YAKIMA – Washington’s wine industry is marking a new milestone with word that the world’s largest privately owned winery has bought two longtime Washington brands. 

E. & J. Gallo Winery announced the purchase of Columbia Winery and Covey Run Wine from Ascentia Wine Estates on Monday. The price was not disclosed. 

Columbia Winery is Washington’s first premium winery, originally founded as Associated Vintners in 1962. Covey Run has been operating since 1982. 

Brothers Ernest and Julio Gallo founded their winery in Modesto, Calif., in 1933.  

Washington ranks second in premium wine production behind California, with more than 740 wineries and 43,000 acres planted in wine grapes.

McMorris Rodgers gets new GOP job

U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers is already the state co-chairwoman of Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign and one of his Washington state delegates to the national convention. On Monday she got a new campaign job: liaison to the Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The campaign announced the new position Monday morning prior to a fundraiser McMorris Rodgers was co-hosting for Romney in King County. She’ll serve as the leader for Romney supporters in the House, and work with her Senate counterpart, Missouri’s Roy Blount.