Winery makes an impression and statement about tourism

This editorial appears in the Nov. 9, 2011, Yakima Herald-Republic.

It's more than a matter of pride that a Washington state agricultural product will be served at the highest levels in our nation's capital. It's also a example of the need to make a good impression on your customers.

An out-of-town visitor last summer stepped into a Yakima winery, Treveri Cellars, and received a tour and tasting from Juergen Grieb, who is co-owner of the establishment with his wife, Julie. The Griebs obviously hit it off with a customer who wasn't just another tourist.

The customer, Jason L. Larkin, is the chef for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. His official title is executive chef and event manager for the Office of the Chief of Protocol at the Department of State -- the federal government never seems to make these things simple.

The Griebs' selection went over well with the chef. Larkin recently chose two of the winery's products, its Extra-Brut Chardonnay and Syrah Brut, to serve at the State Department's holiday receptions.

We're starting to see a trend of official national acceptance of Washington wines. Last winter, a Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon landed on the menu at a White House state dinner honoring Chinese President Hu Jintao. The winery is based in Snohomish, but the grapes carry Eastern Washington's Columbia Valley appellation.

Amid the laurels comes a lesson.

Recent events have not made it easy for the state's tourism industry to highlight its attractions. The nagging economic recession has cut into travel, and the Washington state Legislature this year eliminated funding for tourism promotion in an effort to close its budget deficit. This is the only state to take that drastic a step.

Tourism-promotion groups are trying to fill the gaps, but they can't do it all. What individual businesses can do is work to keep the customers they have, make the visitors' experience here memorably pleasurable and treat every customer like a special guest. This task falls not only on the hospitality industry -- hotels, restaurants, wineries and the like-- but also on all citizens. We all need to do our part to make visitors feel welcome in our Valley.

One never knows when visitors might have friends in high places -- or be in high places themselves.

* Members of the Yakima Herald-Republic editorial board are Sharon J. Prill, Bob Crider, Frank Purdy and Karen Troianello.