Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, Washington’s largest wine producer, first experimented with growing wine grapes organically more than a dozen years ago, taking on the trial as a challenge. That “challenge,” which began with 45 acres, has grown to about 380 acres, resulting in nearly 16,000 cases of “Naked” wine made with organic grapes. “We had a whole section of grapes where we weren’t getting the quality or quantity that fit our different wine programs,” said Derek Way, viticulturist at Ste. Michelle’s Columbia Crest Estate Vineyard in Paterson. A white Riesling block was chosen to learn if grapes could be grown […]