Dichotomy is about a Washington State vineyard and winery born from winemakers Jarred Jenner and Rosie Signer after they fell in love on the coast of South Australia.
Rosie Signer grew up in Spokane and studied Viticulture and Enology at WSU before heading to Australia, where she landed a fulltime job as a winemaker at a crush facility. She quickly fell in love with the terroir and Barossa born and bred winemaker, Jarred Jenner. Jarred had started his winemaking tenure at Penfolds Winery and has since worked around the world including California, Oregon, the Okanogan, and Austria.
The couple teamed up their winemaking prowess in 2021 and started the Dichotomy brand in Australia, crafting small-lot wines from beloved vineyards in McLaren Vale, Barossa, and the Adelaide Hills.
“Our goal was to one day make wine in Washington and bring it down to Australia to introduce Washington wine to Australians, as they have very limited exposure to the great wines we have here,” Jarred explains. But those plans changed amidst the challenges of the Covid era—and the discovery that the former Tefft Cellars’ vineyard and winery property had come up for sale.
“We took a bold leap of faith by purchasing a dormant winery and vineyard in Yakima Valley without ever seeing it in person,” says Rosie. “Despite our unfamiliarity with the area, the promise of Yakima Valley’s renowned wines and the allure of the vineyard’s mature 30 to 40-year-old vines compelled us to dive in.”
Now on their third vintage, Jarred and Rosie have spent two years meticulously restoring the tasting room, and in April of 2024 opened the doors to the public.
With a current portfolio of 15 different wines, Dichotomy Vineyards truly showcases how soils, locations, and harvesting techniques—from Australia to Yakima Valley—can create strikingly different yet equally exceptional and delicious wines. Visitors can experience this dichotomy firsthand with a side-by-side tasting of their wines from two continents.
Visit and taste at 1320 Independence Rd, Outlook WA; (509) 643-6450, hours vary in winter, check the website at dichotomy-vineyards.com
Below are three releases we recently reviewed:
Dichotomy Vineyards 2022 Syrah
92 pts.
A youthful, fresh-cut version highlighted by a gorgeous beam of uplifting acidity that exudes a complex profile of blackberry, raspberry and earthy shadings of briar, spice and a touch of salinity. $32
Dichotomy Vineyards 2022 Nebbiolo
91 pts.
This estate-grown varietal was aged 14 months in neutral oak barriques. The minerally-braced structure wraps around sleek notes of fresh raspberry, cherry and anise backlit by shimmering acidity and lingering dried herb notes. $32
Dichotomy Vineyards 2022 Chenin Blanc
91 pts.
Crisp and lively, offering aromas of green apple and orange blossom, followed by flavors of D’Anjou pear, zesty lemon-lime and hints of slivered almonds. This is a racier style, with citrusy acidity and stony minerality that elevate the finish. $26