Alan’s love of the land and landscapes have taken him around the world in search of beautiful lands on which to grow fine grapes and produce wines that uniquely express a sense of place, but Lonnie’s the guy who really knows how to grow great grapes. So working together, they found the land for the perfect vineyard and founded Volcano Ridge Vineyard in the Columbia Gorge AVA.
Lonnie's renown stems in part from his discovering and bringing back to life an abandoned vineyard of Zinfandel grapes outside of The Dalles that today are 120 years old. So of course, in 2008 Zinfandel grapes were the first variety to be planted at Volcano Ridge, propagated from Lonnie’s cuttings (think 'Daughter of Old Vines').
Then in 2010 they followed the Zinfandel with plantings of Merlot, Chardonnay, and warmer-site Pinot Noir that total 25 bearing acres today. Starting with the 2013 harvest and continuing to today, the vineyard is certified sustainable by the L.I.V.E. (Low Input Viticulture and Enology) program and also is certified as Salmon Safe®.
At the end of 2018, new partner Steve Bruere came on to replace Lonnie Wright as co-owner of Volcano Ridge (although Wright and foreman Alejandro Rojas will continue to manage the vineyard). And in early 2019, Volcano Ridge officially changed their name to Windhorse Vineyard.
Barrel-aged for 18 months, this Windhorse Vineyard, Columbia Gorge Zinfandel is bursting from the glass with marionberry, raspberry, and red black currants. It lingers with long-lasting notes of vanilla, pepper, and tobacco.
2017 offered a perfect growing season from bud break to harvest. This balanced, harmonious Zinfandel opens with brambleberry and coffee notes on the nose. On the palate it’s lively with ripe berries and a touch of herb leading to a long, sexy finish.
Truly Inspired by Terroir. ®
AlmaTerraWines.com
2018 had a burst of warmth in the spring, then mellowed into a perfect harvest. This plush Zinfandel carries raspberry, spice and peppercorn on the nose. In the mouth it’s delicious, loaded with ripe red fruit, coffee and the influence of new American oak that makes for a long and supple finish. Get the wine opener!
Truly Inspired by Terroir. ®
AlmaTerraWines.com
2019 offered even growing-season warmth before cooling into a perfect harvest. This Pinot Noir begins with a nose of earth and spices like star anise. In the mouth it offers flavors of dark cherries and dark chocolate, with beautifully integrated tannins from new French oak barrel aging.
Truly Inspired by Oregon Terroir. ®
AlmaTerraWines.com
Clear, hot days in August and September allowed us to harvest perfect fruit for our first Rosé of Zinfandel. The wine is a delight, with aromas of pie cherry, tarragon, and golden raspberry; and beautiful, bright, fresh flavors of red cherries, raspberries, and herbs. Pair our dry, medium-bodied Rosé with herbed chicken, grilled salmon, or as an aperitif. Get the wine opener!
Truly Inspired by Terroir. ®
AlmaTerraWines.com
This vineyard is on the eastern edge of the Columbia Gorge, making this is a unique take on Merlot, falling somewhere between the broad, fleshy Washington style, and the more herbal southern Oregon style. The layered flavors mix berry, citrus and red plum, in an open, easydrinking wine that should pair well with a variety of entrées.
The soils in the planted areas of the vineyard are ALFISOLS that developed under mixed oak-pine-grass woodland from weathered volcanic sandstone in a semi-arid climate. They are mapped as Cherryhill series soils.
Grape vines reach their full expressive potential on the steep canyon lands if Windhorse Vineyard, nourished by ample winter rains, and bathed by hot summer sun. The strong sun exposure from cloud-free summer days, the day length...
At Windhorse Vineyard our flagship grape is Zinfandel. Our Zin is the ‘daughter’ of Lonnie Wright’s Pines Old Vines Zinfandel, having been propagated by us from cuttings from those 120+ year old vines.
For more information or to inquire about buying fruit from us, please contact Alan at 509-592-0756 or at alan@windhorsevineyard.com. Here is a current list of wineries that make wines from our fruit.
Mon - Fri 9AM - 7PM
Sat - Sun 10AM - 6PM
The Dalles, Oregon
Columbia Gorge