“Philanthropy isn’t something we do alongside our business — it’s at the heart of our business,” says Cameron James, general manager at Tinte Cellars.
This isn’t what you expect to hear from a winery. You expect deep dives in grape selection and swooning about terroir. When Tim Gamble and Teresa Spellman Gamble founded Tinte Cellars in 2018, their goal was to produce “great wine for the greater good.”
For Tinte Cellars, achieving their philanthropic mission pairs equally with the production of award-winning Washington state wine.
Building Community Glass by Glass
“Tinte’s philanthropy, combined with great wines, is a way of building community,” says Tim Gamble , noting that wine is social and communal. When people gather with a glass of wine in hand, they get to know one another, they begin to care about making new friends, and take a greater interest in supporting their communities. Wine lends itself to a convivial atmosphere that fosters this kind of spirit.
Since June 2018, Tinte Cellars has donated over $1.6 million in cash and in-kind gifts to more than 270 unique charities. Every year, a portion of sales are allocated to that year’s chosen beneficiaries via quarterly cash donations.
Currently, these nonprofit beneficiaries are: Mary’s Place, Northwest Harvest, Seattle Children’s Psychiatric Urgent Care Clinic and the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic.
The winery gives numerous in-kind donations throughout the year. James says requests are typically made by club members, staff and the greater community. Tinte Cellars also volunteers regularly throughout the community and encourages their club members to join them in these activities. Requests for auction donations and hosting on-site events are reviewed weekly. You can learn more here: https://tintecellars.com/community/
Tinte Cellars has a tasting room in Seattle’s historic Georgetown neighborhood and a winery and tasting room in Woodinville’s Warehouse District. In their Georgetown tasting room, rotating art exhibits are displayed every quarter by artists who agree to make a donation to a nonprofit from their art sales.
The Woodinville location has both a tasting room and production area. Expansive windows into the cellars allow guests to see winemaker Noah Fox Reed working. “The classic Warehouse District hosts numerous small wineries, many with production space that gives a glimpse into the winemaking process. There has been a nice resurgence in guests wanting to experience that side of a winery visit,” says James.
Red Mountain is Singing
In 2022, Tinte launched their estate program in the Red Mountain AVA. This year marks their second vintage with the release of the Estate Red Blend (Merlot and Cabernet Franc) and the Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, a “signature wine” full of chewy, dense fruit with an undertone of earthiness and savoriness. “Exactly what Red Mountain fruit offers best,” says James.
“We have such unique terroir in Washington,” James adds. This year, he notes that the grapes are “really singing” on Red Mountain.
In the last five years, Tinte Estates has acquired three vineyards to strengthen its uncommon position as a producer of Washington estate wines. Portrait Vineyard, purchased in 2022, is 14 acres of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The vineyard was named in honor of Eve Shaw, the former owner who was an accomplished painter, as is Tinte Cellars’ owner, Teresa Spellman Gamble.
The smaller Vignette Vineyard, purchased in 2021, is five acres of established Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Petit Verdot and Syrah vines. Grenache Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon have been planted and will likely be harvested for the first time in 2027.
The third vineyard, Sidewinder (formerly Sugarloaf), is in the highly regarded Rattlesnake Hills AVA and was purchased about a year and a half ago. All of Tinte’s vineyards are under the watchful eye of vineyard manager Andrew Schultz, owner of Brothers in Farms. Tinte Estates chose to work with Schultz, not just because of his vineyard acumen, but because his collaborative-style of business aligns with the Gambles’ values.
“The vineyards were all very good to start with,” James says. “Andrew, in concert with Tinte Cellars winemaker, Noah Fox Reed, is making them great.”
James says the most recent period of vintages is exceptionally good. “The 2023 reds stand apart. They are super rich, ripe, structured and complex.”
The 2025 vintages of Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc and two rosé wines were recently released. “The whites are incredible. Aromatic, structured, beautiful. It’s a ‘Goldilocks’ vintage,” laughs James. “Every bottle is just right.”
