have the Fred Meyer stores involved, and we've taken out ads in the Oregonian letting [consumers] know there would be special discounts on Washington wines," Jacob told SN.

Another component of the program is a retailer display contest, in which the winning retailer also gets tickets to the tasting event, which will be held at Seattle's Seahawks Stadium Exhibition Center.

Similar to the "California Grown" campaign that looks to promote purchases of state-grown food products, Washington Wine Month is a way to help boost the local economy.

"You have the nation's second-largest wine industry literally in your backyard," said Jacob. "Yes, wine is all about different regions and learning about the global role of wine. But, when you are here and eating Washington foods, why would you not want to promote your local wine region that helps support your economy?"