Kent Waliser has been a partner and general manager of Sagemoor Vineyards in Pasco, WA since 2002. He has served on the Washinton State Wine Commission (WSWC) since 2004 and is currently chair of the Board of Commissioners. He has been a strong supporter in the effort to build the Wine Science Center and serves as WSWC liaison to the WSPDA board and on the committee to select the Design Build company for construction. He has also worked on the Education Consortium and Industry Task Force on Research.

In addition to wine grapes, apples and cherries also command Kent’s time. He works with grower groups to manage the marketing efforts of these managed varieties and supports research efforts by working with Tree Fruit Research committees. He is a member of the Commercial Licensing Committee charged with bringing a new WSU variety to market and is a member of Dean Dan Bernardo’s Ag Kitchen Cabinet.

Sagemoor Vineyards is comprised of four companies, Sagemoor Farms, Bacchus Vineyard, Dionysus Vineyard and Weinbau Vineyard. The four companies total 900 acres in wine grapes with no captive winery. Sagemoor Vineyards sells grapes to 75 wineries in WA State. Sagemoor Farms also has 400 acres of tree fruit in production. The company has been in business since 1968 and began planting grapes in 1972. There are still 60 acres of Cab in production from those early plantings. Sagemoor Vineyards has benefited from long term stable ownership and dedicated employees, many have worked there for 30 years or more.

Allen Shoup spent 20 years building Chateau Ste. Michelle and its affiliate wineries, serving as the company’s CEO for 17 of those years. While at Chateau Ste. Michelle, Allen developed such well-known wines as Columbia Crest and Domaine Ste. Michelle and led Washington State from a 4,000 acre region of unsung vineyards into a world-class 30,000 acre Columbia Valley appellation.

Currently, Shoup is managing partner of Long Shadows Vintners, a company he established in 2002, as well as managing partner of The Benches at Wallula Gap. He serves on the Washington Wine Industry Foundation board of directors. In addition to founding the Auction of Washingon Wines in 1987, he also founded the Washington Wine Institute, helped create the Washington State Wine Commission, and was instrumental in organizing the American Vintners Association.