QUINCY — The Quincy Port District commissioners have agreed to give $2,000 to a group of area winemakers who are seeking to attain an official region designation for marketing purposes.

Freddie Arredondo of Cave B Estate Winery, Allan Williams of Jones of Washington and Pete Beaumont asked the commissioners for the funds Nov. 25.

The winemakers are seeking an American Viticultural Area designation for the Quincy Valley. An AVA is a designated wine grape-growing region in the United States distinguishable by geographic features, with boundaries defined by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau.

Arredondo said there are currently 11 AVAs in Washington. The most recent is Lake Chelan, designated in May.

Arredondo said his group’s proposed AVA would be called Ancient Lakes in the Columbia Valley and would be bordered by the Quincy basin region. Some or all grapes planted by Saint Laurent Winery, White Heron Cellars, Ryan Patrick Vineyards, Jones of Washington and Cave B Estates would be included in the region, Williams said.

Arredondo said the group has asked Joan Davenport, a professor of geology and soils at Washington State University, to write an essay about the unique qualities of Quincy basin grapes and wines for submission to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau.

“She helped to get the Snipes AVA approved, so I’m sure she could help us,” Arredondo said. “Our grapes are very unique in a good way as far as an AVA is concerned. Getting an AVA would be a great marketing tool for the wineries and the area as a whole. This would show up in magazines and national media. It would talk about the area as a whole, including restaurants and other things that we have to offer here.”

“(The Quincy wineries) have come together and worked very well,” Williams said. “I’m positive (that our AVA will be approved). I have no doubt at all.”