3 Tri-Citians launch new Northwest wine magazine

Three Tri-Citians with lengthy experience in reporting on the Northwest wine industry have launched a new magazine, Great Northwest Wine.

The quarterly print publication joins the existing wine news and information website, greatnorthwestwine.com, in covering what’s become one of the Washington’s most economically important agricultural sectors.

Eric Degerman, CEO and co-founder of Great Northwest Wine, will lead a team of editors, writers and photographers, most of whom formerly worked on the Tri-City Herald’s Wine Press Northwest, which stopped publishing in September after a 23-year run.

Degerman will be the new magazine’s editor in chief.

He’s joined by Jerry Hug, former general manager of the Herald, and Ken Robertson, retired executive editor of the Herald, in the new venture.

Hug, as the magazine’s publisher, will oversee advertising sales, circulation and production. Robertson, as associate editor and columnist, will copy edit each issue.

Information on how to subscribe to the magazine is available at greatnorthwestwine.com and will appear in the first print edition, which will be distributed with the Dec. 24 Tri-City Herald.

Wine writing

The three have more than 70 total years experience in evaluating and writing about Northwest wine.

“Because photojournalist Richard Duval and all the writers have agreed to join us, there will be a familiar look and feel to our coverage,” Degerman wrote in a column for the first issue.

“The staff … features experts who have been drinking Northwest wine and writing about it for decades. They will continue to share their insights, help us identify trends and provide vibrant coverage in print and online,” he wrote.

Though some believe print will have a declining role in magazines, the three are optimistic they can make the new operation profitable. In 2020, wine-related jobs totaled 38,900, generated $2.1 billion in labor income and $8 billion in business income, the Washington Wine Commission reported in August.

The number of Washington wineries is approaching 1,100, with Oregon close behind at more than 900, followed by British Columbia at 370 and Idaho at 65, plus a handful in Montana.

In addition to subscriptions, copies of the magazine will be available in tasting rooms of Northwest wineries.