When Oregon’s post-Prohibition wine industry began a fledgling start in the late ‘60’s, our neighbors to the north were already harvesting established vineyards and fermenting grapes with the research backing of Washington State University.  This at a time when Oregon’s early efforts were begun by University of California Davis graduates without encouragement from their alma mater…and Oregon State University had yet to foster enology or viticulture studies.

In 2001 the Washington State Legislature passed a resolution honoring a transplanted Okie for moving WSU into complete curricular support of grape growing and wine making in the late ‘30’s.  That measure recognized Dr. Walter J. Clore as “father of the Washington wine industry.” 

Dr. Clore, a native Oklahoman of German ancestry, graduated from Oklahoma A&M in 1933.  He was accepted for graduate study at WSU in 1934 to become a research horticulturist.  In 1937 he accepted a position at the WSU Irrigated Agriculture Research Center in Prosser, WA, where for the next 40 years he pursued a particular interest in grape vinifera.

Dr. Clore passed away last month at the tender age of 91 after seeing his passion for premium wine grapes grow into a world-class wine region.  In the ‘40’s, Clore planted European premium wine grapes in test plots across eastern Washington where irrigation from major rivers such as the Columbia and Yakima was available.  He gradually convinced agriculturists that despite bouts of summer temperatures approaching the century mark and winters featuring icy blasts creating near zero readings, vinifera could prosper on the far side of the Cascades.

A pioneer’s prediction gains credibility

Clore avidly watched development of  the wine industry in the United States.  In 1972, he correctly predicted that American wine consumption would triple by 1999.  He retired from WSU in 1976 after 37 years, but maintained his involvement with the fermented grape.  He traveled to all the major wine regions of  Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

He told audiences that late in her life he finally convinced his mother, a member of the Womens Christian Temperance Union, to imbibe wine.  Unfortunately, she was unable to sample the 1999 Walter Clore Private Reserve Bordeaux style blend issued in her son’s honor by Columbia Crest winery.  This wine scored a 92 in Wine Spectator magazine, a fact Clore celebrated  with the observation that his namesake sold @ $30, while a California Opus One blend scored 93 and sold @ $150. 

Clore served as a consultant to Stimson Lane Corporation, developers of Washington’s Ste Michelle & Columbia Crest labels.  He co-authored with Ron Irvine, “The Wine Project”, a history of Washington’s wine industry.  The Walt Clore Wine & Viticulture Center is being built in his honor in Prosser and will house his records and present interactive exhibits focused on wine making and the state’s wine history.  Columbia Crest has named a Walt Clore Barrel Room where his namesake wine is aged and has also named a vineyard adjacent to the Paterson WA winery in his honor.

Dr. Clore and his late wife Irene have three children,, Nancy Dexter if Yakima, Wendell Clore of Vancouver, Judith Reid of McMinnville OR, eight grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren…plus of course, Walt’s parentage of a state’s wine industry.

A toast to Walter Clore, who occupies top throne in the pantheon of Pacific Northwest enology & viticulture!

© 2003 Oregon Magazine