YVC Vineyard and Winery Technology Program receives gift from Northwest Farm Credit Services
Yakima, Wash. — Students in Yakima Valley College’s Vineyard and Winery Technology Program will benefit from a recent $25,000 gift from Northwest Farm Credit Services.
“We are proud to offer students hands-on experience across the entire wine making process — from grape to glass— at our award-winning teaching winery,” said Vineyard and Winery Technology Instructor Trent Ball. “Washington has a fast-growing wine industry and this generous gift from Northwest Farm Credit Services will help YVC enhance the state-of-the-art teaching facilities where we prepare students for success.”
YVC’s teaching winery includes a laboratory, classrooms, tasting room, barrel and case storage, as well as two incubator (start-up) winery spaces on the Grandview Campus, with a future tasting room slated to open on the college’s Yakima Campus. Students in YVC’s Vineyard and Winery Technology Program produce between 400-700 cases of wine per year and have garnered more than 167 awards over the last 13 vintages.
“As part of Northwest Farm Credit’s stewardship commitment to improve the lives of our customers, communities, and industries we serve, we are investing funds in education and research across the Northwest,” said Josh Siler, Washington president of Northwest Farm Credit Services. “Yakima Valley College is located in the heart of Washington’s wine country, and its vineyard and wine programs provide valuable educational opportunities for students preparing for careers in the wine industry. We are excited to invest funds in equipment that will further enhance students’ experiences and positively impact the industry.”
Ball noted YVC’s program offers a variety of associate degree and certificate options for those looking to enter the grape and wine industry, for professionals already in the industry who want to build their skills, as well as courses for community members interested in personal enrichment.
The YVC’s award-winning wines are available for purchase on the Yakima Valley Vintners website with curbside pickup available at the Grandview Campus Tasting Room. More information about YVC academic offerings is available on the Vineyard and Winery Technology Program website or call 509.882.7007.
Press Release Contacts:
Dustin Wunderlich / 509.574.6870 / dwunderlich@yvcc.edu
Stefanie Menard / 509.574.4646 / smenard@yvcc.edu