Cascadia Winery

Owner/winemaker Alan Yanagimachi launched Cascadia Winery in 2005. It was back then that Alan had come north from California following a stint at Monterey Wine Co., where he learned the technologies necessary to produce 1.5 million gallons of wine annually. That’s fermentation on a grand scale.

Now he makes small case lots and enjoys creating “artisan” wines. Among other winemaking stops, Alan worked at Arbor Crest Wine Cellar in Spokane (where he met his wife, Lilith). He also traveled to the former Soviet Republic of Georgia and, for 18 months, experienced winemaking in one of the oldest winemaking areas in the world. He also worked for a winery near Angels Camp in California, made famous by Mark Twain’s short story "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County." Alan doesn’t mention if the winery’s sales leapfrogged over its competitors.

Added to his working experience is a degree in fermentation science/enology from the University of California–Davis. The degree came about after a chance meeting with Robert Mondavi in 1985 at a dinner/jazz concert at Mondavi Cellars. Because of his science background, Alan has found it helpful to offer lab services to other wineries.

In addition to traditional whites and reds such as chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon, be sure and try Cascadia’s Apple Wine. With a little sweetness remaining (2.6% residual sugar), this is the perfect antidote for roast pork or sliced turkey with sage dressing. And at a mere 12 bucks a bottle, it’s a steal.

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  Cascadia Winery was featured in WineTrails of Washington as part of the Leavenworth-Peshastin WineTrail on page 208!