Worden’s, Nordstrom Strike Deal

Worden’s Washington Winery said Tuesday that it has struck a deal to bottle private-label wines for Nordstrom Inc., the giant Seattle-based retail chain.

The agreement is a coup for Worden’s, a small West Plains winery that specializes in private labels. Owner Jack Worden said first-year sales to Nordstrom could easily reach 2,000 cases and $100,000 as the chain rapidly adds the wine at its 57 full-line stores.

“It looks like we could produce a tremendous amount for them,” said Worden, who typically has total annual sales of $500,000. “So far it’s been very successful.”

Since acquiring the contract three weeks ago, Worden’s has shipped wines to Nordstrom stores in Seattle, New York, New Jersey, Virginia and Pennsylvania. The Spokane store does not have a state license to sell alcoholic beverages.

The Nordstrom label is called “Northstream,” named after a yacht owned by the Nordstrom family, Worden said. The stores sell the champagne, chardonney and reserve red wines in gift boxes and at lunch counters for $6 to $8 a bottle, he said.

Nordstrom officials could not be reached to confirm the deal, but local wineries speculated that the company may be reacting to growing demand by consumers for red wines. Sales of red wine have jumped dramatically in recent years after medical reports suggested that heart disease could be reduced by modest consumption of red wine.

Worden said Nordstrom chose his company because it is the largest private-label bottler in the state. It bottles private labels for the Washington Athletic Club, Tomlinson Black Realtors and others.

Worden said he has increased production to ensure that he doesn’t run out of Northstream. He employs 10 people during harvest.

Most of Spokane’s wineries bottle private labels for corporations, charities and individuals, but Worden’s may be the first to work for a major department store chain, said Arbor Crest owner Dave Mielke.

“For Jack, that’s a good bit of business,” said Mielke, who operates Spokane’s largest winery, bottling Arbor Crest and private labels. “Private labels for a department store are uncommon.”

, DataTimes