Wednesday, January 27, 2010 at two locations -

9:30 AM – Desert Wind Winery – Prosser, and
2:00 PM – Waterbrook Winery – Walla Walla

The Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center Board of Directors hosted eight industry outreach meetings across the State from February – July 2009 to update growers and vintners on the status of the Clore Center project. Most importantly, industry members aired their concerns and shared their expectations. This input was included in the revised business plan and operating budget.

Please join Clore Center Board members and fellow industry representatives for a top line look at the revised business plan and five-year operating budget, an update on construction plans and funding.

For more information, contact the Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center at 509-786-1000.

                 Prosser, WA – Progress continues at the site of the future home of the Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center with completion of the first phase of construction and on-going installation of landscaping and lighting.  

                In recognition of this milestone, a site dedication event was held on the 24^th of October. On hand to celebrate were Nancy Dexter and her daughters – the late Dr. Walter Clore’s daughter and granddaughters, and Jake and Helen Holland – owners of an early vinifera grape test site used by Dr. Clore on the Wahluke Slope in the 1960s. In addition, representatives from the City of Prosser, Port of Benton, Benton County, U. S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, the Washington Wine Commission, Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers, Washington State University and members of the Clore Center Board of Directors attended.  

                Phase two is underway with the issuance of Request for Proposals to design, create plans and specifications and provide construction management services for a proposed Outdoor Event Facility building. This facility will include an assembly area, a kitchen, an office, rest rooms and a storage area. Proposals are due by November 20, 2009. It is anticipated that construction will begin this spring with the Outdoor Event Facility available for usage late summer 2010.  

                By year end 2009, the Board of Directors expects a decision on a pending $2.5 million public works grant application with the Federal Economic Development Administration. If the grant is awarded, it will complete the funding required for phase three – construction of the Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center.

Prosser, Wash. – A long-standing partnership integrating the resources and expertise of local, State and Federal agencies, underscored by contributions from privately held companies and individuals, has moved the Walter Clore Wine & Culinary Center closer to realization. Infrastructure construction and limited landscaping installation is nearing completion with the site available for outdoor events beginning spring 2010.

Port of Benton, through its elected Commissioners and Executive Director Scott Keller, has supported the Clore Center from the beginning with land acquisition and subsequent lease of the 23-acre site to the Clore Center for its future home. It has been instrumental in furthering the Clore Center’s development through partial funding of site engineering and infrastructure construction. Marv Kinney, the Port’s Director of Special Projects, has been acting as Executive Director. Mr. Kinney and Port of Benton Commissioner Jane Hagarty provide project guidance as active members of the Clore Center Board of Directors.

A connection between the City of Prosser and Washington State University (WSU) began in the 1930s with the establishment of the WSU Irrigated Agriculture Research Extension Center (IAREC) in Prosser. Dr. Walter Clore was hired in 1937 as the fourth faculty member to staff IAREC where he would work for the next forty years, pursuing his interest in horticulture and cultivating a passion for growing fine wine grape varietals. On-going cooperation from current WSU President Elson Floyd and University personnel, in the form of academic and technical assistance, is helping the Clore Center achieve its goals. Dan Bernardo, Dean of the College of Agriculture, Human and Natural Resources Sciences is an involved Clore Center Board Member focused on education components; Gerry Schlatter, Director of Facilities Development, and Dyonne Davidson, Project Manager of Capitol Planning and Development, have contributed their expertise to conceptual design of the outdoor event center; Bob Stevens, Director of WSU – IAREC, serves as a Clore Center Board Member; and Greg Royer, Vice President of Business and Finance, lends fiscal advice.

The City of Prosser is serving as the lead agency on a Federal Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant application. If awarded, the City of Prosser will be responsible for the distribution of these capital facilities funds. City Administrator Charlie Bush spearheads these functions and is an active Clore Center Board Member.

Education is at the core of Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center’s mission – a must-see learning center that promotes regional wine and food by actively engaging visitors to learn, experience and appreciate the quality and diversity of the region’s wine and food products. The public-private partnership has provided the leadership and resources required for completion of the first phase of construction. In celebration of this milestone, a site dedication event, open to the public, is scheduled for the 24^th of October from 2pm – 4pm at the site of the future home of the Walter Clore Wine & Culinary Center.

Prosser, Wash. – Walter Clore Wine & Culinary Center, sole beneficiary of funds generated by the annual Moteur de Vine benefit ride, received $16,000 from the 2009 event.  Now in its second year, the ride provides participants a close-up look at Washington State’s grape-growing regions known as American Viticultural Areas (AVA). Created by wine industry veterans Bill denHoed and Scott Pontin, the 2008 inaugural ride through the Yakima Valley, Horse Heaven Hills and Red Mountain AVAs raised $12,500 for the Clore Center.

The ride was so well received by wine enthusiasts that a shuttle bus was added to the 2009 event to accommodate non-riders. This year’s participants enjoyed a fun and informative day exploring wineries and vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley AVA including lunch at North Star Winery prepared by Chef Frank Magana, a rare tasting at Leonetti Cellar and an evening of festivities hosted by Dunham Cellars. Plans are underway for the 2010 ride scheduled for Saturday the 19^th of June to explore the State’s newest AVA, Lake Chelan. 

Education is at the core of Walter Clore Wine & Culinary Center’s mission – a must-see learning center that promotes regional wine and food by actively engaging visitors to learn, experience and appreciate the quality and diversity of the region’s wine and food products.  The ride is an extension of this mission by connecting wine enthusiasts with the many talented hands behind each of the State’s wine growing regions to experience first-hand what makes them exceptional.

Following is a photo of Moteur de Vine Committee members presenting a donation ‘check’ in the amount of $16,000 to the Clore Center. Pictured, left to right, are Bud Mercer, Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Walter Clore Wine & Culinary Center, with committee members Scott Pontin, Dick Beightol and Bill denHoed. Not pictured: Frank Magaña, Lynne Chamberlain and Kathy Corliss.

Washington State’s Walter Clore Wine & Culinary Center
Awards Infrastructure Construction Bid
Site Development to Begin August 2009 and
Ready for Outdoor Events Spring 2010  

Prosser, Wash. – August 12, 2009 – Site development is underway at the future home of the Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center located on a 23-acre site adjacent to the Yakima River, just off of I-82, in the heart of Columbia Valley wine country. In July, the Board of Directors unanimously awarded the infrastructure construction bid to Premier Excavation of Richland, Washington.

An Economic Development Initiative Grant through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funds this phase of construction to include excavating and leveling the site, paving the parking area, extending all utilities, installing overhead lighting, hydro-seeding the outdoor event area and limited landscaping.  The site, scheduled to be available for outdoor events beginning spring 2010, will be the new home of the Prosser Wine and Food Fair and setting for the 2010 Legends of Washington Wine Gala.

Plans for construction of the main facility will move forward with the success of a pending application for $2.5 million from the Federal Economic Development Administration Public Works Grant program and a $100,000 grant from Benton County in addition to $3.9 million committed public and private funds.

The Walter Clore Wine & Culinary Center, a tribute to the late Dr. Walter J. Clore, Father of the Washington Wine Industry, will be a centrally located, must-see learning center that promotes regional wine and food by actively engaging visitors to learn, experience and appreciate the quality and diversity of the region’s wine and food products.

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