Bob Betz tells his Untold Story
Bob Betz (b. 1948) is a leader and pioneer in the Washington wine industry. After growing up in Seattle, he took several trips to Europe and fell in love with the culture of winemaking. He abandoned his childhood dream of becoming a physician and in 1976 Chateau Ste. Michelle hired him as director of public relations communications. He became part of the team that built the winery into one of the largest wine producers in the U.S. In 1998, he became one of the few people in the Northwest to earn a degree from London's Institute of Masters of Wine. He had the title of vice president of winemaking research when he retired from Chateau Ste. Michelle in 2003. From then on, he devoted all of his time to his own small winery, Betz Family Winery in Woodinville. His premium red wines went on to earn stunning accolades. Betz was recognized as one the state's wine industry groundbreakers and received numerous honors. He sold Betz Family Winery in 2011 but stayed on as the winemaking consultant.
