Red Mountain AVA Wines: Discover the Magic

Explore Washington’s Red Mountain AVA, where unique terroir shapes exceptional Washington wines for travelers and wine lovers alike.

After a three-hour drive from mostly cloudy Seattle, we arrived in sunny Eastern Washington and the famous Red Mountain AVA (American Viticultural Area). Red Mountain is home to many award-winning and nationally recognized wines. Red Mountain is a sub-appellation of Yakima and part of the much larger Columbia Valley AVA.

What makes these wines so special? It is all about terroir, defined as the combination of soil, climate, and topography that ultimately influences the character of the wine. The red soil found on Red Mountain is sandy and loamy and provides excellent drainage. This drainage allows the roots to penetrate deep into the soil, accessing essential minerals and the scarce water in this desert climate. This ultimately enhances the complex flavors in the grape and in the wine. To produce award-winning red wines, it is essential to have abundant heat. This is achieved in several ways. Red Mountain is southwest-facing, so the wine grapes absorb the warm afternoon summer sun. Furthermore, this region gets over 16 hours of daylight during the height of summer.

Finally, let us not forget this is a dry environment, and with that, the temperatures cool significantly during the evening. This wide swing in temperatures between daytime and evening is called a diurnal temperature range. This feature helps develop an excellent wine structure. One last thing to mention is that Red Mountain is just a hill and measures 1,410 feet. But this hill provides some of the best growing conditions in the state.

First Tasting: Hedges Family Estate

There are so many excellent wineries to visit here that it is difficult to select which ones. That is why we have had several visits here. Our first stop during this visit was Hedges Family Estate. They are one of the few wineries that have both of these farming certifications: Certified Organic Farmer and Certified Biodynamic by Demeter International. These certificates indicate a commitment to sustainable and socially responsible farming. This is critical now with the demands growers face in the challenging climate conditions.

The Hedges Family

Tom and Annie-Marie Hedges planted their first grapes on Red Mountain in 1989 and are still involved with the business. Tom is from the area, while Annie-Marie is from a town in Champagne, France. Interestingly, they met in Mexico and then got married in France. The chateau they built at their current location has a very European look and feel. This is likely Annie-Marie’s influence.

Daughter Sarah Hedges Goedhart is the winemaker and has had an interesting path to her current role. During the summer school breaks, Sarah was recruited to work in the vineyards and on the bottling lines. This was certainly hard labor, and Sarah was looking for a change when it came time for college. She attended the University of California at Santa Barbara and received a business degree. Then, she enrolled to study chemistry with an eye on getting a veterinary degree. She has long had a passion for animals.

However, an interesting turn of events occurred. Her boyfriend (and now husband), Brent Goedhart, worked in a winery in Santa Barbara. Brent caught the wine bug and convinced Sarah that they should make wine in their small studio apartment. Then Sarah moved to Napa to work at a winery and learn all aspects of winemaking. She was hooked! After several years, her brother Chris convinced her to return to Hedges in 2006. The rest is history.

A tour of the vineyard is special. Photo courtesy of Visit Tri-Cities

Wine Tasting at Hedges

All of their wine is estate-grown from the Red Mountain AVA, and as mentioned earlier, their wine is certified organic and biodynamic. I will highlight just two of the wines we tasted. One of our favorites was the  Goedhart Family Syrah. It was smooth and well-structured, with notes of cranberry and orange. Interestingly, this is Sarah’s favorite grape to work with. Next, we tasted the Single Vineyard Limited Cabernet Franc. This is a beautiful wine with a deep, dark color, full body, and a light tannin structure. The Tasting Room features a menu of rotating entrees. We enjoyed the charcuterie plate piled with meat, cheeses, nuts, and house-made pickles. We also loved the Ethos Baguette, which comes with a choice of three delicious spreads (we tried them all!): pomodori butter, herb de Provence labneh, and whipped butter. The baguettes are from a local bakery and flour mill, Ethos Stonemill. As a highlight, we were given a recipe using a delicious sourdough bread from Ethos.

The chef offers many different tasty pairings. Photo by Michael Fagin

Second Tasting: Kiona Vineyards & Winery

Kiona Vineyards & Winery was the first to plant vineyards on Red Mountain in 1975, in an area later to become the Red Mountain AVA. John Williams and Jim Holmes were the pioneers. Today, this is still a family winery operated by three generations of the Williams family. John’s son, Scott, is the winemaker and vineyard manager, and Scott’s wife, Vicky, is involved in operations. Finally, Scott and Vicky’s sons, Tyler and JJ, are also actively involved.

We enjoyed several of their wines, but our favorite was the Estate Bottled Red Mountain Sangiovese. This medium-bodied red features notes of black cherry, along with a hint of cinnamon and clove. Its bright acidity and herbal undertones made it delicious, and we knew it would pair perfectly with my pasta.

Two other wines also stand out from the perspectives of excellent wine and something different. The Kiona Lemberger is estate-grown and is 96% lemberger grape, with the remaining 4% of merlot and cabernet sauvignon. The lemberger grape (red) is commonly grown in Austria and Hungary and much less so in the United States. This is a very fruit-forward wine with some light spice. Great combo!  Pairing this wine with this recipe for a bison burger is highly recommended and easy to prepare.

The last tasting was a surprise. We did not expect ice wine from the renowned Red Mountain AVA, one of Washington’s warmest growing regions! To make ice wine, the temperature must be 17°F or cooler before picking the grapes. The grapes are left on the vines until frozen, then picked at night and crushed while frozen. The Kiona Red Mountain AVA Ice Wine is 100% chenin blanc (estate grown) and has a delightful acidity, balancing the sweetness and creating a crisp, refreshing dessert wine.

