Brock Lindsay, award-winning winemaker and co-owner of Succession Wines and Alta Cellars in the Lake Chelan community of Manson, Wash., died early Saturday as result of a utility vehicle accident on a windy rural road. He was 40.
According to Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison, his deputies and Manson firefighters responded at 1:34 a.m. Saturday to a report of an injury accident in the 500 block of Klate Road. They found Lindsay, the single-occupant driver, and a side-by-side vehicle off the road. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and the coroner’s office determined he died as a result of the crash. The accident occurred a short drive from his winery.
“The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office would like to express our deepest condolences to the Lindsay family,” Morrison wrote in his report. “Brock’s positive influence on the community of Manson and the people in the Chelan Valley will be missed.”
Lindsay and his team began to harvest the 2023 vintage on Wednesday, Aug. 23 with Chardonnay for sparkling wine.
“With heavy hearts and profound sadness, we share the untimely and tragic passing of Brock Lindsay, beloved winemaker and co-owner of Succession Wines and Alta Cellars,” the company stated in a news release Saturday afternoon. “It is an immeasurable loss for his family, friends, employees and the entire Lake Chelan community.”
He is survived by his wife and co-owner, Erica, and daughters Layla and Reese.
“Let us remember Brock’s contributions to the wine industry and honor the legacy he leaves behind,” the statement concluded.
Industry members quickly began to learn of the news as they met Saturday at the Town Toyota Center for the annual Wenatchee Wine and Food Festival. Organizers said one winemaking friend of the Lindsays was overcome with grief and withdrew from pouring at the evening event.
- UPDATE: Friends have set up this GoFundMe campaign on behalf of Erica, Layla and Reese. Within the first two days, supporters exceeded half of the stated goal.
Succession named 2018 WA Winery to Watch
His early master strokes as a winemaker led Wine Press Northwest magazine to name Succession Wines as the 2018 Washington Winery to Watch.
The Lindsays rapidly earned acclaim for their wines and admiration for their ability to overcome hardship. A Seattle native, he graduated from Montana State University in 2006, going on to become a structural engineer and project manager for Highmark Concrete Contractors. His projects in the Puget Sound area included construction of the new Highway 520 bridge — officially the Gov. Albert D. Rosellini Bridge — and the latest Manette Bridge in Bremerton.
However, he and Erica, then a marketing executive with Hewlett-Packard, grew attached to the Chelan area where her family had a cabin. He began making small lots of hobby wine, cultivated connections with vintners and got into Washington State University’s winemaking program as winery ownership was turning from a dream into a second career.
In 2014, the Lindsays had just started their family but soon lost their newly built home to the massive Carlton Complex fire that burned for six weeks, scorched more than 256,000 acres and claimed 300 homes in the region of Pateros and Alta Lake.
Undaunted, the Lindsays launched Succession Wines with 600 cases, opening in 2016 while pouring reds from the 2013 vintage and 2015 whites. They didn’t produce wines from the 2014 vintage.
His affable demeanor and business sense earned the respect of esteemed growers and access to grapes from buzz-worthy vineyards such as Bacchus, Candy Mountain, Conner Lee, Quintessence and Lawrence. Viticulture knowledge he gained via WSU led to him becoming the vineyard manager of Antoine Creek.
Accolades came quickly. At the 2017 Wenatchee Wine Awards, Lindsay’s 2015 reds and 2016 whites combined for two unanimous double gold medals and four gold medals on the way to a remarkable six best-of-class honors. A few months later, Succession earned three Platinum awards during Wine Press Northwest’s 2017 best-of-the-best judging. Those included his 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2015 Cabernet Franc.
“That was amazing — when you put your heart and soul into something and somebody else thinks it’s pretty good, too,” he said during a 2018 interview.
From 2,000 cases toward 10,000 in 5 years
In 2018, he bottled 2,000 cases, but that would not be nearly enough. The hospitality and vibe he and Erica created — combined with a prime location overlooking Lake Chelan next to their friends at Cairdeas Winery and the ongoing excellence of the wines — set them up for continued success.
Among the examples of the Lindsays’s entrepreneurial spirit was their 2021 acquisition of Alta Cellars, a modest label with a prized tasting room location in downtown Manson. That addition also meant the winemaking team would grow its annual production toward 10,000 cases.
And from the start, Succession paid homage to his previous career by branding the flagship red as Bridge Builder’s Blend. The L&R White Wine, a Sauvignon Blanc, is named as a tribute to their daughters.
I am heartbroken to hear of this tragedy. I’ve known & loved Brock his entire life. I can hear his deep, laugh echoing & see his huge smile.. Erica, my thoughts & prayers are with you & the girls, the Lindsay family & everyone that knew & loved Brock. This is devastating news. I am so very, very saddened. My love always, Carleen
My wife and I are heartbroken. We first fell in Love with Brock and Erica and their beautiful daughters. Then we fell in Love with their story of success. As they became more successful in their business venture, Brock never forgot his roots or his friends. Thank you Brock for the many years of friendship. I will miss you my Friend. Perry Hopkins
Devastated and shaken by the news. Thoughts are with his beautiful family. Amazed at what Brock and Erica have been able to achieve, truly inspirational and beautiful.
So very sad and a large kiss for the Lake Chelan wine families. So vibrant & fun & outgoing!! Prayers to his family … you will be missed. 💔💔🙏🍷
This man was a gift to us all! His huge spirit, generous nature and passion for life was infectious! I’m sure he made everybody feel like he was your friend. He will be greatly missed!
Didn’t know Brock well, but had been introduced to him when they lived in Brewster. We visited their winery a number of times. Was very impressed with his knowledge and ambition.
My condolences go out to his friends and family. Although I only saw and spoke to him when he would come to pick up his grapes, he was always so kind and respectful. He always had this infectious smile on his face and was extremely understanding when we would be a little behind with his grapes. He was one of the winemakers that I looked forward to seeing during Harvest. I will be praying for healing hearts.
He was an amazing person! While we didn’t personally know him, we love his wine and his story. We had the privilege of doing a tasting with him a couple weeks ago and loved every moment of it! My thoughts and prayers are being sent to his family, friends and the whole Chelan Wine community.
While only meeting him and his lovely family once, I felt the warmth and passion Brock had for winemaking and friends. My family and I loved the setting and the wines at succession. What a deviating loss. My thoughts are with his family and the community. 💔🍷
My heartfelt condolences go out to his wife and young daughters, his whole family, and the winemakers in Chelan and beyond. We have loved Succession wines since the tasting room opened next to Cairdeas. This is shocking, tragic news. A life lost too young.
We met Brock and his family a couple years back performing at the Wine and Jazz Festival.
He was always warm, friendly and inviting, someone you just wanted to be around.
He will be sorely missed.