Redwood Creek Winemaker Sean Hails Grew up In

Columbia Winery 2019 Stratos

Washington’s original premium winery, Columbia Winery has been discovering and celebrating Washington wine for over 50 years. Winemaker Sean Hails blends classic traditions with innovative winemaking techniques to craft a distinct collection of Washington wines. Columbia Winery’s unrelenting curiosity and trailblazing heritage is reflected in the grape selection philosophy of premier vineyard sites within the Columbia Valley and its acclaimed AVAs, including Red Mountain, Horse Heaven Hills, Yakima Valley and Wahluke Slope. With a tasting room located just outside Seattle and a winery in Eastern Washington, Columbia Winery embodies Washington’s welcoming spirit, rich diversity and exceptional wines.

About the Wine: With a goal of creating a delightful wine with a refreshing taste, Winemaker Sean Hails sets his sights on the vines from premier Yakima Valley vineyards. With aromas of tropical fruit, citrus and a touch of fresh cut grass, Sauvignon Blanc seems to dominate upfront. Then, the Viognier layers some complexity as well as peach floral nuances. Next, Chardonnay adds touches of slight buttery creaminess to the palate. Completely balanced acidity makes this wine a great pairing with seafood dishes of all kinds.

Viticulture Notes: The spring of 2019 vintage was cooler and wet overall, which set us up for a slightly later bud break. We harvested the Sauvignon Blanc on September 27th, staying with the same Sauvignon Blanc from Rustic Vineyards because the site is slightly cooler and has some older fan trained vines that produce perfect little clusters with some intense flavors. All of the Viognier this year came from Sagemoor Vineyards, a beautiful site overlooking the Columbia River in the eastern end of the Yakima Valley AVA.

Winemaking Notes: The grapes for Stratos White Blend were destemmed, membrane pressed and fermented in stainless steel tanks at very cool temperatures between 55° and 58°F. We use many differing yeast types for this wine to add the different characters each delivers. The wines were blended together to create a wine that showcases the expressive, high quality white wines crafted in the Columbia Valley.

Varietal Content: 86% Sauvignon Blanc, 9% Viognier, 4% Chardonnay, 1% Muscat Appellation: Columbia Valley Alcohol Content: 12.7% Titratable Acidity: 5.4 g/L Residual Sugar: 1.4 g/L pH: 3.18 Bottling Date: Feb. 10, 2020 Cases Produced: 856