Sheridan Vineyard Winery

There are many reasons why someone would start a winery, but sometimes it just comes down to a philosophy. In the case of Sheridan Vineyard, it’s a philosophy that wine should be shaped by the vineyard that surrounds the winery, and Sheridan Vineyard happens to produce excellent grapes. In 1996, owner and winemaker Scott Greer acquired 76 acres of land in the Yakima Valley known as Sheridan Vineyard. Thus began his quest to display the surprisingly intense flavors of the grapes grown in this part of the Upper Yakima Valley by making wine under the Sheridan Vineyard label. Low yields of grapes on a per-acre basis, results in fruit that is deeply red—almost black—with huge flavors.

Scott Greer is self-taught when it comes to winemaking, but after more than 10 years of making wine, his former life in finance must be a distant memory. Fortunately, Scott’s winemaking skills have benefited from drawing upon the experience of a number of industry leaders. We’re sure, for example, that Scott has drawn from his friendship with fellow vintner Tim Stevens of Stevens Winery fame. In fact, a look at Sheridan’s wine label reveals two children stomping grapes. The two kids are a depiction of Scott’s children and derived from a sculpture executed by Tim Stevens.

The distinctive über-barn in Zillah is the site of the Sheridan Winery tasting room. Often Scott is there pouring wine for eager visitors, assisting Sarah Fewel, the tasting room manager. Depending upon availability, the winery features a predominantly red portfolio, including cabernet franc, syrah, cabernet sauvignon, and red blends called “Kamiakin Red” and “L’Orage” (French for “The Storm”). A white blend called “Kamiakin White” is refreshingly crisp and a welcome relief in the summertime.