Fox Estate Winery

In the science of agriculture, diversification is a good thing, especially if you are dependent upon apples. Such was the situation in the late ’70s when Jerry Fox decided to convert some of his apple acreage to vineyards, beginning with riesling and gewürztraminer varietals. Little did Jerry know then that his Mattawa location would one day become a designated American Viticulture Area (AVA) with the enviable “Wahluke Slope” moniker. His prized grapes thrive in the sun-drenched arid slopes of Saddle Mountain. Across the highway from his winery and tasting room is Chateau Ste. Michelle’s famed Indian Wells Vineyard, bordered by Milbrandt Vineyards. Talk about prized real estate!

Jerry Fox is quick to point out that without the marketing muscle and vision of Chateau Ste. Michelle, the Washington wine industry and his wine venture would be dormant, or nearly so. Nevertheless, with the emergence of Cave B not too far to the north and plenty of “206ers” moving to the eastern side of the Columbia River, Jerry can envision a day in the not-too-distant future when a dozen wineries line the highway near Fox Estate Winery. And with that comes the infrastructure to meet tourist needs: hotels, restaurants, and water slides.

With more than 250 acres of wine grapes, Fox Estate Winery manages to sell more grape juice to other wine producers, but it reserves enough to produce a reported 8,000 cases under the Fox Estate Winery label. Fortunately, with more than 600 acres of apples to process, Jerry has the labor and the production facilities to take on the challenge. In addition, Fox Estate Winery is a family affair, with son Don managing the apple/wine production facility and daughter Julie taking on marketing initiatives from her Walla Walla home. Currently, the Fox Estate Winery tasting room is housed in a doublewide situated next to the winery’s huge processing facility. However, it is Jerry’s intention to one day build a new tasting room at the entrance to the property. No doubt, it will lure many a Western Washington visitor to stop and discover Fox Estate wine and perhaps decide to resettle in nearby Desert Aire.

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  Fox Estate Winery was featured in WineTrails of Washington as part of the Columbia River WineTrail on page 226!