Hightower Cellars
"Service only a smaller winery can provide. ... A perfect example is Hightower Cellars, located in Eastern Washington's Red Mountain growing region. Tim and Kelly Hightower literally run the entire winemaking process from start to finish. They're also wonderful hosts and you'll be hard pressed to find a nicer pair of people in the wine business." —Dan Radil, The Bellingham Herald
I couldn’t have said it better … so I didn’t. Tim and Kelly Hightower and their dog, Murray, are the nicest family. Yes, Murray is a member of the family, as you will see once you drive to the end of the North Sunset Road in Red Mountain and follow the signs to Hightower Cellars.
Tim and Kelly Hightower have the rare distinction of being a husband-and-wife winemaking duo. Beginning in the mid-’90s, they honed their winemaking skills in one of Woodinville’s business parks that cater to suburban “garagiste.” However, the temptation to own real estate in one of the world’s most acclaimed grape-growing locations proved too much, and in 2002, the Hightowers decided to move to the agricultural land of Red Mountain. What cinched the deal for them was the fact that the land they purchased includes water rights to support a 10-acre vineyard.
While their vines mature, the Hightowers are reliant on other growers for their fruit, and fortunately they don’t have far to go. To date, they have acquired their grapes from nearby Artz and E & E Shaw vineyards, Alder Ridge in Horse Heaven Hills and Pepper Bridge in Walla Walla Valley. Even when their own vines produce cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot, malbec, and petit verdot, the Hightowers will continue to rely on other growers for their fruit. In the meantime, Murray, their yellow lab, will continue to guard the vineyard, pose for pictures from adoring fans, and allow the Hightowers to use his name on their red-blend cuvée.
-
Order the book!
Hightower Cellars was featured in WineTrails of Washington as part of the Red Mountain WineTrail on page 388!
