Distillery coming to West Richland
By Pratik Joshi, Herald staff writer

West Richland can expect to have the first distillery in southeast Washington soon.

Plans for the proposed Black Heron Spirits Distillery and Port Works got a boost Tuesday after the Port of Kennewick Commission approved sale of an acre of land in the port’s Wine Estates Park on Van Giesen Street and Keene Road. The park also is home to Pacific Rim Wine Estates, one of the region’s largest wineries.

The craft distillery, to be constructed and operated by Joel Tefft and Becky Runyan, will offer barrel-aged whisky, brandies, port wine, gin and corn liquor, said Tana Bader Inglima, the port’s director of governmental relations and marketing. The distillery is scheduled to open next year.

Tefft, who owned Tefft Cellars Winery in the Yakima Valley for 20 years, recently sold it to pursue his interest in distilling, she said, adding Runyan will bring extensive customer that service experience to help run the distillery.

A new state law allows craft distillers to produce 20,000 gallons or less, to serve up to 2 ounces and sell up to 2 liters of liquor per person in tasting rooms, said Ruth Swain, economic development specialist for the city of West Richland, which partnered with the port.

It’s a great development opportunity for the city to diversify its economy, Swain said, and will spur more growth in the proposed Red Mountain Center near Van Giesen and Ruppert Road. The city has invested more than $15 million in infrastructure there, she said.

California winemaker Randall Grahm also invested close to $7 million on the 30,000-square-foot Pacific Rim winery on the port’s property two year ago.

The new value-added industry will tie in with tourism and ag production and open more doors for growth, she said. The law requires that at least half of the raw materials used in production at craft distilleries be Washington-grown, Swain said.

“The essence of Black Heron Distillery and Port Works is to create and present fine handcrafted spirits in an elegant manner reminiscent of a bygone era. Our location will pull elements of the Roaring Twenties and Prohibition together to create an atmosphere of mystery, elegance and nostalgia for our customers to witness the process of craft distillation,” said Tefft and Runyan in a prepared statement.

The distillery will use locally grown products and work with local businesses to create and support their operations, they said.

“Distilling is Washington’s newest passion, just as wineries and breweries were a decade ago,” said Tim Arntzen, the port’s executive director.

Last year, five new distilleries opened in the state, and this year, more than a dozen are in the permitting process, port officials said.

* Pratik Joshi: 509-582-1541; pjoshi@tricityherald.com; Business Beat blog at www.tricityherald.com