Wine lovers can tout the grape with license plates

Wine fans might raise a glass to

Washington’s wineries in places like the Yakima Valley will be promoted with the help of specialized license plates for vehicles.

this: Washington is selling specialty automobile license plates that support the state’s wine industry.

Legislation sponsored by state Rep. Kelly Chambers of Puyallup and passed by the Legislature earlier this year calls for vehicle plates featuring a scenic landscape of Washington wine country.

The plates will cost $40. That money, plus the $30 renewal fee, will go to the state to help promote destination tourism, including wineries.

Chjambers said nearly 4,000 Washingtonians signed a petition in support of creating the specialty plate.

Here are some facts (from Washingtonwine.org) about Washington’s wine industry:

Number of licensed wineries: 1,050
National rank as wine producer in the United States: second./
Wine grape acreage: 60,000-plus acres.
Number of wine grape growers: 400.
Annual wine production: 17 million cases.
Varieties of wine produced: 80-plus.
Total annual in-state economic impact: $8 billion.