Yakima Valley College Winery Program Receives $25,000 Gift

Students at Yakima Valley College Vineyard and Winery Technology Program are making some award winning wines. Now they'll have more funds to work with after a recent $25,000 gift from Northwest Farm Credit Services. 400 to 700 cases of wine are produced every year in the program winning more than 167 awards over the last 13 vintages. In a press release Vineyard and Winery Technology Instructor Trent Ball says
“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. 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.”
Yakima Valley College has a top rated program with 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.
Ball says Yakima Valley Colleges program offers students lots of options including associate degree and certificate options for those looking to enter the grape and wine industry. The program also offers ways for professionals to sharpen skills as well as courses for community members interested in personal enrichment.
College officials say 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.