Yes, you can create world-class vineyards in a desert climate if you harness the nourishment from the snow and ice-fed rivers of the Columbia basin. While the fledgling western Oregon wine region was proving its worth with cool marine climate grape varietals, 20th century Washington wine pioneers began with white wine grapes, then shifted their attention to red wine resources as sun-baked slopes proved ideal for nurturing vines for crimson clarets...particularly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and lately, Syrah.

There are currently five appellations in Washington...Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley, Walla Walla, Red Mountain and Puget Sound. All but the latter are east of the Cascade range. The rolling, open hills of the eastern regions are economical to cultivate when irrigation is provided and this has led to an explosion of vineyards and wineries. The state is now the nation’s second largest producer of premium wines...a $2.6 billion industry of well over 350 wineries and 28,000 vineyard acres. The Mitchell Wines inventory includes select examples of the Evergreen state’s premium wine output.

Baer Winery
Woddinville, Washington — Winemaker Lance Baer founded Baer Winery in 2000 with a single passion—to bring something unique to Woodinville. After years of working with some of the most prestigious wineries in the area, Lance wanted to take his winemaking skills in his own, creative, direction. Lance succeeded in handcrafting blends distinctly his own, and in April 2003 the winery’s signature blend, Ursa, was released. Ursa, a feminine expression of red wine, predominantly Merlot and Cabernet Franc, was soon followed by Arctos, a bolder Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend. Sadly, Lance Baer passed away in May of 2007, at the too young age of 39, but the Baer family, Lisa and Les, and the contingent of friends and volunteers who are passionate about wine are continuing to produce the wines that Lance was devoted to creating. Though Lance was always a self-proclaimed control freak he created a community at Baer Winery of family, friends, and other helping hands who are passionate about wine and share his vision to offer something just a little different.

Baer Winery is one of the Woodinville family of elite wine producers. This small, family-owned and operated enterprise is dedicated to producing the finest blends of exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. Single vineyard and reserve wines will also be available in select vintages. Limited production.

Camaraderie Cellars
Port Angeles, Washington — Camaraderie Cellars is owned by Don and Vicki Corson who have made the Olympic Peninsula their home since 1990. Making wine in Port Angeles does seem a bit out of the ordinary since it is located on the "wet" west side of the Cascade Mountains and the grapes are from vineyards on the "dry" east side. But the winery is some distance from the grapes, ocean breezes from the Strait of Juan de Fuca make the Olympic Peninsula an ideal place for making wine.

Besides Camaraderie Cellar's location, its wines are distinctive for their pedigree. They are fortunate to have long-term relationships with Fred Artz at Artz Vineyards on Red Mountain, and Paul Champoux at Mercer Ranch. These vineyards are regularly mentioned as among Washington's best, a tribute to Fred and Paul's passion for excellence, a passion Camaraderie Cellars happens to share.

Donedei Wines
Olympia, Washington — Donedei is a small boutique winery located outside Olympia, Washington, founded in 1997. Total production for the winery is between 750-1000 cases per year, depending on the whims of nature. They currently produce two Bordeaux style wines: a Merlot, and a Cabernet Sauvignon.

Forgeron Cellars
Walla Walla, Washington — Forgeron is the French word for blacksmith as the winery/tasting room was the former site of a blacksmith shop. The word "Forgeron" also has a slightly different meaning in French, referring to artisans who build with their hands combining experience with an extensive knowledge of their trade. This is the vision that Marie-Eve Gilla, part owner and winemaker, brings to the winery each day, crafting complex, food friendly wines from vineyards chosen for maturity and flavor profile.

Forgeron Cellars has contracted with many vineyards strategically located across the Yakima, Columbia and Walla-Walla Valleys. Their focus is on reflecting the quality of grapes from the best sites and to reveal the full potential of Washington State. They are also actively developing distinct vineyards in Walla Walla, illustrating their long-term commitment to the industry in this valley they are proud to call home.

Gifford Hirlinger
Walla Walla, Washington — Gifford Hirlinger is a small family owned operation that started way back in 2001. It started out simply enough, growing grapes and selling them to local wineries. But after a couple of years they decided to complicate their lives by getting into the winemaking aspect of the business… resulting in Gifford Hirlinger.

Guardian Cellars
Woodinville, Washington— Jerry Riener’s passion for winemaking started out when he would volunteer at various Woodinville wineries on his days off from his job as a police officer. Volunteering soon turned into a second 40 hour a week job. That job paid in wine. In 2001, Jerry met Mark Ryan McNeilly (owner and winemaker at Mark Ryan Winery) and before he knew it they were expanding Mark’s winery from warehouse to warehouse and into the well-regarded business it is today. In 2003, with no intention to venture out on his own, Jerry made two barrels of Cabernet inside Mark Ryan Winery. When 2004 rolled around, Mark wanted to give something back for the years Jerry spent helping him. After several conversations over beer and garlic fries, Mark encouraged Jerry to start his own winery and offered him his contract at Conner Lee Vineyard - the fruit source for Mark’s Gun Metal blend. He even let Jerry take the wine name as well, a name perfect for a cop-turned-winemaker. Over the next 7 years, Jerry continued to grow Guardian Cellars from those first two barrels to 140 barrels in 2010 with the help of his fiancé, Jennifer Sullivan. In the meantime, he still works fulltime as a police officer and Jennifer still works as a journalist.

