Oregon Public Broadcasting

Winemakers in Oregon and Washington say that, so far, high gas prices and a slowing economy have not put a cork in their sales. Correspondent Anna King reports.

People may be cutting back on travel. But they aren’t cancelling that girl’s weekend to Oregon’s Willamette Valley or Washington’s Red Mountain. At least not yet.

Northwest wineries say they aren’t seeing the exponential growth like of years past.  But wine sales are still on an up-tick.

Alex Sokol Blosser says his family’s Willamette Valley winery produces 80,000 cases of mostly pinot noir each year. And it’s all selling.

Alex Sokol Blosser: "So far business hasn’t been great. But it’s been good, I can’t complain. People are coming in and we are able to share with our guests my family’s wines. You know, so far so good."

In part because most of the people who buy Northwest wines are well-off.

The Washington Wine Commission says many bottles here sell for an average of $12 to $15 each.