One of state's oldest wineries being sold in pieces

E.B. Foote Winery started in 1978 as one of only six other wineries in the state at that time. And since then, it has enjoyed years of success.

"You can see that we have had a lot of quality wines, so we've gotten bronze, silvers, golds, good points from Wine Spectator," said owner Sherrill Miller.

Miller is proud of her business, which is now shutting down. Life took a turn three years ago when her husband died of complications with Alzheimer's disease. His picture is now featured on a bottle of wine called Remembrance.

"And I couldn't, in my heart of hearts, hire someone to replace my husband," said Miller. "So I realize it was time for me to step down and let someone take it to the next level."

Miller put the winery up for sale nearly a year ago for $1.25 million. But time and again, potential buyers could not find financing. So Miller is now forced to sell everything, from equipment to wine stock, piecemeal.

The Washington State Wine Commission says the economy is not directly responsible for wineries going under, but it's not helping either.

"There has been a challenge for wineries looking to get out of the business and finding a buyer for their business," said commission spokesman Ryan Pennington.

Businesses can hit bottom for a number of reasons.

"There are 700 wineries in our state and that means 700 different business plans," Pennington said. "And sometimes wineries have trouble putting their ideas into reality in starting a winery."

In the heart of Washington's wine country in Walla Walla and the Yakima Valley, wineries on the market for millions of dollars are just sitting there. And their owners, hoping to retire after years of work, are left in limbo.

"It's a difficult time for a longtime wine family like us," said Marcus Miller of Airfield Estates. "Olsen Estates recently decided to get out of the industry, and there are others making that decision. So just like the rest of the economy, wineries are taking a bit of a hit,"

The state's Liquor Control Board say it's tricky to pinpoint how many wineries have gone belly up, because those businesses might stop producing wine, but hold on to their licenses.