Snoqualmie Vineyards

A   Y a k i m a V a l l e y   w i n e r y   o f   S t e.   M i c h e l l e   W i n e   E s t a t e s
 

660 Frontier Road | Prosser, WA |  800-852-0885 |  509-786-5558

Map to Snoqualmie Vineyards Winery & Tasting Room

Wine Orders:  425-415-3703

Email:  info@snoqualmie.com        Website:  www.snoqualmie.com
 

Winery Information

Washington Winery of the Year - Wine Press Northwest, Spring 2006
Value Brand of the Year -
Wine & Spirits Magazine, June 2005

Winemaker:
Joy Andersen
"Joy Andersen, Snoqualmie Vineyards’ winemaker, continues to impress with the quality she delivers for a song.” – Pierre Rovani, The Wine Advocate, April 2006

Products:
Now available nationally!
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet-Merlot Blend
Merlot, Syrah, Sangiovese,
Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc,
Sauvignon Blanc,
Cirque de Rosé
(Featured Wines)

Vineyards:
Columbia Valley
Wahluke Slope
Yakima Valley
Horse Heaven Hills

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Tasting Room Hours:
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Daily
(except Thanksgiving, Christmas,
New Year's Day and Easter)

Complimentary wine tasting
available to guests over 21.
$5.00 charge for tastings
of limited Reserve wines.

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Capturing the Best of the Columbia Valley
in Quintessential Northwest Wines

     Great wines are grown, not made.  In fact, according to Snoqualmie Vineyards' 23-year-veteran winemaker Joy Andersen, "that's the most challenging aspect of winemaking... the growing of the grapes.  But the rewards of time spent in the vineyards are huge!" 

        More than a decade-long history with Snoqualmie Vineyards, beginning in 1991, gives Anderson intimate knowledge of  Columbia Valley vineyards and winemaking -- the type of knowledge gained only through many seasons of first-hand experience.  Her accumulated knowledge of individual growing regions within this huge valley Anderson considers to be among her strongest winemaking tools.  

        The first Snoqualmie wines were introduced in 1984.  In September of 2003, Stimson Lane Vineyards and Estates (now Ste Michelle Wine Estates), previous owner of Snoqualmie, opened the doors of its new state-of-the-art winery, located just off Interstate 82 in Prosser, Washington.  The production portion of the winery is 44,816 square feet.

        The Snoqualmie facility in Prosser, allows Anderson to have close contact with the winegrowers with whom she works to produce her premium wines.  The beautiful facility allows wine enthusiasts to enjoy tasting and purchasing Anderson's wines from the winery's well stocked wine and gift shop. 

        Joy Andersen approaches winemaking like a master chef.  She is in the vineyards throughout the growing season, assessing grape development.  In the cellar, she enjoys experimenting with yeast strains and a variety of oak barrels;  and her familiarity with grapes from nearby vineyards enables her to carefully blend Snoqualmie wines to capture the best of the Columbia Valley.

 

(Continue top next column)

        Snoqualmie wines come from vineyards that lie within three distinct growing regions of the Columbia Valley, the Wahluke Slope, the Yakima Valley and Horse Heaven Hills.  Each area produces grapes with flavors unique to the area, and winemaker Joy Andersen considers her familiarity with each growing region as among her strongest winemaking tools.


Vineyards of Snoqualmie wines


Wahluke Slope, one of Washington's newest AVAs (appellations) is situated not far from such established Columbia Valley sites as Indian Wells Vineyard.  This is one of the warmest areas in the state and grapes from here are usually the first to ripen.  Over the years, Anderson has found these grapes to offer outstanding varietal expression and structure. White wines from the Wahluke Slope are crisp, with generous aromatics. Wahluke merlot and cabernet give longevity and backbone to Snoqualmie wines, an important component of the winery's soft, lush wines, styled for easy drinking. 

Horse Heaven Hills, another newly authorized Washington appellation (2006), is located above the Columbia River in the south central Columbia Valley.  White grapes are marked by a "dribble-down-your chin" juicy character.  Like the whites, Horse Heaven reds are intense. Nothing bashful about these grapes.  Merlot shouts blackberry, cherry and currant. Cabernet Sauvignon is classic.

Yakima Valley, Washington's oldest appellation, is a cooler-growing region, with a shorter season, than either of the other two areas where Snoqualmie's vineyards are located. Yakima Valley grapes work well in Anderson's blending scheme to give Snoqualmie wines interesting, subtle overtones. These vineyards contribute a hint of mint, just the right touch of eucalyptus or a bit of licorice to Snoqualmie's white wines.  Yakima Valley merlots and cabs are substantial, giving tactile pleasure to the wines.
 

Featured Snoqualmie Wines

   Naked Wines                                     Reserve Wines    
Single Vineyard Wines          Columbia Valley Wines

Order Direct: 425-415-3703
Available in fine restaurants and select
wine shops nationally!
Here is some help for finding Snoqualmie wines.

 

Snoqualmie Vineyards - "Naked" wines label (Organic)
Naked Wines

Snoqualmie's Naked Wines program is designed produce wines made from organically grown grapes.
 Grapes used n the Naked wine series are farmed as “au naturel” as possible.  “Naked” is made with certified organically grown grapes, and “Nearly Naked” is made with grapes grown using organic practices, but not yet certified organic. Every effort is made to minimize winemaker intervention in organic winemaking.
 

