Who makes it
Beside the Columbia River in eastern Washington, Columbia Crest makes wine at Paterson, Washington, and is the first winery in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. It is also the Northwest's largest winery. Doug Gore was Columbia Crest's first winemaker, and Guy Barnes is its head winemaker.
Columbia Crest was founded in 1982. Its winery and visitor centre were officially dedicated and opened in June, with Doug Gore serving as the first winemaker. During his tenure, Gore worked with Washington State University to establish irrigation research. The research found that grapevines could handle smaller amounts of water than previously thought.
Where it grows
The Columbia River setting places Columbia Crest in eastern Washington, while the Horse Heaven Hills name marks a defined American winegrowing area. That place name appears in the H3 collection, which celebrates the winery's Horse Heaven Hills heritage. Grand Estates Merlot carries Columbia Valley as its appellation, placing the bottle within the broader Washington wine region.
The estate vineyards receive six to eight inches of annual rainfall. Columbia Crest's vines therefore grow in a markedly dry setting, where water supply is a central part of vineyard management.
How it is made
The cellar
Columbia Crest reports 2,500 acres of estate vineyards. Water reaches the vines through drip irrigation, which applies measured water directly to the vine rows.
What they make
The range is divided into three collections. Grand Estates is built around an authentic interpretation of each varietal, with Grand Estates Merlot presented as a Columbia Valley red. Reserve wines come from selected vineyard sites and are made in the winery's Petit Chai. H3 celebrates Columbia Crest's heritage in the Horse Heaven Hills.
The producer describes Grand Estates Merlot with chocolate, cassis, and dark cherry aromas, blackberry flavour, and smooth, velvety tannins.