Guardian Cellars makes Bordeaux-style single varietals and blends, Syrah and Sauvignon Blanc sourced from such Washing vineyards as Klipsun, Stillwater Creek, Conner Lee, Kiona and Destiny Ridge.

Jones of Washington
Columbia Valley, Washington— Jones of Washington is a family owned and operated winery that is committed to small-batch artisanal wines crafted with all the love and attention that people who are closely tied to the land can make.

Jack Jones started planting wine grapes on the Wahluke Slope in 1997. He is the owner while Greg Jones (his son) oversees the operation. Jones Vineyards primarily contracts its wine grapes to other wineries throughout Washington State and the US, with only the select grapes going into the Jones of Washington wines. Grapes purchased from Jones Vineyard have gone into numerous award-winning wines.

Kiona Vineyards and Winery
Benton City, Washington — The Williams family planted the first vineyards on what is now known as the Red Mountain Appellation in 1975. Since then, Kiona Vineyards and Winery has developed a world-wide reputation for releasing wines of extraordinary quality year after year. Even after growing grapes and making wine for over 30 years, Kiona's passionate pursuit of quality in all aspects of our business perseveres.

Murphys Law
Washington & Oregon — Murphy's Law is David O'Reilly's newest "value" wine label. Murphy's Law is a well-priced, quaffable line, including a red, white, and rose blend! Affordable blends containing quality grapes from various Pacific Northwest vineyards.

Rockwell Brown
North Bend, Washington —  Rockwell-Brown is dedicated to making one wine, and one style of wine only: an outstanding old world Bordeaux style blended red wine using the best fruit of the new world. One label, one wine. And very small production.

The 20 acre Rockwell Brown Vineyard is located within the Red Mountain AVA in Eastern Washington. It adjoins some of the most highly celebrated vineyards in the state. They have 18.5 acres planted in traditional Bordeaux varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. The reputation of the fruit and wines produced from this area has brought Red Mountain AVA worldwide acclaim. The vineyards in this appellation have produced grapes for some of the most sought after wines in Washington State. 

We are currently selling the 2006 which is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Grapes are from the 3 Hedges Estate Vineyards: Hedges, Bel’ Villa and Red Mountain. The wine is 100% barrel aged for an average of 22 months in 70% new oak consisting of 66% French, 22% American, 12% European. This is a special wine!
 
Tilda
Columbia Valley, Washington — Raised by caring and tempered hands, this wine was inspired in part by the wonderful everyday-drinking wines of the Rhone Valley of southern France. She boasts a playful button nose of violets and gingerbread, a screaming palate of candied black fruits with a wild finish, thankfully balanced by structure and freshness. Our intense and precocious "l'enfant terrible" is a tribute to tortured parents everywhere. Take a "time out" and raise a glass to Tilda - the over indulged little cherub with an alter ego, only a mother and father could love!

Trust Cellars
Walla Walla, Washington — In 2003 Steve and Lori Brooks left their former lives as journalists for CNN in Atlanta, threw caution to the wind and moved to Eastern Washington with dreams of starting a winery. With a background as a true foodie, Steve understood good wine as well. To become an actual winemaker, Steve took classes at the Center for Enology and Viticulture in Walla Walla. He’s built up a strong wine work resumé with time spent in the cellars of Walla Walla Vintners, Northstar, Long Shadows, Basel Cellars, Va Piano and Chateau Rollat. He opened Trust Cellars and had his first vintage in 2005.

In the naming of Trust Cellars, they again followed their heart. "When we sat down and thought about what we had done--" Brooks said, "--quitting our well-paying jobs, selling our house, taking the kids out of school and moving cross-country to a town where we didn't know anyone... and then on top of that starting a winery... Trust seemed like the perfect description." 

Trust Cellars make Cabernet, Syrah, Riesling and a Cabernet Franc Rosé from various Washington vineyards. "Each one brings something to the table when it's time to put a blend together. I tend to favor hotter sites for Cabernet and cooler sites for Syrah, but I always keep an open mind and try to taste as many different spots as I can." In general, Brooks likes to keep his style streamlined. "The wine is an expression of the vineyard," Brooks said. "I try not to cover that up, so nothing heavy handed. I just let nature play out."

Whitman Cellars     
Walla Walla, Washington — John Edwards and Larry & Sally Thomason started the winery with their first crush in 1998, and opened a downtown Walla Walla tasting room in 2001. Fruit is purchased from Walla Walla and Red Mountain vineyards. Steve Lessard, a veteran of more than 20 years as a winemaker, is responsible for crafting all of the Whitman wines.