On Tuesday afternoon a Central Washington wine production facility and tasting room near Mattawa erupted in flames, threatening an estimated 4.5 million gallons of wine and leaving the building heavily damaged. Employees inside were evacuated safely and no injuries were reported.
Fire crews raced to the scene
Emergency crews were called to the 22000 block of State Route 243 South after a passerby reported smoke around 2:30 p.m., and multiple departments rushed in. Grant County Fire Districts 8 and 3, Royal Slope Fire and the Hanford Fire Department were among the agencies working the scene. Crews had the blaze under control by late afternoon, according to KHQ.
Tasting room closed while company assesses damage
The building houses Central Washington Wine Production Group and the UpWest Wine tasting room. UpWest said the tasting room will remain closed and that its Mother’s Day event was canceled while officials assess the damage, according to FOX 13 Seattle. In a statement to Tri-City Herald, the company said it was "assessing the full extent of the damage" and was focused on supporting employees and working with insurers. The Tri-City piece also notes the operation traces back to Dick and Wendy Shaw, longtime figures in Washington’s wine industry. Fire officials also warned that crews faced added risk from pressurized stainless-steel tanks and production equipment as they fought the blaze.
Scale of the loss and what comes next
The site specializes in bulk wine processing for grapes across the Columbia Valley AVA, so tanks on hand represent stock destined for bottlers and distributors statewide, per reporting by KIRO 7. Local outlets put the amount stored at about 4.5 million gallons and described the structure as heavily damaged and possibly a total loss, according to KPQ. The Grant County Fire Marshal is leading the investigation and officials have not yet identified a specific cause.
