Horse Heaven Hills Wine Growers

03/24/2026

Will be at Spring Fling! Come find us and enjoy wines of the Horse Heaven Hills (HHH’s) while in the HHH’s overlooking the mighty Columbia River at My Garden Over Floweth 2026 Spring Fling Event. All proceeds go to raise money for the HHH’s scholarship!

You are invited to help us celebrate 9 years of Spring Fling at the farm Saturday May 2nd!

This curated event is free to enter and family friendly. There will be over 20 local vendors in attendance for you to shop while enjoying great BBQ, coffee and wine! We hope you can visit the farm and create memories!

09/25/2025

Did you know one of Washington’s most unique vineyards sits just 50 feet above the Columbia River?⁠
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Mach One Vineyard, planted by Quilceda Creek, thrives in a natural stone amphitheater on the southeastern edge of the Horse Heaven Hills. The basalt cliffs capture and radiate warmth, giving vines an early start each spring—often two weeks ahead of the rest of the AVA.⁠
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With over 300 days of sunshine, a growing season nearly 30 days longer than average, and cool winds sweeping up from the river each night, this site produces Cabernet Sauvignon of remarkable intensity and balance. Dark fruit, floral notes, and powerful structure are hallmarks of the wines born here.⁠
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Mach One is a reminder of why the Horse Heaven Hills AVA continues to shape some of the most collectible and highly rated wines in the country.⁠
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08/29/2025

06/22/2025

The Columbia Gorge creates a consistent pressure differential, generating winds ~30% stronger than surrounding AVAs. These winds (20–30 mph gusts common) reduce canopy density, thicken grape skins (higher anthocyanin and tannin concentration), and guard against botrytis. Noon-day summer temps reach ~95°F, but nightly temps plunge 30–35°F—preserving malic acid and aromatic precursors in varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Riesling while preventing heat stress.

06/16/2025

Spice Cabinet Vineyard, a unique 18-acre site, sits adjacent to the Columbia River on the Mercer family farm. A deep sandy soil that has blown over the rock bluffs above & a steep south east aspect create site characteristics that are similar to areas in the Rhone. Planted with a wide-array of varietals, this vineyard truly is a winery’s spice cabinet.

SOIL SERIES: Quincy; generally associated with excessively drained, coarse textured soils on dune-like terraces. The parent material was windblown sand derived from granite, basalt and quartzite.

ASPECT: Row orientation adjusts according to slope; west to east and north to south

MICRO-CLIMATE: Warm – Long Term Average GDD 3054. Semi-Arid – Annual rainfall averages 6-9 inches, primarily in the winter months

ELEVATION: 450-500 ft.

VARIETALS: Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache , Petit Verdot, Sangiovese, Syrah, Petit Syrah, Merlot, Mourvedre

Photo credit: Andrea Johnson

06/14/2025

Champoux Vineyard: The Essence of Horse Heaven Hills AVA 🍷

Established in 1972 by Don and Linda Mercer, the journey of Champoux Vineyard began with the planting of the initial Cabernet Sauvignon vines, marking Horse Heaven Hills AVA as a fundamental part of Washington's wine culture. In 1990, the land was leased by Paul and Judy Champoux, and by 1996, they partnered with the proprietors of notable Washington wineries such as Andrew Will, Powers Winery, Quilceda Creek, and Woodward Canyon to acquire the vineyard in full. This “grand cru” site (Forbes) has been pivotal in Quilceda Creek achieving seven 100-point ratings for its Cabernet Sauvignons, receiving accolades such as “seamless and profound” (The Wine Advocate). Its sandy-loam soils and southward slopes, shaped by persistent winds, produce grapes that stand shoulder to shoulder with the finest in Bordeaux. Let's raise a toast to Champoux’s remarkable heritage! 🥂

06/12/2025

Horse Heaven Hills AVA – Where climate, geography, and viticultural precision converge to grow some of the finest wine grapes in the world.
Rainfall: Just 6–9 inches annually—ideal for controlling vine vigor and concentrating flavor
Sunshine: Many vineyards in the Horse Heaven Hills are planted on south-facing slopes, providing 2,800+ hours of sun annually ensuring full ripening.
Wind influence: Constant winds from the Columbia Gorge reduce mildew pressure and thicken grape skins, especially for Cabernet Sauvignon
Elevation: Ranges from 200 ft to 1,800 ft, providing excellent diurnal shifts that preserve acidity
Soils: A mix of sand, silt, and Missoula Flood deposits—perfect for drainage, root depth, and nuance flavors.

Home to iconic vineyards like Champoux, Coyote Canyon, Spice Cabinet, McKinley Springs, Phinny Hill, Joseph Christy, Alder Ridge, Andrews, Double Canyon, Martinez, Destiny Ridge, and many more! Horse Heaven Hills fruit consistently powers award-winning wines, including 100-point bottles from both cult producers and household names.
Whether you’re a grower seeking ideal conditions or a wine lover chasing expressive, structured wines—Horse Heaven delivers.

09/29/2024

Horse Heaven Hills Winegrape Growers at My Garden Over Floweth Fall Fling pouring wine and raising money for their scholarship fund.

02/16/2024

02/02/2024

Love seeing green in these buds! After some scary cold weather we are checking buds for freeze damage, and so far the numbers are looking positive. 👍🏼

10/20/2023

Learn the history behind Joseph Christy Vineyards.

It starts with Joseph Christy settling in Plymouth, WA and starting up a small family farm. Years later, a winery with his namesake stands.