RICHLAND, Wash. — The Charlie Hoppes we all know now, the one who soared through the ranks at Château Ste. Michelle, who started Fidélitas, the Wine Boss … was nearly Boeing-engineer Charlie Hoppes. A Plane Boss, at best. He majored in economics, with a minor in accounting at Eastern Washington University, determined to become a Charlie Hoppes you’d trust with your money, … [Read more...] about The Wines that Made Us: Charlie Hoppes, Wine Boss and a 1980s Kiona Cab
The Wines that Made us: Seth Kitzke and Château de Beaucastel Roussanne Vieilles Vignes
RICHLAND, Wash. — Seth Kitzke spent the summers of his youth pruning vines at his family’s vineyard on Washington state’s Candy Mountain. While managing orchards north of the Sagemoor vineyards — Bacchus and Dionysus — Seth’s father, Paul, was inspired by the daily drives through the vines to plant some grapes of his own on their property. “It’s all caliche and … [Read more...] about The Wines that Made us: Seth Kitzke and Château de Beaucastel Roussanne Vieilles Vignes
The wines that made us: Shae Frichette and Pinot Grigio
BENTON CITY, Wash. — Fate has a funny way of changing the game, especially when you put your trust in it and intend to follow it — wherever it may lead you. Shae Frichette studied theater, leaving her native South Carolina for Hollywood and a chance at life in the spotlight. “I did it for three years, and I wasn’t making much…” she laments. “I took a year off to … [Read more...] about The wines that made us: Shae Frichette and Pinot Grigio
The Wines that Made Us: Rob Griffin and Louis Jadot Moulin-à-Vent
For a teen in the late 1960s, in Martinez, Calif., there was much to do, much to see. A war was happening, college campuses were on fire … hippies abounded. But for one young man, only fermentations were on his mind. “One of my very early forays into winemaking as a high-school student was making wine out of tomatoes,” says Rob Griffin, Washington’s longest-tenured winemaker … [Read more...] about The Wines that Made Us: Rob Griffin and Louis Jadot Moulin-à-Vent
The Wines that Made Us: Château Rayas for Todd Alexander
Todd Alexander, winemaker of Force Majeure, WeatherEye, The Walls, PÁŠXA Wines and his own label from Oregon fruit, Holocene, grew up in a little bit of everywhere — a fate of many whose parents served in the military. Born in Montgomery, Ala., he quickly bounced to Texas, Florida, Ohio and Arizona. He majored in history at the University of Arizona, with a minor in … [Read more...] about The Wines that Made Us: Château Rayas for Todd Alexander