There are the greats, and here are the budding stars. The second largest premium wine producer may occupy over 900 wineries, but there is always more room to love. Washington Wine Month is still rolling for a little while longer — let’s welcome some promising producers to the state’s flourishing wine scene.
March Cellars || One of Walla Walla Valley’s newest arrivals finds inspiration in the “toil and tumult” of the American Frontier, channeling a spirit of tenacity through their wine production. Portraits of the American West wrap around each bottle of wine, including Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon. This isn’t Founder Ashley Trout’s first venture — she has been making a name for herself in the wine industry since she was 18. Trout also opened Vital Wines in 2016, a community-based, nonprofit winery designed to provide affordable healthcare to seasonal vineyard and winery workers.
Wit Cellars || Three friends put their heads together to open a winery, “whatever it takes” to create wine in the name of passion, community and “the flow of soul.” These three friends — Flint Nelson, Carolina Warwick and Gina Adams-Royer — were already embedded in the wine industry upon starting Wit Cellars, from the production facility to the tasting room. The Prosser winery shows no signal of slowing down since its opening in 2016. Wit has been taking advantage of Washington’s diverse crop and boasting a wide lineup of varietals and blends.
Co Dinn Cellars || Co Dinn produces wine like he knows the Columbia Valley inside and out. And he should, since he worked as the director of winemaking in the area for Hogue Cellars for years. Dinn has since left the Prosser giant to refine his own craft and get back in the artisanal process of winemaking. Co Dinn Cellars line-up sharpens its focus on the sub-appellation of the Yakima Valley, striving to incorporate the character of its continental climate.
Pearl and Stone Wine Co. || Pearl and Stone came to fruition after three families banded together with an inspired vision of family and deep roots in the Snoqualmie Valley. Pearl and Stone sources all grapes from Washington State — more specifically, the Yakima Valley. Since their recent opening, Snoqualmie Valley’s up-and-coming producer has released Unemployment Beach, a 2016 Rosé, and their Bordeaux-style blend called Wandering.
Eternal Wines || Eternal Wines joined Walla Walla’s distinguished wine scene in 2014. Winemaker Brad Binko sources grapes from all over the state, but his core focus rests on Washington-grown Rhone varietals like Syrah and Grenache. The winery prefers to use indigenous yeast native to the vineyards he sources from, capturing the full character of the land itself. Keep an eye out for Binko’s other venture — Drink Washington Wine — a winery driven on showcasing blends from individual Washington State AVAs.
