MikeL's Guide to WA Wineries
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| 1991 Tradition label | 1988 Merlot label | tasting room building |
Vineyards: 80 acres
Distribution: Washington State, and limited distribution in Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Tennessee, and Florida.
History:
Brothers Jeff and Bill, with their families, began farming in 1977, starting with several different crops. By the 1990's, they were farming nearly 2,000 acres of potatoes, onions, seedgrass, cherries, Asian pears and English walnuts, including winegrapes planted in 1980. Prominent Washington Wineries like Woodward Canyon Winery, Leonetti Cellar, and The Hogue Cellars have purchased Gordon Brothers' grapes for years and made award-winning wines with intense varietal fruit and depth.
The brothers established Gordon Brothers Cellars in 1985 with Jeff as winemaker in order to showcase their high-quality grapes. The winery now consumes 15% of the vineyard's annual production, with an ever increasing demand, but Bill and Jeff continue to reserve enough for their own winery. In January 1997, Marie-Eve Gilla took over the winemakers duties.
The eighty-acre Gordon Brothers' vineyards lie on a perfectly-oriented south-facing slope that rolls down the Snake River just above Ice Harbor Dam and the confluence of the Snake and Columbia Rivers in southeastern Washington. These mature Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Chardonnay vines are proving that the Gordon Brothers vineyard has a singular, superior micro-climate with superb air drainage and all the favorable effects of river sites for grape growing.
In May-2002, the winery has been sold to owners of the CA winery Freemark Abbey, Legacy Estates Group. Jeff had Gordon bought out his brother Bill's share in the winery in 1998. Jeff is excited about this future in hopes that it will allow him to focus on grapegrowing, his core passion.
The Wines: Current releases (Winter 1997)
Reds: Whites:
Winemakers:
Jeff Gordon 1985? - Jan-1997
Marie-Eve Gilla Jan-1997 - present
Of special note:
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