“I believe you are witnessing a significant transformation of the wine industry in Clark County,” Gougér said. “This is an exciting time, and it will translate into increased prosperity and an influx of tourist dollars. This area offers so many advantages – extremely easy access off I-5, vacant land, wonderful city council, wonderful port, proximity to two major cities.”
But many people outside Clark County still have never heard of Ridgefield wines.
At present, the Washington Wine Commission groups north county wineries into a broad category it calls “Vancouver & Columbia Gorge,” and most of its marketing materials direct tourists to the Gorge – which experts say is home to microclimates that produce wines distinct from those cultivated in the Ridgefield area.
Statewide, wineries generated $1 billion in revenue in 2012, and wine-related tourism brought another $1.06 billion, but the wine commission does not track the industry’s size in Clark County.
On its long-term to-do list, the port hopes to work with wineries to establish an American Viticultural Area (AVA) – a federal designation that would help to boost the brand identity of north Clark County wineries.
Time and budget constraints have prevented the Port of Ridgefield from pursuing every wine-industry initiative on its wish-list, Mueller said. Given limited resources, port officials say are doing their best to boost the sector.
“The wine industry is important for two reasons,” Mueller said. “First is the direct economic impact of wine sales, tourism and winery-related employment. Secondarily, the wine industry is a valuable amenity to northern Clark County, with wineries being seen as highly desirable additions to the community. When you add wineries to our other assets like water recreation (boating and kayaking), natural resources (wildlife refuge, trails), good schools, new transportation infrastructure (I-5 interchange), that all builds towards a critical mass that attracts employers to the area.”
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