A Few Days with Red Mountain

Last week, I was out in Eastern Washington for the third time in a year, after never having been on the other side of the Cascades. It was also my second trip to Red Mountain, the smallest, but also warmest AVA in the state. Last year, I was only there for a day, so this was a bigger dive into the region and to what makes the region unique.

My visit to Red Mountain started with the premiere of “Red Mountain Revealed” a documentary chronicling the history of the AVA, from the first plantings in the early 1970s to its stature today as perhaps the top wine-growing region in the state.

Here is the trailer for the film:

The group at the premiere.

The following morning started with a trip to Kiona Vineyards where we met with Scott Williams of Kiona, Tim Hedges of Hedges Family Estate, and Richsrd Holmes of Ciel du Cheval Vineyard.

The views are stunning across the AVA, including at Kiona, the first winery in the AVA.

There were several formal tastings during the week…

…and several impromptu ones, like this Cab Franc in the Ciel du Cheval vineyard.

I’m going to have to include Hedges Le Rosé in next year’s blind tasting.

I was able to spend a bit of time with Brian Rudin of Canvasback. Here, we were in Longwinds Vineyard, with Col Solare winery just down the slope.

The Canvasback Ciel du Cheval was one of the more memorable wines from the week.

And the Ciel du Cheval Vineyard is visible from practically everywhere in the AVA.

Few places can rival Red Mountain with sunsets.

I could listen to Dick Boushey all day long.

One of the best tastings was a comparison between Red Mountain and other Bordeaux-style wines from around the world.

In that tasting, the Red Mountain wines showed very well.

I stayed at the Lodge at Columbia Point, where they have these little beauties available to borrow. Emphasis on “little.”

Another tasting was held at Hedges Family Estate, which focused on the breadth of the red wines made in the AVA.

Did I mention the sunsets?

There are white wines made in Red Mountain, including this Fidélitas Sémillon.

One of my favorite wines of the week was this blend from Muret-Gaston.

I hope to be back soon to the region to try a few more wines and catch more sunsets.

About the drunken cyclist

I have been an occasional cycling tour guide in Europe for the past 20 years, visiting most of the wine regions of France. Through this "job" I developed a love for wine and the stories that often accompany the pulling of a cork. I live in Houston with my lovely wife and two wonderful sons.

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