Woodinville, WA — Located just three hours east of Seattle in the heart of the Red Mountain AVA and immediately adjacent to highly regarded vineyards of Kiona, Ciel du Cheval, and Ambassador, among others, Tinte Cellars’ newest vineyard was planted over two decades ago by the brother of former owner Eve Shaw, the late Fred Artz (a legendary grape grower on Red Mountain who helped manage famed Klipsun Vineyard for more than 20 years.
The 12-acre vineyard site was named E&E Shaw Vineyards after its original owners Ed and Eve Shaw, long-time friends of Tinte Cellars’ co-owner, Teresa Spellman Gamble. This vineyard marks the second and largest acquisition of Tinte Estates Vineyard on Red Mountain.
“Vineyards don’t become available on Red Mountain very often, and with nearly 60% of the region now under vines, there is very little space or opportunity for future plantings,” says Tim Gamble, who co-owns Tinte Cellars with his wife, Teresa Spellman Gamble. “Vineyards on Red Mountain have been sold to companies based in British Columbia, Napa Valley, and Chicago in recent years. Tinte Estates is proud to secure this remarkable vineyard for our Washington State community of partners and employees.”
Three major Bordeaux varieties are planted here, with older mature vines dating back to 1995—Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot. Tinte Estates’ crop of wine grapes from its vineyards on Red Mountain will continue to be sold by contract as well as become featured in more award-winning wines produced by Tinte Cellars.
In 2021, Tinte acquired a five-acre vineyard formerly owned by Corvus Vineyard. The vineyard produces 15-20 tons annually of quality fruit and features seven distinctive blocks planted in European high-density style. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, and Mourvèdre are currently being harvested at Tinte Estates Vineyard.
Tinte Cellars produces approximately 4,000 cases of award-winning Washington wine annually. In addition to Tinte Estates Vineyard, Tinte operates two tasting rooms near its winery in Woodinville, a third tasting room in Seattle’s historic Georgetown neighborhood, and Tinte Red Mountain Retreat, a short-term vacation rental property nestled among Tinte Estates Vineyard.
“It is an honor to be a modest part of Red Mountain’s world-class wine growers,” says Spellman Gamble. “We are thrilled to deliver even more outstanding Red Mountain sourced and exclusive Washington produced wines to our valued club members and consumers.”
According to Spellman Gamble, the winery does not have plans to open a tasting room on Red Mountain in the near future, and instead will introduce its wines and mission at pop-ups and vineyard tastings throughout the year, as well as at their established Washington tasting room locations.
Greater wine for the greater good
In June of 2018, co-owners and husband and wife team, Tim Gamble and Teresa Spellman Gamble, purchased Woodinville’s William Church and Cuillin Hills wineries creating the umbrella brand, Tinte Cellars. Community, volunteerism, and philanthropy formed the foundation of Tim and Teresa’s upbringings; their culture. When they established Tinte Cellars, the business needed to reflect those values and their desire to leave the world better than they found it.
Each year, Tinte Cellars selects a few nonprofit organizations to receive a portion of all wine sales (right off the top). In 2021, five percent of all retail sales and 10% of all wine club sales will be split equally between Mary’s Place, Northwest Harvest, Seattle Children’s Behavioral Health Crisis Care Clinic, and the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic. In addition, Tinte invests in a wide range of programs and activities to enable their customers, employees, and partners to amplify their own positive impact on the world. Since June 2018, Tinte’s philanthropic commitment of cash and in-kind donations to local non-profits has exceeded $725,000.
Tinte now operates two tasting rooms near its winery in Woodinville, a third tasting room in Seattle’s historic Georgetown neighborhood, Tinte Estates Vineyard on Red Mountain in Benton City, Washington, and Tinte Red Mountain Retreat, a short-term vacation rental property nestled in the vineyard.
The Tinte team secured dozens of wine awards over the past three years, recently earning Double Gold & Best of Class for their 2018 Tinte Cellars Malbec at the Sunset International Wine Competition. Tinte Cellars has released the following wines under the Tinte Cellars label: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Syrah, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, William Church Red Blend, Bishops Blend, Cuillin Hills Red Blend, and Rosé of Counoise.
Facts about Red Mountain appellation
Considered by many in the wine industry to be the top grape-producing region in Washington state, wines produced from grapes grown on Red Mountain are some of the state’s most sought-after and have brought international acclaim to the region.
Red Mountain, Yakima, and Walla Walla appellations are all contained within the Columbia Valley, stretching from around Wapato to Milton-Freewater and crossing the Columbia River into Oregon. While the Red Mountain AVA lies within the southeastern area of the Yakima Valley Appellation’s boundaries, it has a distinct microclimate.
The small geographic region that comprises the Red Mountain AVA was formed by the repeated ice-age flooding of Glacial Lake Missoula over 10,000 years ago. The floodwaters redesigned the landscape, configuring the soft mountain slopes and depositing nutrient-rich top- soils over sand, silt, and gravel, ideal for grape growing.
The first commercial vineyard on Red Mountain was planted in 1975 but AVA status wasn’t achieved until 2001. Today this AVA hosts approximately fifty-four vineyards covering more than 2,300 acres, making Red Mountain one of the most densely planted appellations, with nearly 60% of the AVA currently planted.
An AVA named after native grass
The name Red Mountain can be misleading for two reasons. First, it does not refer to the color of the mountain’s soil, but rather, some say to a native grass with a red hue. Secondly, Red Mountain, for those with other mountains in mind, might be a disappointment since its elevation ranges from only 500 to 1,500 feet. Even so, among the rolling hills of Eastern Washington’s desert, Red Mountain’s sloping hillside is a prominent landmark, storing radiant heat for the growing vines of the valley floor. The Yakima River flows nearby, helping moderate climate extremes, as do so many major rivers in wine country regions throughout the world.