Snohomish, WA — Quilceda Creek Winery, one of the oldest family-owned wineries in Washington, has added a pristine 16.8-acre vineyard planted to Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varietals on Red Mountain to its vineyard portfolio. The transaction bolsters Quilceda Creek’s position in the Red Mountain American Viticultural Area.
Planted in the spring of 2014 under the guidance of renowned vineyard manager Dick Boushey and developed in partnership with The Duckhorn Portfolio team specifically for use in their Canvasback label. The vineyard sits strategically at 1,100 feet elevation between Antinori’s Col Solare vineyard and Force Majeure. Located two-thirds of a mile from Quilceda Creek’s Galitzine Vineyard, this site is higher in elevation with silt loam soils and more exposed to wind.
“This is a gorgeous high elevation vineyard, a little closer to the stars,” says Paul Golitzin, president of Quilceda Creek. “The vines, at 12 years old, are just hitting their stride, and I’m excited to work with the additional Bordeaux clones planted here. We are looking forward to optimizing how we farm this site under the leadership of our long-time vineyard manager Dan Nickolaus, and are extremely excited about its potential,” he adds.
Red Mountain, a 4,040-acre sub-appellation within Yakima Valley, represents an ancient anticline formation that has become well-known in the Washington State for Bordeaux varieties. The area’s signature 40-plus degree diurnal temperature swings preserve natural acidity while ensuring complete ripeness, created by intense sun exposure and protective Yakima River airflow. These conditions, combined with thin soils that allow precise irrigation management, produce a concentrated fruit quality.
“We are gratified that a winery as exceptional as Quilceda Creek appreciates the quality of the site, and we’re confident they will be excellent stewards,” commented PJ Alviso, vice president of winegrowing for The Duckhorn Portfolio.
About Quilceda Creek
Quilceda Creek was established in 1978 by Alex and Jeannette Golitzin. The winery’s first vintage was in 1979, making Quilceda Creek the 12th oldest winery in Washington after Prohibition. Alex Golitzin’s inspiration to start the winery was nurtured through many visits to the Napa Valley in his youth, where he spent time with his maternal uncle, André Tchelistcheff, the legendary Napa Valley winemaker known as the “Dean of American Winemaking.” Paul Golitzin joined his father as winemaker in 1992 and as president of the company today, directs all aspects of vineyard management and winemaking. Quilceda Creek wines are an expression of four vineyards: Champoux, Galitzine, Mach One, and the new acquisition.