2005 Naked Riesling
Columbia Valley
100% Certified Organic Vineyards
100% White Riesling

Winemaker Notes:  Organically farmed and produced, this Riesling showcases bright aromas of apple and pear with a touch of spice.  These Riesling-spice characteristics are carried through the palate.  The off-dry finish is clean and soft.  This wine is wonderful to sip while nibbling on assorted cheeses. Fermentation temperatures were carefully maintained at 50o F to preserve the natural aroma and flavor profile of the grapes. Alcohol: 12.3%  Residual sugar: 2.11

2005 Naked Gewürztraminer
Columbia Valley
100% Certified Organic Vineyards

August 15 marked the beginning of the earliest harvest on record.  Warm summer months contributed to the uniformity of berry maturation, and a temperature drop in late summer cooled the vineyards and allowed grapes extra hang time, enhancing flavor and aromatic development.  Alcohol: 13.1%  Residual Sugar: 1.64

Winemaker Notes:  This organically farmed and produced Gewürztraminer offers aromas of flower petals and clove spice. Candied fruit characters are balanced nicely with bright acidity and a clean off-dry style. Classic Gewürztraminer spiciness on the palate is carried through the lingering finish. 

 

Snoqualmie Vineyards - Reserve wines labelReserve Wines

In making her reserve wines, Joy highlights what she feels is the best of the varietal, vintage and the terroir. As harvest nears, Joy is frequently seen tasting and re-tasting in the vineyard, ensuring that the fruit’s quality and structure is worthy of a Reserve designation. only the best of the best make it into Snoqualmie’s Reserve program. In the bottle, these wines offer elegant complexity with plenty of structure to endure the test of time. Snoqualmie produces a very limited quantity of Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah.



2003 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Columbia Valley
100% Cabernet Sauvignon

2003 was the warmest growing season and harvest in the last 10 years.  At harvest, fruit had reached full maturity, with intense flavors, good sugar development (26.9 Brix) and high natural acidity.  Grapes were grown on the Wahluke Slope, one of the warmest areas of Washington State.  Aged 20 months in 80% new French oak.  Alcohol 14.4%

Winemaker Notes:  Red currant, strawberry and sage aromas precede a palate with sweet vanillin oak and soft, round tannins.

2003 Reserve Syrah
Columbia Valley
100% Syrah

2003 was the warmest growing season and harvest in the last 10 years.  At harvest, fruit had reached full maturity, with intense flavors, good sugar development (26.4 Brix) and high natural acidity.  19 months in 80% new French and American oak.  Alcohol 13.7%

Winemaker Notes:  Black fruit aromas of plum and blueberry mingle with herbal, smoky tones.  The palate shows rich fruit with subtle oak impressions and luscious, soft tannins.  A perfect wine to pair with roast duck or turkey. 
 

Snoqualmie Vineyards - Single Vineyard LabelSingle Vineyard Wines

Great wine begins in the vineyards, an old adage but it is the backbone of Joy's single vineyard program. For 20 years Joy has worked closely with vineyard managers at Rosebud vineyards, walking the rows and focusing on refining viticultural practices. As a result, Rosebud Vineyard produces cabernet sauvignon grapes so high in quality and pure in varietal definition, that they are bottled as a single vineyard wine. The fruit-focused style of these wines showcases the beauty and elegance of the grapes, as well as Joy's winemaking artistry.
 

2002 Cabernet Sauvignon
Rosebud Vineyard
100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Rosebud Vineyard on Wahluke Slope was planted in 1981 and is one of the original vineyards for Snoqualmie wines.  The fruit from Rosebud Vineyard is packed with delicious red fruit aromas and flavors.  Aged 22 months in a combination of new American oak and 1-2 year old American and French oak barrels. 

Winemaker Notes:  Hints of sage, cocoa and sweet oak define the mid palate and finish, along with soft luscious tannins. 


Snoqualmie Vineyards - Columbia Valley wines label
Columbia Valley Wines

Styled for easy drinking and as a complement to food, these wines are as welcome on a picnic table as they are on a linen tablecloth.  Available nationally, these award-winning wines provide excellent value and are approachable food-friendly wines that can be enjoyed as part of any occasion, especially the family dinner table.



2003 Merlot
Columbia Valley
Rosebud Vineyard
100% Merlot

2003 was the warmest growing season and harvest in the last 10 years.  Grapes were grown on the Wahluke Slope, one of the warmest areas in the state.  This wine aged 11 months in 25% new French and American oak.  Alcohol:  13.5%

Winemaker Notes:  This Merlot showcases varietal characteristics and terroir of the Columbia Valley, bursting with aromas of dark black cherry fruit and some clove spice and sweet oak.  These impressions follow on the palate with bright acid structure and luscious, round tannins. 

2004 Sauvignon Blanc
100% Columbia Valley
100% Sauvignon Blanc

The 2004 harvest is characterized with smaller berry and cluster size, with intense flavors, good sugar development (24.8 Brix) and high natural acidity characteristic of  Columbia Valley vineyards.  The wine was aged sur lie for 3 months, twice weekly stirring of the lees created a rich and creamy texture. Style showcases pure varietal expression of Washington state Sauvignon Blanc.  Alcohol: 13%  Residual sugar: 0.65

Winemaker Notes:  Bold and bright aromas fill the nose followed by a rich mouthful of fig and melon which linger on the palate. This is a very crisp and refreshing Sauvignon Blanc that will pair beautifully with food.


How you can find and order Snoqualmie Vineyard wines

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Snoqualmie Vineyards, Prosser, Washington
Use Exit 82 off I-82

               

 
Copyright © 2001 - 2006   Susan R. O'Hara. All rights reserved.
Last revised:   11/14/2006