Sabbatical
2023 Applications Are Now Open!
The Bill Powers Sabbatical enables a Washington grape or wine industry professional to undertake a sabbatical to learn about an aspect of winegrape growing and/or winemaking.
Bill Powers, the late owner and general manager of Badger Mountain Vineyard, passed away in 2013. Bill had an insatiable desire to find new and best practices to grow better wine grapes. In 1990, Bill transitioned his enterprise to become the first certified organic wine grape vineyard in Washington State. He was later inducted into the Legends of Washington Wine at the Walter Clore Center.
In honor of Bill Powers, Badger Mountain Vineyard, and Powers Winery employees developed the Bill Powers Sabbatical Fund.
The Bill Powers Sabbatical enables a professional currently employed in the Washington wine industry to undertake a sabbatical now or in the near future to an established wine-producing region of the world and learn about an aspect of winegrape growing or winemaking that will further their professional career and benefit the Washington grape and wine industry.
The sabbatical awards up to $5,000 to one working in the Washington wine industry with at least five (5) years of experience. Funds may be used for travel, room and board, education-related expenses, and reporting-related expenses.
Would you like information about the Sabbatical?
Fill out this form and we will send you the application.
To be considered applicants must submit:
- Current resume, including three references with contact information
- Proposal narrative
- Anticipated expenses
- Letter(s) of acceptance from proposed sabbatical destination(s)
- Letter of employer recommendation and release
- Headshot
Past Sabbatical Recipients