The Washington Wine Industry Foundation is accepting applications for the 2021 Powers Sabbatical. The Bill Powers Sabbatical Fund awards up to $5,000 annually to a Washington State grape or wine industry professional for a sabbatical that will further his or her professional career and benefit the Washington grape and wine industries. The deadline for applications is July 30, 2021.
Bill Powers had an insatiable desire to find new practices to grow better winegrapes. In 1990, Bill transitioned his own enterprise to become the first certified organic winegrape vineyard in Washington State and was later inducted into the Legends of Washington Wine at the Walter Clore Center. To honor the late owner of Badger Mountain Vineyard and Powers Winery employees and associates created the Bill Powers Sabbatical Fund.
On behalf of the Powers Winery, the Washington Wine Industry Foundation awards an employee in the Washington state grape or wine industries up to $5,000 to undertake a sabbatical in an established wine-producing region of the world to learn about an aspect of winegrape growing and/or winemaking. Recipients must be under the age of 50 and have at least five years of experience in viticulture or enology. Funds may go toward travel, room and board, education-related expenses, and/or reporting-related expenses.
To apply for the 2021 Powers Sabbatical, review the application criteria and submit your application online at www.washingtonwinefoundation.org/sabbatical.
The Foundation has funded four sabbaticals for industry professionals to travel throughout the world, to date. Additionally, the Foundation has awarded more than $350,000 to over 220 students in the grape and wine industries, and secured more than $2.8 million in grants for educational tools and resources addressing risk management, sustainable best practices, winery and vineyard safety, access to bilingual resources, and more.
