Waterbrook Winery, located in Washington State’s lovely Walla Walla Valley, was founded in 1984 by Eric Rindal. The name of our winery was chosen to complement the translation from Nez Perce Indian dialect for the name Walla Walla, meaning “running water.” Production has slowly increased to a total of over 42,000 cases annually.
Watersheds of the Columbia, Snake and Yakima Rivers define the Columbia Valley, a vast section of Eastern Washington characterized by dry, arid conditions. The long daylight hours and cool nights allow the grapes to ripen at a slow, even pace. The Walla Walla Valley is slightly cooler and wetter, but the regions all must rely on irrigation, as rainfall averages only 8 to 11 inches annually.
With every vintage, knowledge of individual characteristics and winemaking subtleties contribute to Waterbrook wines’ complexity and flavors. The goal for the red wines has been softer, fleshier wines for early enjoyment while still maintaining the wines’ depth and structure. Results have been gratifying and as the demand for both the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot has been far beyond supply. Waterbrook Chardonnay is now recognized as one of the best values in its very competitive field. Wine Spectator has consistently listed it as one of the world’s top fifty wine values.
Waterbrook adds new French oak yearly, and still follows the costly, painstaking tradition of barrel fermentation for its Chardonnay. Our Mélange (a red table blend of selected varietals), known for its versatility and great value, made the “Wine Spectator’s Top 100 for 2004” with a score of 90 points.
