Located in the Cascade Mountain foothills, five miles east of the
Bavarian Village of Leavenworth, Wedge Mountain Winery has its own
unique setting and history.
The winery, founded in 2001, is part of a family orchard
business known locally as Riverbend Ranch, owned by Charles and Mary
Ann McKee since 1976.
Struggling to make a living growing apples and pears in the mid-90's,
they decided to diversify into growing wine grapes and opening a winery.
Thirteen vines were planted in the summer of 1999, and now over 400
vines of eight different varieties are growing in their vineyards.
As its name suggests, the Riverbend Ranch property is situated on
a graceful bend in the Wenatchee River, and the original vineyard
occupies a peaceful area adjacent to the water. Wedge Mountain,
which overlooks the Alpine Wilderness and the Enchantments to the
west, keeps a watchful eye on Riverbend and its "namesake winery" to
the east.
Charlie, the winemaker, is dedicated to the development of small
quantities of premium wines. Hand-crafted in the truest sense of
the word, the wines are a "labor of love" from the growing of the
grape to the bottling of the wine. For those wines which must be
made from "other-than-estate grown" vines, Charlie purchases only
the best grapes from select vineyards in the Columbia River valley,
and, more recently, in the Columbia Cascade region.
"Winemaking has always been a part of our lives" according to
Charlie. As a young Marine stationed in Naples, Italy during
the mid-fifties, Charlie learned about winemaking from local
farmers and winemakers. Over the years he perfected his style of
winemaking, and as an engineer, traveled in Europe's great
viticultural areas, always inquiring and trying new ideas.
To add to the diversity of the wines, Charlie also makes fruit wines.
For many years, Riverbend Ranch has sold a portion of its quality fruit
direct to the consumer at a small fruitstand located on the property, and
the motto has always been "We sell only what we grow". In keeping with
this Riverbend Ranch tradition, the fruit wines are made solely from a
variety of fruit that grows on the property: particularly Montmorency and
Royal Anne cherries, Bartlett pears, and raspberries and blackberries.
We invite you to share our passion for wine by
visiting us here at Wedge Mountain Winery.
|
|
|
|