Flying Trout Wines, part of the TERO Estates, Waters Winery and 21 Grams family, is excited to announce the return of winemaker Ashley Trout to it’s helm. Trout founded the brand shortly after her graduation from Whitman College in 2004. She worked as the proprietor and winemaker for the brand until 2010 when she sold the winery to TERO Estates and took on the role of Creative Director for Flying Trout and Associate Winemaker for TERO Estates. Following the birth of her second child a year ago, Trout made the decision to become a stay-at-home mother to be with her young children.
Winemaker Ashley Trout with Doug Roskelley of TERO Estates.
“While my children are of tremendous importance to me, these wines and this label were what defined me before the family. I simply didn’t feel complete cutting out a huge part of my identity. I need a creative outlet and an intellectual focus. Time and time again, incrementally, the wines kept calling and I couldn’t shake it,” mentioned Trout.
This isn’t the first big change in her family life this month, this past week it was announced that Trout’s husband, Brian Rudin, has accepted the position of winemaker for Duckhorn’s ambitious new Washington-based winery, Canvasback. For the past few years Rudin has been working as the winemaker for the highly regarded Cadaretta and Buried Cane, both part of the Middleton Family Wines collection.
In her absence, Doug Roskelley, winemaker at TERO Estates, took over all winemaker responsibilities for the brand and did a phenomenal job of continuing the brands focus both with their Washington Malbecs and Malbec blends, and the Argentinian wines they produce. With Ashley’s return, Roskelley will be able to refocus some of his efforts on TERO’s critically acclaimed wines, their highly regarded estate vineyard, Windrow and the development of a new winery facility in Walla Walla.
Ashley plans to continue Flying Trouts strong focus on Malbecs from various AVA’s in the northern hemisphere and Argentinian wines. She starts back on the job Monday, May 19, 2014.
“We couldn’t be more excited to bring Ashley back to our team. We have been growing rapidly over the past year and achieving great levels of critical and personal success, but her return will help our winemaking team ensure that all of our brands are properly focused and refined,” said Roskelley.
Trout welcomes you to come visit her soon at the winery in Milton-Freewater or at the downtown Walla Walla tasting room located in the Marcus Whitman Hotel to catch up on her adventures over the past year. The tasting room is located at 6 W. Rose Street, Suite 103 in Walla Walla.
For additional information on Flying Trout Wines and TERO Estates visit www.TEROEstates.com. For additional information on Waters Winery and 21 Grams visit www.WatersWinery.com.