Forty Years of Vineyard Designated Wine in Washington State
Washington State s first vineyard designated wines were released in 1981. Mike and Jonathon Sauer of Red Willow Vineyard talk about how this practice started in the Pacific Northwest. February 25, 2021
The 1981 Cabernet Sauvignon from Associated Vintners (later Columbia Winery) is the first vineyard designate wine from Red Willow Vineyard.
YAKIMA, WASH (Feb 23, 2021) Washington State’s wine industry is very young when compared on the world stage, but its anniversary celebrations show how far this region has come with growing and producing wine.
This year marks 40 years of vineyard designated wines in Washington State. The 1981 Associated Vintners Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Willow Vineyard was one of three vineyard designated wines released that year. The other two vineyards were Otis Vineyard in the Yakima Valley and Sagemoore Vineyard in the Columbia Valley.