Wineries in our midst

October 18th, 2009 | By: Jamie Peha

What do a contractor, an anesthesiologist, two attorneys, a dentist and a marketing guru have in common? They represent the six partnering couples who own Sammamish-based Rock Meadow Cellars.

Dining one evening in the barn on one couple’s property, these close friends made a commitment to take their shared love of red wine and delicious cuisine to the next level by becoming respectable winemakers. Thus, what started as a hobby to make just two barrels of wine has turned into a bonded Washington winery producing nearly 500 cases–about 20 barrels–per year!

Rock Meadow Cellars has a community of wine-loving followers who show up at the annual Bash in Grass to purchase 95 percent of the company’s wine production. Limited quantities of Rock Meadow Cellars red wines can be found at the Plateau QFC; otherwise, contact the winery to obtain a bottle, which will range from $13 to $20. The popular Rockin’ Red blend, which uses a different varietal blend of grapes each year, is a recent Gold Medal award winner at the Tri-Cities Wine Competition.

Peter Frame and Carolyn and John Rossi, three of the twelve partners, said most of their grapes come from Sagemoor Vineyards in Eastern Washington; specifically the Bacchus and Dionysus vineyards. They add that Tom Glaze, winemaker at Balboa and Beresan in Walla Walla was instrumental in guiding them through the process of buying fruit and making introductions to the growers. Tom also acted as a mentor during the wine making process. The finished product is a selection of varietals and blends that are getting noticed on the bigger stage through awards and word of mouth. So, what’s next for Rock Meadow Cellars? Almost at capacity at the Buckinghams’ barn on their Rock Meadow property, they have some decisions to make.

“We haven’t determined yet whether to stay small like this or take this to the next level,” said one owner. Some changes are in the works, however. Moving from strictly red production, Rock Meadows will release a Chardonnay and a Rosé this fall.

The Rock Meadow Cellars partners are passionate about winemaking and sharing it with family and friends. “This is a fun business and we want to be known as the fun place to enjoy quality, affordable, hand-crafted wines.”

3020 Issaquah Pine Lake Rd, Suite 543, Sammamish, 98075

Tiger Mountain Winery

Tracy Maher and John Girt were two of the very first Washington Wine Ambassadors, a group of volunteers started in 2002 to promote Washington wine and educate consumers. While maintaining their day jobs, as many small wine producers do, the Girts have been producing wine as Tiger Mountain Winery since 2006. For the Girts, winemaking is a labor of love.

Both John and Tracy brought a love for wine to their partnership–John hailed from the Northern California region and Tracy owns family orchards and has always had an affinity for agriculture. Together, they discovered wine in Woodinville back when there were just a few wineries, and they were surprised by the outstanding quality. At the time, DeLille Cellars was seeking volunteers for crushing and bottling. While volunteering, the Girts met the owner of Matthews Cellars and signed up to work their first wine dinner. A week later, they heard that Bob Betz, a noted Master of Wine, needed help bottling his first release. Bob became a great teacher and mentor for them. That first year, Bob offered the small amount of juice he had left to the Girts, who took it home and made their very own two cases. Upon reaching the legal amount a home winemaker can produce, 200 gallons, the Girts decided to go commercial.

John and Tracy are long time Issaquah residents who moved into their South Cove home in 1994. While their garage-turned-winemaking-facility is almost at full capacity, the Girts want to keep their winery in Issaquah. They are tinkering with the idea of a tasting room for Tiger Mountain Winery, or a consortium with other local winemakers. Current wine production is 400 cases.

“Good relationships with vineyard owners is the key to producing top quality wines, and our interests lie in making small lots of wine,” says John. Favorite winemaking experiments include testing different blends, trying a new varietal, using different types of Oak, or blending fruit from young and old vines.

The Girts are passionate about supporting the local economy and small local businesses. John hopes that once he retires, he can devote himself to winemaking full–time.

Tiger Mountain Wines are a great value, with a price range of $11 to $15. The 2007 Roussane/Viognier blend is available at local QFCs for $14. It is a perfect sipping wine with more character than your average white wine. To find other Tiger Mountain Wines contact the winery directly. If you’re interested in volunteering at a winery, the Girts would be happy to help!

4629 191st Avenue SE, Issaquah, 98029, 425.562.4205

William Church Winery

William Church Winery is a family-owned, boutique winery making its mark in the Warehouse District in North Woodinville. Owners Rod and Leslie Balsley are long time Sammamish residents who began their journey making wine at their home near Tibbett Station. After many years in the computer industry, the Balsleys decided to follow their passion for home winemaking, and created William Church Winery. Unlike many who foray into the winemaking industry, the Balsleys have a five year plan. They are focused and dedicated to seeking out the best grape sources and blending rigorous winemaking standards and creative artistry to produce award-winning wines. Current release is about 1,500 cases and a plan to reassess their growth in 2010 is in place. As with many new wineries, William Church wants to remain a boutique winery, staying under 5,000 cases a year, because it allows them to remain close to their customers, create community and actually enjoy the lifestyle along the way.

The name William Church honors the legacy of their family, as it’s named for each of their fathers. The rose window design found on their wine labels is based on French Cathedral architecture and signifies the beauty, completeness and balance they want to achieve in each wine.

Bishop’s Blend, an easy drinking red wine blend loaded with flavor, boasts six different grapes this year, including Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Syrah and Sangiovese. A great value at $19, this wine is aged for 15 months in new and used oak barrels. Making this type of “workhorse” blend is prevalent among many wineries today, as it allows the winery to utilize remaining juice from other varietals to make an interesting, affordable and dynamic wine great for restaurant glass pour offerings as well as distribution channels. Known for their rich and full bodied Syrah ($28), William Church also produces a lovely stainless steel fermented Conner Lee Vineyard Viognier for $20 a bottle.

A testament to their popularity, William Church is currently sold out of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. All of their wines have garnered numerous awards and accolades. Look for select premium blends to be released in the near future. William Church wines are available at QFC Pine Lake and QFC Klahanie, as well as Fles Wine Shop in Issaquah’s Gilman Village.

19495 144th Ave NE, Suite A100, Woodinville, 98072, 425.427.0764