Goose Ridge Getting Bigger, More Competitive
By Bob Woehler
Goose Ridge Winery is spending $6 million on its
new winemaking facility and grooming a new line of wines aimed
at competing with the big boys.
The tiny winery on Dallas Road just outside West Richland is
adjacent to one of the Pacific Northwest's largest vineyards and
about a mile from the Interstate 82 Dallas Road interchange.
The 1,300-acre vineyard and winery is owned by the Monson family,
which built its reputation raising cattle, not grapes.
The vineyard, which cost $18 million to develop, primarily sells
to other wineries, including Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. Production
at Goose Ridge Winery has been a modest 15,000 cases.
That is about to change, says Bill Monson, spokesman for the
family. A new 30,000-square-foot facility is to be completed in time
for the fall grape crush. Goose Ridge then plans to turn out 25,000
cases of its new Stonecap wines and 11,000 cases of Goose Ridge
wines.
Eventually, the aim is to produce 200,000 cases. Plans also are
under way to take over the barrel room at the existing winery for a
much larger tasting room. The current tasting room looks crowded
with a dozen visitors.
The new production facility will be roughly a mile away in the
middle of the sprawling vineyards, which parallel I-82 for about
three miles. Perhaps someday the tasting room will be next to the
new facility, but for now it will remain on Dallas Road, Monson
said.
"We got started in the winemaking business in 1999 on a small
scale without a lot of overhead," he said.
Award-winning winemaker Charlie Hoppes was the winemaker then and
will continue to make their wine.
Monson said Hoppes, who built a new tasting room on Sunset Road
on Red Mountain for his Fidelitas wines, will make his wines and
Goose Ridge wines at the new facility.
Currently, only a few Stonecap wines are on the market, but more
will come later. The brand is aimed at the $10 and under market.
Stonecap 2006 Riesling, Monson Family Estates, $8-$10 --
Think tangerines, tropical and orchard fruit medley, all under a
screw cap. This one is well balanced, with 1.6 percent residual
sugar. Great for Dungeness crab or salmon.
Stonecap 2005 Chardonnay, Monson Family Estates, $8-$10 --
Unoaked but not unloved. A great food-friendly chardonnay with
plenty of crispness. Bright and flavorful with pineapple and apple
characteristics.
Goose Ridge 2006 Pinot Gris, Columbia Valley, $16-$18 --
This one sports an attractive new black-and-white label. Inside is a
lively white enhanced by orange and pear flavors and aromas.
Goose Ridge 2006 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $16-$18 --
Light oak treatment gives it extra character for a rich, flavorful,
balanced wine with vanilla and citrus notes.
Goose Ridge 2004 red wine, Columbia Valley, $13-$15 -- A
great buy for a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah blend
that's very smooth. Big-time chocolate and berries.
Goose Ridge 2004 Syrah, Columbia Valley, $22-$25 --
Classic black pepper along with dark cherry and plum aromas and
flavors make for a juicy delight.
Goose Ridge 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $22-$25
-- A great blend of American and French oak was used to build a
full-bodied red that has hints of black olives and an ample amount
of berries.
Goose Ridge 2003 Vireo, Columbia Valley, $27-$30 --
Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot make this proprietors blend a
classic with black cherries, licorice and spice.
Goose Ridge reserve Malbec, Columbia Valley, $36-$40 --
This one sells out in a hurry because it's big and bursting with
supple black fruit flavors and a long, velvety finish.
Goose Ridge reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia valley,
$45-$50 -- The second vintage of this top-of-the-line wine shows
off rich flavors and body with essences of tobacco and spice aromas
and generous blackberry flavors.
Bob Woehler, a retired Herald
staff writer, has been writing a column about wines of the Pacific
Northwest since 1978. Send him e-mail at
bwoehler@charter.net. |
