[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 36 (Thursday, March 6, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3248-S3249]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO WALTER CLORE

 Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, in February my State lost one of 
its great citizens and the father of the Washington State wine 
industry, Walter Clore.
  My colleagues in the Senate may not know a fact that many wine 
drinkers around the globe have learned the last few years: Washington 
state produces some of the highest quality wine in the world. In 2001, 
Wine Enthusiast Magazine named Washington state as ``Wine Region of the 
Year'' in recognition of its fast emergence as a global leader in 
producing quality wines.
  I am very pleased that Walter Clore lived to see this honor--and so 
many other honors--bestowed on Washington wine. These honors reflect 
just how far the Washington wine industry has come. They are also an 
outstanding tribute to the legacy of Walter Clore and his vision, hard 
work, and dedication.
  I had the great privilege to meet Walter Clore in August 2002. That 
month, I spent two days traveling through Washington wine country--from 
Yakima to Prosser to the Tri-Cities to Walla Walla. I toured wineries 
and vineyards and visited with wine grape growers, vintners, and 
researchers.
  Walter Clore was himself a researcher. He spent 40 years at the 
Washington State University Irrigated Agriculture Research and 
Extension Center in Prosser, Washington, an institution that has helped 
lead Washington agriculture forward in so many ways. During his career, 
Walter developed and tested wine grape varieties throughout Washington 
State.
  Walter Clore retired in 1976, but he was not content to relax and 
watch from the sidelines. Using his 40 years of experience and 
knowledge, he connected emerging vintners with promising varieties and 
pointed them to ideal sites for growing wine grapes.
  I am deeply saddened by the loss of Walter Clore. But I take solace 
in the fact that he pursued his passion with unrelenting determination 
and transformed his vision of a vibrant Washington wine industry into a 
reality. We need more pioneers like Walter Clore.
  Today, Washington state's $2.4 billion wine industry is the Nation's 
second largest producer of premium wines. The industry boasts more than 
200 wineries and 300 wine grape growers. More important to consumers 
than the size of the industry, my State continues to earn respect for 
its quality, affordable wines.
  I believe the best way to pay tribute to Walter Clore is to continue 
his legacy. As a U.S. Senator, that means funding research through USDA 
and institutions like Washington State University to keep the industry 
healthy and on the cutting edge. It means investing in trade promotion 
initiatives like the Market Access Program so that Washington wine can 
earn the markets and worldwide recognition it deserves. And it means 
creating opportunities for Washington wine country to become a 
destination spot for wine lovers who live in the Pacific Northwest and 
around the Nation.
  As Washingtonians, we are so proud to call Walter Clore our own. On 
behalf of the Washington wine industry, I want to express my 
condolences to Walter's family. I also want to let them know that we 
will continue to build on his great legacy.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that an article from Wine 
Press Northwest about Walter Clore be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

             [From the Wine Press Northwest, Feb. 3, 2003]

           Walter Clore, ``Father of Washington Wine,'' Dies

       Yakima, Wash.--Dr. Walter Clore, the man known as the 
     ``Father of Washington Wine,'' passed away this morning. He 
     was 91.
       Clore, who in 1972 predicted wine consumption would triple 
     in the U.S. by 1999, died in a Yakima-area convalescent home. 
     Considered the father of Washington wines, Clore came up with 
     the idea of growing wine grapes in the Columbia Valley after 
     arriving in Prosser soon after Prohibition was repealed.
       Clore retired from the Washington State University 
     Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Station in 1976, 
     four years after he commented on the future of wine in this 
     country at a chamber of commerce meeting. His involvement 
     remained strong well into retirement. Last summer, he visited 
     with U.S. Sen. Patty Murray when she toured the region's wine 
     country.
       Clore literally helped write the book on the Washington 
     wine industry. In fact, The Wine Project, co-authored by Ron 
     Irvine, serves as a biography of sorts for the man some view 
     as the Johnny Appleseed of vinifera grapes in the state.
       He spent 40 years at the Prosser Experiment Station. During 
     his tenure, Clore, more than any other individual, is 
     responsible for convincing Eastern Washington farmers they 
     could grow world-class wine grapes.
       Clore was born July 1, 1911, and grew up in Oklahoma during 
     Prohibition and was raised a teetotaling Methodist. He came 
     to Washington State College in 1934 on a $500 fellowship. In 
     1937, Clore was appointed assistant horticulturist. He was 
     the third faculty member on staff at the center and began 
     working with tree fruits and small fruits--including grapes.
       One of Clore's primary contributions to the industry was 
     figuring out where premium wine grapes could be grown in the 
     state. He grew vinifera varieties throughout the state and 
     collected volumes of data on how they fared. He retired in 
     1976.
       Soon after, the Washington wine industry began to grow in 
     earnest and Clore began consulting. Stimson Lane Vineyards 
     and Estates, which owns Columbia Crest and Chateau Ste. 
     Michelle, sought Clore's advice. He pointed them to several 
     sites that have turned out of be among best in the state, 
     including Horse Heaven Hills and Cold Creek.
       ``The industry got a running start because he planted 
     scores of varieties throughout the Columbia Valley and 
     collected the data necessary for vintners to make reasonable 
     decisions about where to site a vineyard or winery,'' said 
     Ted Baseler, president of Stimson Lane. ``Prior to that, 
     many people decided it was a foregone conclusion that 
     premium wine grapes could not be grown in Washington.''
       Last fall, Columbia Crest honored Clore by naming its 
     Bordeaux-style red blend the Walter Clore Private Reserve. 
     It's an honor Clore, 91, appreciated on a couple of levels.
       ``I read in a recent Wine Spectator that Opus One earned a 
     93 point rating (out of 100) and was priced at $150,'' Clore 
     said during an Oct. 16 ceremony at the Paterson, Wash., 
     winery. ``I also read that the Columbia Crest Walter Clore 
     Reserve received a 92 rating and was priced at $30.''
       Several of those grape growers, along with Clore's friends 
     and company officials, came out to help Columbia Crest and 
     Clore toast the 1999 vintage. Special guests included

