Walla Walla Spring Release

Walla Walla Spring Release. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. It was a good time recently in the small Eastern Washington town of Walla Walla as the Spring Release brought wine lovers from near and far according to Elizabeth Martin-Calder, executive director of the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance. MARTIN-CALDER: It was really exciting. It certainly looked like we were back to where we were a couple of years ago. We were full; the town was bustling, it was really exciting to see so many people in our community. It was a very fun filled, full weekend and we were really happy to see it. Spring Release is the time of year when many wineries show off their new wines and Martin-Calder says some of the wineries really went all out. MARTIN-CALDER: Of course always food was just one of the added features of coming over here. Almost 100% of our wineries always lay out these beautiful spreads of foods. Lots of dinners were prepared for people who are part of special wine clubs or special tastings for club members but some got really inventive. We had one winery that was offering massages and another one had some sensing demonstrations. Wine is quickly becoming very popular with the Millennial Generation, those born after the 1970's and that is part of what is fueling the opening of new wineries. MARTIN-CALDER: Quite a few opening new wineries. We welcomed some new people to our valley at spring release. That's another great thing about that time of year, it's when after years of effort and work to get their wineries launched they open spring release weekend. More tomorrow. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.