Fries family departs Washington wine industry with Desert Wind sale
Fries family departs Washington wine industry with Desert Wind sale By Eric Degerman on May 14, 2021
Greg Fries, and his father, Doug, and their family recently sold Desert Wind Winery and 470 acres of vineyards to a group led by Columbia Valley growers Josh Lawrence and Tom Merkle. (Photo by Lynn Howlett Photography/Courtesy of Desert Wind Winery)
PROSSER, Wash. – Less than three years ago, the Fries family owned a combined 1,017 acres of grape vines in Washington state and Oregon while producing 120,000 cases of wine under brands in each state.
This week brought news that the Fries family has sold all of its holdings in Washington Desert Wind Winery in Prosser and 470 acres of vineyards on the Wahluke Slope to a group led by acclaimed Columbia Valley growers/vintners Josh Lawrence, Tom Merkle and their families.