Sip‑and‑Stay program with Woodinville Wine Country remains suspended amid state enforcement interpretation

During the January ELTAC meeting, staff updated the committee on the status of the Woodinville Wine Country (a nonprofit hospitality association) partnership and the Sip‑and‑Stay passport program. Staff said the passport—previously provided by hotels to visitors for tastings—has been suspended because a Washington State liquor and cannabis enforcement interpretation views distribution of the passport by hotels as a form of alcohol sale even when the passport is provided at no additional charge to a guest.

Staff explained that Woodinville Wine Country’s executive director recently stepped down and the board is recruiting new leadership; combined with the state enforcement interpretation the program cannot operate in its prior form. Staff said the former executive director worked with a lobbyist to seek a change in the interpretation, but the matter remains unresolved. In the meantime, ELTAC has paused contracting with Woodinville Wine Country for the Sip‑and‑Stay service and will explore alternate, non‑contracted ways to promote wine‑country businesses (for example, video series or marketing placements) until the legal question is resolved.

Why it matters: Sip‑and‑Stay was designed to target visitors from 50 miles or more and to drive overnight stays by packaging tastings with hotel stays. Staff and members expressed concern that an adjudicative interpretation—rather than clear statutory change—has limited a program that had been used to promote hotels and regional wineries.

Committee members asked whether ELTAC can intervene or advocate directly; staff said the issue largely rests with Woodinville Wine Country and state regulators, though ELTAC staff will track progress and coordinate with the association when new leadership is in place. No formal action was taken at the meeting; staff will report back as negotiations or state actions develop.