It was one line in the February edition of Wine Business magazine’s article on the ‘Top 30 U.S. Wine Companies’ that grabbed our attention. “Precept Brands #21 is building a 250,000-case facility in Walla Walla that should be operational for the 2008 harvest.”

CEO Andrew Browne confirmed the story in an email, but said an official announcement would follow after permits and ground had been broken.

This is a significant first for our valley. Up until now, case production was well under 75,000 cases with Canoe Ridge Vineyards the Valley’s largest producer followed by Waterbrook Winery (Precept) and possibly l’Ecole #41. Stay tuned for location, but good bets are for the west side of the valley near the new highway.