SPOKANE, Wash. – While Washington state wineries are experiencing a decline in sales, some Spokane winemakers are finding that community support is helping them stay steady.

Greg Lipsker, owner of Spokane's Barrister Winery , shared his experience.

"We haven't seen a slowdown. We had anticipated that after COVID that we would see an increase, but it stayed pretty steady. But it hasn't been a slowdown," he said.

Lipsker attributed Barrister Winery's success to local support, particularly their wine club.

"We started our wine club 11 years ago hoping we'd get 50 or 60 people. It's up to about 2,000 right now — and almost 90% of those people are local," Lipsker said.

Meanwhile, at Arbor Crest Winery in Spokane Valley, winemaker Kristina Mielke-Van Löben Sels reported a dip in wholesa

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