January 2, 2014 — Founded in 1962 by ten friends, six of whom were University of Washington professors, Columbia Winery has been a landmark in Woodinville since it first opened its tasting room doors in 1988. The venerable winery today unveiled a rebranding effort that coincides with the release of four new signature wines that will represent the mainstay of their 80,000 case annual production. The wines will be available in retail stores across the Pacific Northwest by next week and on shelves nationwide later in the year.
The winery’s logo that once sported an antlered elk weather crane on top of a Victorian era rooftop turret is gone, replaced by a contemporary bold letter “C” and the slogan, Fifty Years of Progressive Winemaking. New signage was erected yesterday during the New Year’s Day holiday that greets visitors at the entrance to the Victorian style tasting room.
John Sportelli, Columbia’s senior manager, tells Tasting Room Magazine about other renovations in progress. “In February, the interior of the tasting room will have new paint and a redesign. An interactive wall display will educate guests on the viticulture of Washington, along with soil samples from different regions and aroma training,” he says, adding, “New exterior painting will happen in April and the barrel room will be changing as well.”
Sportelli has over three decades of experience in the Washington wine industry and says there’s no other place he’d rather be. “We are surrounded by amazing scenery—lakes, rivers, forests, mountains and more—all of which help to create our distinctly elegant wines,” he says. “I can’t think of a better way to educate and promote our state’s wine community than through our own outstanding winemaker and winery, accompanied by delicious food from the state.”
E. & J. Gallo Arrives in Washington State
The changes come just a year and a half after E. & J. Gallo Winery, the world’s largest family-owned winery, rescued Columbia Winery from the financially troubled Ascentia Wine Estates in 2012. Gallo execs had their eye on Washington’s wine regions for some time and jumped at the chance to purchase Columbia. With deep pockets and tremendous resources, Gallo is poised to put the winery back on solid footing and elevate it to new heights.
Gallo’s director of public relations, Kristina Kelley, tells Tasting Room Magazine, “E. & J. Gallo has a long term commitment in Columbia Winery. The focus is to get the wines back with a quality-to-value relationship. The wines are food-friendly and approachable.”
Gallo’s family of wineries are among an extensive portfolio that includes Edna Valley Vineyard, Frei Brothers Reserve, Ghost Pines, LaMarca, Louis M. Martini and Rancho Zabaco, to name but a few. The company celebrated its 80th birthday in 2013 and sold more than 80 million cases of wine globally the year before.
New Wines, New Winemaker
The new signature wines are the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2012 Chardonnay, 2012 Merlot, and an easy sipping red blend called “Composition.” Each delivers strong value at $14 retail apiece.
Winemaker Sean Hails oversees production of wines at the Sunnyside facility in Eastern Washington and these wines carry his trademark stamp. Born in Canada, he’s made wine in Australia, California, and Canada’s Okanagan Valley and Niagara Peninsula.
“I feel very fortunate to be a part of the legacy of one of Washington’s most historic wineries in the beautiful Columbia Valley,” says Hails. “There is an incredible tradition of ingenious and quality winemaking here that I plan to make my own for years to come.”
He travels around the state carefully selecting grapes for the four premium value-priced wines, as well as for more than a dozen limited production wines for the wine club and tasting room. Included among these are a Riesling, Viognier, Malbec, Red Mountain Cabernet, Tempranillo, Roussanne/Viognier blend, and a Rosé.
“I want to be true to Washington,” says Hails of his efforts to seek out fruit from distinctive AVAs like Yakima Valley, Horse Heaven Hills, Red Mountain and Wahluke Slope.
New Label, New Look
With the rebranding comes a new label graced with a broad, prominent brush stroke of the letter “C” that has embossed circles cascading around it. Kristina Kelley explains the concept behind the label. “In the Northwest, art and science converge constantly resulting in an epicenter of progressive innovation. Columbia Winery is inspired by the cutting-edge vibe that runs strong through the region. We redesigned our label to display an artistic flair with an iconic capital C and concentric circles to reveal our scientific side, and to show that we are constantly progressing.”
A review of Columbia’s newest releases by Tasting Room Magazine:
Columbia Winery 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon $14
Sourced from sub-regions in the Columbia Valley including the Yakima Valley and Wahluke Slope, this is a vibrant and bold blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Syrah, 10% Malbec and 3% Merlot.
Nose: Black and red fruit, plum, spice, and vanilla.
Taste: Rich flavors of black currants, plum, cocoa and tea leaf with strong tannins showing up on a long finish. Pair with hearty soups, roast or wild game meats.
Columbia Winery 2012 Merlot $14
Sourced from sub-regions in the Columbia Valley including the Wahluke Slope and Horse Heaven Hills; a lovely blend of 85% Merlot, 10% Syrah, 2% Cabernet and 3% Malbec.
Nose: Aromas of dark plum and cherry integrated with grilled mesquite, and a dash of nutmeg, spice and vanilla.
Taste: Bold flavors of grilled plum, pomegranate and cherry, backed by crushed gravel, cocoa and vanilla on a lingering and savory finish. Pair with tenderloin or roast chicken.
Columbia Winery Composition Red Blend $14
A non-vintage red blend with the majority of fruit from 2011, blended with some 2010 and 2012 vintage. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah sourced from the Columbia Valley.
Nose: Dusty notes of ripe red berries, cocoa powder, and vanilla.
Taste: A dry and fruity medium bodied blend, showing layers of blueberry, cherry and cranberry with cedar and spice notes. Balanced acidity and a long finish. Pair with duck, lamb or ratatouille.
Columbia Winery 2012 Chardonnay $14
Sourced from the Yakima Valley, this Chardonnay is a mix-and-match program of both oak and stainless barrels. An exceptional value.
Nose: The nose displays pear, lemon chiffon and dried fruit.
Taste: Well balanced with flavors of pear, soft tropical citrus, and lychee and a crisp dry finish. Creamy overtones exude soft spice. Pair with Dungeness crab macaroni and cheese, favorite seafood or poultry dish.
VISIT COLUMBIA WINERY
14030 NE 145th Street, Woodinville, WA 98072
Phone: (425) 482-7371
Open daily 11am-6pm (open ‘til 7pm on Friday)
Click here to visit Columbia’s website