Isenhower Cellars

“Go, Butler!” exclaimed Olivia, one of the Isenhowers’ three daughters. The little blond-haired girl was dressed in a Butler Bulldog cheerleading outfit and she, along with friends and family, was gearing up for the 2010 Final Four match-up with Michigan State. It turns out that her mom, Denise Isenhower, graduated from Butler University, hence the Bulldog shout-out.

While Olivia doodled with crayons, her dad, Brett Isenhower, described the family’s 1998 move from Colorado to make wine, equating it to “diving head first into shallow water.” But the couple came armed with backgrounds in chemistry (both Denise and Brett were pharmacists) as well as Brett’s successful business experience in concocting homemade beer. An exhaustive review of wine-growing areas (Brett is very analytical) found Walla Walla to be more than just a dot on the map. As Brett put it, “Walla Walla is the most attractive town in Eastern Washington,” referring not just to its climate and soil, but to the town’s general culture, architecture and school system. At that, Olivia rattled off something in Spanish, to which 40-something Brett smiled and explained that she attends a bilingual grade school. Proof positive that they had chosen wisely.

With more than 10 years of winemaking experience, Brett continues to evolve—and experiment with—his chosen craft. His current releases feature Bordeaux and Rhône varietal wines that grow exceptionally well in the Columbia Valley. Many of his wines have been christened after flowers, for example, “Wild Alfalfa” (syrah), “Batchelor’s Button” (cabernet sauvignon), and “Red Paintbrush” (Bordeaux blend). However, there’s nothing “garden variety” about these wines. Grabbing my attention was the wonderfully balanced white Rhône blend of roussanne and viognier called “Snapdragon,” bearing a stunning label. Brett proudly pointed out that the label is the creation of local artist Squire Broel.

Now, with a second tasting room in Woodinville, which requires weekend jaunts to the west side of the state, and 3.9 acres of Malbec to tend in their own Indie Vineyard just outside the winery/tasting room, the Isenhowers’ lives are in overdrive. But they do have one vital quality that fuels them: their passion. That energy combined with their exceptional wines is a formula for success. It explains why they are not willing to be content with their current achievements, but are forever tweaking, experimenting and evolving their winery to achieve further success. Speaking of which, Butler won!

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  Order the book!

  Isenhower Cellars was featured in WineTrails of Walla Walla as part of the Walla Walla WineTrail South on page 528!

• 

  Order the book!

  Isenhower Cellars was featured in WineTrails of Washington as part of the Walla Walla WineTrail South on page 528!