September 2015 Ruralite - Benton Rural Electric Association

Benton REA
S E P T E M B E R 2015
In 1981, Sergio Martinez planted a small vineyard
on the Horse Heaven Hills American Viticulture
Area in Phinny Hill. Today, Sergio’s son Andrew
uses cabernet sauvignon grapes from Martinez
Estate Vineyard and Alder Ridge Vineyard to produce award-winning wines at the Martinez &
Martinez Winery. Pictured: Andrew and Monica
Martinez and their son, Dion.
PHOTO BY DEANNA HAWKINS
Prosser’s Vintner’s Village PAGE 4
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Rate Increase Update PAGE 25
Prosser Wine Country
Vintner’s Village
What began as
an industrial
warehouse project
blossomed into a
full-fledged wine
experience
By Craig Sutton
Photos by Deanna Hawkins
Prosser, Wash., is known as
being the home for many
of the finest wineries in the
state, featuring the Walter
Clore Wine & Culinary Center,
whose namesake is known
as the “Father of Washington
Wine.” Visitors come from
all over the world to experience all the region has to offer,
including exploring the many
wineries nearby in the Vintner’s
Village.
Easily accessible from
Interstate-82, the 32-acre
Vintner’s Village is a collection
of wineries and tasting rooms
nestled within a beautifully
landscaped path that connects
them together allowing visitors
to leisurely walk around the
Village sipping and tasting
the many different styles and
varietals of wine offered by
some of Washington’s oldest
producers and some newcomers as well.
But this wasn’t always the
plan.
“Benton REA, Benton
County, the city of Prosser
and the port partnered on
the project working with the
state to bring in a large wine
distributor,” explains Diahann
Howard, executive director
of Economic Development
and Government Affairs for
the Port of Benton. “The
port bought the property in
2000 and everything looked
to be moving forward. Well,
the wine distributor couldn’t
come to a deal with the local
wineries about pricing. So they
backed out of the deal.”
While this development
might have caused some
frustration, it wasn’t long
afterward when another
opportunity appeared. A plant
nursery from Mattawa would
take interest in the region,
and from there, the project
progressed in a whole new
direction.
“The way it turned out is
maybe for the better because
Yellow Rose Nursery came
in and became the anchor
tenant for that area,” says Troy
Berglund, Benton REA’s
Member Services & Community
Beautifully landscaped walking
paths link visitors to the wineries
and tasting rooms in the Village.
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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 15 Development Manager.
“Over the next few years,
the focus of the development
became centered on tourism
with Prosser being the hub of
the Yakima Valley’s wine
industry—particularly with
the Walter Clore Center that
was just getting underway at
the time. It was a natural fit.”
With nearby hotels and a
small town atmosphere, the
Vintner’s Village draws
roughly 50,000 visitors a year
according to the Prosser
Economic Development
Association. While walking
and taking in the distinct
personalities of each of the
wineries, you can stop to grab
a bite to eat at a local favorite,
Wine o’Clock Wine Bar &
Bistro, located in the middle of
the Village and owned by the
Bunnell family.
Benton REA
Benton REA
Airfield Estate is visible from Interstate-82 and has a cool vintage
airplane hangar theme that is carried over inside the winery and
tasting room where visitors also will find an original military strategy
planning map.
Bunnell Family Cellar
owners Susan Bunnell and
her winemaker husband Ron
describe how they got started.
“Everybody designs and
constructs their individuallyowned building, so we purchased a bare lot from the
Port of Benton,” says Susan.
“The Port of Benton and
Benton REA already had
created the infrastructure,
which simplified things for
us—the plumbing and
electrical came right to our
lot, so we weren’t speculating
about where everything went.
Also, for the first few years, the
port acted as a project partner
making sure that everybody
located in the park had a coherent
plan that meshed with the overall
concept of the development. You
couldn’t come in and open a
shoe store.”
www.benton
rea.org
The Winemakers Loft,
another location within the
Village, offered opportunities
to winemakers who were
looking to start a small winemaking business but didn’t
have the capital for the equipment required to do so.
“Similar to an incubator,
the loft concept was developed
by the original owner and
was a good way for people
to start a winery because it is
quite expensive to go out and
do it all on your own,” says
Winemaker Loft owner, Kari
Dearborn.
One of many success stories
out of the Winemakers Loft
is the Martinez & Martinez
Winery.
Co-owner Monica Martinez
says her winemaker husband
Andrew was inspired
to make wine because
of the accessibility of
the Winemaker Loft
combined with a
special vineyard located
on Phinny Hill that
happened to be owned
by Andrew’s father,
Sergio.
“We have nothing
but pride and support
for the town of Prosser”
says
Martinez. “The Village
area is a big draw for
tourism. For us specifically, our vineyard is out in a
rural area in the Horse Heaven
Hills American Viticulture
Area (AVA). Without an area
like the Village in town, it
would be very difficult to draw
attention to ourselves.”
Lori Stevens and her winemaker brother Marcus Miller
own Airfield Estates, a winery
with a rich history.
The tasting room replicates
a vintage airplane hangar and
displays an original military
strategy planning map.
“My great-grandfather
started the farm,” says Miller.
“My grandfather planted the
first wine grapes in the 60s.
Then, my father, the late
Michael Miller, was the one
who started the winery.”
From what started out as a
warehouse project, this 32-acre
wine park along Interstate 82
has blossomed into a fullfledged wine experience. The
Vintner’s Village provides
class, elegance and a whole lot
of tradition to eager wine
enthusiasts seeking an
authentic tasting adventure
among the rolling hills of local
vineyards. ■
Learn more about wineries and
events in Prosser, Wash., by visiting
http://prosserwinenetwork.com.
The Bunnell family’s Wine o’Clock
Wine Bar & Bistro serves up great
food and wine to Village visitors.
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