When solar industry executive Russ Hamilton and his wife Stacie, a CPA, began to consider retiring, they realized their two main hobbies were wine tasting and traveling. “I thought, how can we take those two passions and make them tax deductible,” says Stacie. In 2006, they approached winemaker and consultant Charlie Hoppes, who agreed to make wine for them. The couple later opened a tasting room in Richland but yearned for their own vineyard on Red Mountain. Their search uncovered a very special ten-acre parcel located on Sunset Road they felt would prove a perfect site to grow Malbec, the winery’s signature varietal. Wine grower Dick Boushey was recruited to plant the vineyard in early 2014.
The solar-powered 5,000-square-foot purple and dark grey winery has sweeping 180-degree valley views from both inside and outside of the tasting room, and the grounds include a massive wraparound deck, gazebo, rock waterfall, and a wine grotto where wine club events are held.
Hamilton Cellars 201o Red Mountain Malbec displays red and black fruit aromas, with hedonistic dark fruit flavors of black cherry, dark plum, mocha, mint, coriander and plush mouth-coating tannins that glide endlessly on the finish.
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding
Alcohol: 14.8%
Website: www.hamiltoncellars.com