Washington State University and state wine industry leaders are seeking money to build a $26.2 million wine research and teaching facility in the Tri-Cities.
The 45,000-square-foot wine science center would be located on four acres of Port of Benton land next to WSU Tri-Cities.
Supporters say it would meet critical research needs of growers and winemakers.
Project leaders are considering a Public Development Authority to help funnel private and public money to the project, at a time when both Washington and Oregon are hoping to get a toehold in the growing Chinese wine market.
So far, only a scant number of Northwest wines make it to Asian countries outside of Japan. But experts say as affluence grows in China’s booming economy, so will the demand for the finer things in life.
The recession hurt U.S. wine sales to most of the world last year, but not to Hong Kong, where the value of American wine imports jumped 138 percent to $40 million. Most of that wine came from California, but the value of Washington’s shipments to Hong Kong grew more than fivefold.
Earlier this year, a delegation from Washington and Oregon signed a deal to promote wines in Hong Kong. (AP)
