DATA COPIED FROM NATALIEMACLEAN.COM
The Yakima River Winery was founded in 1977 by the John W. Rauner family and is still owned by them. Their first production year, they produced 1000 cases. The year was 1978. Each year thereafter, they produced a little more, until 1997 when they peaked at 12,000 cases.Yakima River Cabernet Sauvignons are held in great esteem around the world (they annually win medals at the Tasters Guild, Beverage Tasting Institute, World Wine Championships, Amenti del Vino and numerous other competitions) and, along with the Port, are the winery’s flagship products. For us, the Merlot is equally noteworthy and is an excellent example of what Yakima River wines are all about. It is quite the achievement to produce widely acclaimed Big Red Wines in a region renowned for them. John and Louise Rauner have developed Yakima River Winery into one of the top producers of Bordeaux and Rhone-styled wines in the Yakima Valley through their singular dedication to realizing the style for Big Red Wine which they first envisioned 20 years ago. Today they enjoy the reality of producing wines which epitomize their fruit and are recognized by consumers, producers and even wine writers as being among the best the world has to offer. Fortunately, we have the opportunity to enjoy this reality as well.
All wines are Yakima Valley grown and all grapes are controlled by the winery. The winery pioneered Washington's first Port, Merlot, and Lemberger. In their estate vineyard grows Washington's first Petit Verdot grapes.
| DATA COPIED FROM NATALIEMACLEAN.COM |
