As the latest in a string of milestones for the state’s wine industry, Washington has just licensed its 600th winery. Washington’s first wine grapes were planted at Fort Vancouver by the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1825. By 1910, wine grapes were growing in many areas of the state, following the path of early settlers. French, German and Italian immigrants pioneered the earliest plantings. Wine historians Ron Irvine and Dr. Walter Clore document in their book The Wine Project a continuous and connected effort to cultivate wine grapes beginning with those early plantings at Fort Vancouver. Hybrid varieties arrived in nurseries in the Puget Sound region as early as 1854, and by 1860 wine grapes were planted in the Walla Walla Valley. Large-scale irrigation, fueled by runoff from the melting snowcaps of the Cascade Mountains, began in eastern Washington in 1903, unlocking the dormant potential of the rich volcanic soils and sunny, arid climate. Italian and German varietals were planted in the Yakima and Columbia Valleys and wine grape acreage expanded rapidly in the early part of the 20th century. The leading varieties being produced today include Syrah, Merlot, Malbec, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir. Washington’s 2008 wine grape production totaled 145,000 tons, a record high level, and is up 14 percent from 2007 and 21 percent above 2006. Of the top four varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon showed the largest increase and was up 20 percent from last year. White Riesling overtook Chardonnay as the top variety this year, increasing to 28,500 tons compared to Chardonnay’s 28,000 tons. Washington has just been awarded its 11th officially designated American Viticultural Area (AVA) – and its 2nd this year – with the addition of the 
One of the best tools for making your dream home more affordable while saving on the cost of power, heating and cooling is the energy-efficient, or “green,” mortgage.
Most energy-efficient mortgage, or EEM, programs let you qualify for bigger loans than you would otherwise by folding in the additional cost of making improvements for energy efficiency or of purchasing an already energy-efficient home. Another version of the green mortgage provides discounts on loan fees or interest rates for homes that are certified as energy-efficient.
Because mortgage interest payments are tax-deductible, an energy-efficient mortgage can be a more cost-effective way to finance home-energy improvements than using a credit card, bank loan or cash, which usually offer no tax benefits.
The Federal Housing Administration, Fannie Mae and the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs each have some version of a green mortgage. Freddie Mac, while having no formal energy-efficient mortgage program, allows lenders to take the projected utility savings from home upgrades into account when setting the loan amount.
Qualifying for a green mortgage
There are two ways a home can qualify for a green mortgage. For existing homes, you’ll need energy-saving improvements verified by a Home Energy Rating System, or HERS, report, following an inspection by a certified home-energy rater. To find one in your area, go to the Web site of the Residential Energy Services Network, click on “Home Energy Ratings” and then select “Find a Certified Rater.” For new constructions, a builder must certify that home meets energy-efficiency guidelines. If you’re trying to find out just who is offering green mortgages in your area, I suggest checking the Web site of your state’s housing finance agency for information or contacting your state energy office. You can locate that number on the Web site for National Association of State Energy Officials. Contact me for more info at 509-860-2417.
