COUGAR CREST ESTATE WINERY was established at the Walla Walla Airport in 2001 by Deborah and David Hansen. Owners of 50 acres of vineyard, all in the Walla Walla Appellation, they have sold wine grapes to other wineries for years. The move into making wine has been a natural progression for two people with strong backgrounds in science and a love of fine wine. The University of California at Davis
offered many winemaking classes that both David and Deborah attended. The first vintage was 900 cases and will be sold across the Northwest. The 2002 vintage will be 4000 cases and sales will expand into other states. The 2002 vintage also brought the release of our first white wine, Viognier. Natives of the Northwest, Deborah from Spokane and David from Bremerton, they met in Pullman. After graduating from Washington State University in the 1970's, Deborah in Pharmacy, and David in Veterinary Medicine, their careers led us to the San Francisco area for 18 years. It was there, among the California wineries, that the appreciation of the art of winemaking was born. While pursuing wine in California, the Hansens developed 125 acres of orchards in the Walla Walla Valley. In 1995 the farms became self-sufficient and they moved their family to the Valley in 1996. There were seven wineries making unbelievably good wine in Walla Walla. Upon visiting the vineyards, the decision was made to replace some aging apple orchards with wine grapes. The first year, the Hansens raised all the grapes from their own plants with cuttings from Windrow Vineyard (the original Seven Hills vineyard) and Cailloux Vineyard. The chosen site was Stellar Vineyard, and the plants flourished. The next year Cougar Hills Vineyard was established. Cougar Crest currently makes wine from Estate Grown Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Viognier. This year will mark the first year of production for Petit Verdot and Malbec, which will greatly expand the blending options and complexity in the Bordeaux varietals. Since moving back to the Northwest, the Hansen's children have become teenagers and adults. The orchards have seen good times and bad, and the love of fine wine has grown into a passion for growing grapes and turning them into wine that everyone in the Valley can be proud of.
