Wine grapes and apples were among the first cultivated fruits in the Pacific Northwest. Initially planted here in 1827, both were cherished by early pioneering settlers, but whereas apples became a lucrative farm commodity early on, Washington-grown grapes and the local wine industry did not achieve widespread recognition until the 1970s. According to the Washington State Wine organization, as of 2018 Washington State is the second largest premium wine producer in the U. S., with over 900 wineries and 55,000 acres of vineyards.

In this image tasters sample wine at the Enological Society of the Pacific Northwest (also known as the Seattle Wine Society) competition held at the Pacific Science Center in Seattle. The organization was active from 1975 to 2012 and introduced the Pacific Northwest to wine appreciation, food and wine pairing, and all aspects of wine grape growing and wine production. The wine tasters in this image are identified from left as: Sarah Rhodes, Bob Bury, Noel Rockwell, and Elaine Rockwell.

Caption information source: https://www.washingtonwine.org/wine/facts-and-stats/state-facts
Caption information source: "Wine in Washington," by Peter Blecha, HistoryLink.org Essay 8658