[[Page S3249]]

     George Carter--Clore's longtime assistant--and Les Fleming, 
     pioneer Grandview winery and vineyard manager.
       Doug Gore, vice president and head winemaker at Columbia 
     Crest, said part of the honor includes naming the room where 
     the reserve wine is aged as the Walter Clore Barrel Room.
       ``There are a lot of legends in the Washington wine 
     industry, but it was Walter Clore who first dreamed it was 
     possible,'' Gore said. ``The modern-day legends are a 
     validation that he was right.''
       Gore likes to tell the story about when he was a brand-new 
     assistant winemaker at Chateau Ste. Michelle's Grandview 
     winery and was told by his boss Kay Simon that if any grower 
     comes to the back door wanting an analysis of their grapes to 
     shoo them around to the front.
       ``There was this kindly looking gentleman who came to the 
     back door wanting a sample run on some grapes, and I told him 
     to go around front. However he was persistent, so I asked who 
     he was and he told me, Walt Clore. I apologized for trying to 
     get rid of him. That was the beginning of a long association 
     with the man who I consider the Johnny Appleseed of 
     Washington's wine grape industry,'' Gore said.
       In the preface to The Wine Project, Clore wrote: ``I grew 
     up during Prohibition in a teetotaler, nonsmoking Methodist 
     family. My mother was a staunch Women's Christian Temperance 
     Union Member.''
       It was an interest aside to the man who grew up to be 
     called the father of the Washington's wine industry, which 
     today is vigorous, flourishing and much in debt to Clore's 
     visionary research.
       It was Clore, a horticulturist at WSU's Prosser research 
     station, who was asked more than 40 years ago to look at the 
     potential of growing vinifera wine grapes in Eastern 
     Washington.
       ``I was intrigued and was given the research task of 
     determine the best adaptable varieties for making premium 
     wines,'' he said.''This was not a difficult task, as I found 
     the interest of co-workers high including not only those in 
     Washington but Oregon, Idaho and British Columbia'' he wrote.
       Clore also helped develop the rare Lemberger red variety 
     and found some willing disciples. One of these was Kiona 
     Vineyards Winery in the Red Mountain AVA, which has made 
     Lemberger for more than 20 vintages.
       John Williams, who with grower Jim Holmes was one of the 
     original partners at Kiona, said, ``Dr. Clore was the man in 
     the state's wine industry as far as I'm concerned. If it 
     hadn't been for him, both Jim and I probably would not have 
     gotten into making wine.'' I remember in the late 1970s when 
     he called me saying that since Kiona was the only one 
     interested in the Lemberger variety we would be first to get 
     the plants released by WSU,'' Williams said.
       Bob Woehler, longtime Tri-City Herald and Wine Press 
     Northwest wine writer, whose association with Clore traces 
     back to the 1970s, said, ``His homespun dignity and overall 
     nice-guy friendliness was as impressive as the knowledge he 
     gave to the Washington wine industry.
       ``Interestingly, Dr. Clore's association with wine led to 
     developing a taste for it himself despite his upbringing. He 
     often liked to relate at gatherings that he got his mother 
     eventually to try a sip or two,'' Woehler said.
       James Zuiches, dean of WSU's College of Agriculture and 
     Home Economics, said in a press release, ``From my point of 
     view, Walter Clore was a true pioneer in agricultural 
     research. He took leadership without anyone telling him to, 
     to evaluate wine grape varieties for Washington's 
     environment. He laid the basis for a multimillion dollar 
     industry. He was a role model for faculty and many people 
     have benefitted from his research and extension work. He 
     never lost his love for the industry. He didn't teach 
     formally in a classroom, but he taught thousands of people 
     through his publications, extension programs and training of 
     students in field work.''
       Clore's death came as plans were being made to build a $6 
     million Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center in Prosser.
       In 1993, the WSU Foundation established the Walter J. Clore 
     Scholarship Endowment to provide scholarships to full-time 
     undergraduate students at WSU who are interested in studying 
     grape production, processing or marketing.
       Shaw and Sons Funeral Directors, Yakima, is in charge of 
     arrangements.
       Anyone who wishes to make a memorial gift may contact 
     Patrick Kramer, WSU College of Agriculture and Home Economics 
     development director, who has a list of four charities the 
     family has suggested. Kramer may be reached at 509-335-2243 
     or at [email protected].

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