Estate Bottled Red Mountain Sangiovese, make sure you taste this wine, our favorite red. So enjoyable on the outside patio. Photo by Michael Fagin

Third Tasting: Frichette Winery

You might say that Frichette Winery is the new kid on the block when you compare this winery with the pioneers Kiona and Hedges of Red Mountain. Owners Greg and Shae Frichette had their first vintage in 2011 and opened their tasting room in 2013. Greg and Shae met and married while they were living in southern California. They wanted to live closer to family—but whose? Shae’s family in South Carolina or Greg’s in Pasco, Washington? So they tossed a coin and Pasco won! We are very happy about this decision to move to Pasco, which is next to the Red Mountain AVA.

We were very fortunate to have a guided tasting with Shae, and her first serving was sunshine in a glass. Semillon wine was light and refreshing, with tastes of lemon, peach, and chamomile. It was undoubtedly a nice starter on this warm summer day. White grapes like semillon are not typical in the warm climate of the Red Mountain AVA. This was a special treat. Shae’s husband then joined us, and as the winemaker, he decided to bring out one of his favorites, the Reserve. This Bordeaux blend is a moderately bold red. It is primarily merlot and cabernet sauvignon with smaller percentages of cabernet franc, malbec, and petit verdot. Notes of strawberry and mocha make this wine a delightful experience. We also enjoyed the Red Path Cabernet Sauvignon, a bold red with bright cherry and a long finish. This single varietal typifies Red Mountain AVA wines.

Owners Greg and Shae Frichette did a coin toss to decide whether to move to Washington or South Carolina. Glad Washington won. Photo courtesy of Taylored Living Magazine

Brief List of Other Wineries

There are so many excellent wineries on Red Mountain, and we would be remiss not to mention these. Col Solare Winery sits on top of Red Mountain, so there are stunning views to accompany the delicious wine. This premium winery is owned by Marchesi Antinori, one of Italy’s oldest family-owned wineries.

Col Solare Winery is on top of Red Mountain. Visitors can enjoy their world-class wine, sunshine, and views. Photo courtesy of Visit Tri-Cities

Fidélitas Winery was founded by Charlie Hoppes, who is also the winemaker. Charlie brings many years of experience to the winery from his winemaking days at Chateau Ste. Michelle.

The patio at Fidélitas is a great place to relax in the sun, enjoy the views, and enjoy fine wine. Photo courtesy of Visit Tri-Cities

A stop at Terra Blanca Winery & Estate Vineyard is excellent for enjoying Bordeaux-style wines. Make sure you check out their on-site restaurant, Vineyard Grill. Chef Jim Vande Berg puts together some winemaker’s dinners that are not to be missed.

The Lodge at Columbia Point is an extraordinary property that sits along the Columbia River, and it is just a 10-minute drive to the Red Mountain AVA. This is a comfortable and convenient “home base” for checking out the great wines and outdoor activities. When you check in, there are some options. One could enjoy some wine on the patio overlooking the Columbia. Still, we decided to do that later and instead enjoyed the view of the mighty Columbia River from our beautiful room. Many rooms (some named after local wineries) have stunning river views.

We were fortunate enough to have a bottle of Drumheller Cabernet Sauvignon waiting for us. This wine is a joint project of the Lodge at Columbia Point and its in-house restaurant, Drumheller’s Food & Drink. The wine grapes are from the Columbia Valley AVA and are bottled in the area. We enjoyed the wine so much that we decided to continue at Drumheller’s happy hour. There are tasty appetizers, great wine, and excellent prices! We checked out the dinner menu and found great beef, steak, seafood, steelhead, and pasta selections. We noticed that Kyle Meinecke is still the Executive Chef. We have enjoyed his cuisine many times over the last several years. Yes, we love coming here. Chef Kyle was a chef at a local winery, so he has a great handle on food pairing. They also have winemaker’s dinners and other events.

The Lodge at Columbia Point is located on the Columbia River. So easy access to a protected cove to paddle, and rentals are available nearby. Photo courtesy of Visit Tri-Cities

Time to Burn off Some Calories

With several days of wine tasting and dining, it is a good plan to enjoy the outdoors and right outside your door. The Lodge provides complimentary bikes to access the Richland Riverfront Trail, which runs seven miles. Of course, one can also walk the trail. While enjoying the river views, you can check out the many restaurants to grab food or beverages.

The Columbia River can be calm at times, making this side trail a pleasant walk. Most of the trail is paved. Photo by Michael Fagin

During the warmer months, kayaking or paddleboarding is available. You can launch at Columbia Point Marina or Howard Amon Park. If needed, kayak and paddleboard rentals are available near the park (only during the warmer months).

Kayak or paddleboard rentals are available near the lodge, and with light winds and great weather, it’s a great way to relax and burn off some calories. Photo by Michael Fagin

Experiencing the Red Mountain AVA

As your journey through Washington’s Red Mountain AVA comes to a close, the unique terroir and the exceptional wines crafted here leave an indelible mark on your palate and your heart. From the breathtaking views at Hedges Family Estate to the rich flavors at Kiona Vineyards and the warm hospitality at Frichette Winery, every moment spent in this remarkable region tells a story of passion and dedication. And after a day of exploration, The Lodge at Columbia Point offers the perfect retreat to unwind and reflect on your adventures.

Be Sure to Check Out Other Exciting Adventures in Washington

We invite you to embrace the spirit of discovery and explore Wander With Wonder for more of our favorite Washington wines and experiences that await you in the stunning state of Washington. Cheers to your next adventure!

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