Goose Ridge Vineyard in April became the 12th Eastern Washington winery to open a satellite tasting room in the Western Washington town of Woodinville during the past year. The estate vineyard was established in Benton City in 1998; the 40,000-case winery also has a tasting room in nearby Richland.

Kakacek leaves Van Duzer; Murray joins
Jim Kakacek, general manager/winemaker at 17,000-case Van Duzer Vineyards, Dallas, Ore., will leave the winery this summer after 15 years. Jerry Murray takes over as winemaker. Previously he was with 3,500-case Patton Valley Vineyard.

Amavi opens tasting room in Walla Walla 
Amavi Cellars moved from a tasting room in downtown Walla Walla to a contemporary tasting room and event space amid the Pepper Bridge Vineyard. Owned by the Goff, McKibben and Pellet families, Amavi produces about 7,500 cases per year.

New firm manages wineries and cattle
A new management company, Figgins Family Wine Estates (FFWE) was formed to manage a collection of sustainable wine and food brands, including 6,500-case Leonetti Cellar, Walla Walla, Wash.; a new, single-vineyard estate wine, FIGGINS, from winemaker Chris Figgins; and Lostine Cattle Co., producer of grass-fed beef. Figgins is CEO and director of winemaking.