Grape labeling bill introduced in Olympia

OLYMPIA -- Rep. Dan Newhouse wants consumers to know when they buy Washington wines, they're getting a homegrown product.

So the Sunnyside Republican introduced a bill that would require anyone using the Washington wine label to use grapes grown in Washington state.

Current law allows wines with a state label to have 75 percent of grapes grown in the state; or 85 percent if the wine labels itself as being from an American Viticulture Area, such as Red Mountain. Newhouse's proposal would up that requirement to 95 percent.

He hasn't heard of any winemakers using inferior grapes from other states and passing them off as Washington-grown, he said. It just helps to brand Washington wines when they're being marketed outside the states.

"We can't compete in quantity, but we can compete in quality," he told the House Commerce & Labor Committee on Wednesday.