October 1, 2024 / Cashmere, WA—The Washington Wine Industry Foundation Collaboration Wine Series is one of the best-kept secrets of the Washington wine industry. A celebration of the collaborative spirit at the heart of Washington wine, the entirety of the program–resulting in only 25 cases produced annually–is made possible through in-kind donations in support of a cause dedicated to the growth and longevity of the Washington wine industry.
Collaboration Series wines embody the practices and philosophies of the growers and vintners behind each iteration.
For what is now the sixth vintage—“Series Six”, Champoux Vineyards’ Vineyard Manager Dan Nickolaus selected Block 1, a block of Cabernet Sauvignon vines older than Nickolaus himself. Planted in 1972, the vines were low-yielding at about one and a half tons of fruit per acre, which is less economically sustainable, but still high-quality. What fruit grew on these half-century-old vines before they were taken out after the 2022 harvest were small berries with thick skin, thanks to the wind at Champoux Vineyards, characteristic of the Horse Heaven Hills AVA.
Nickolaus’ growing philosophy starts with the soil. Well-drained soil with high-quality water pumped “straight from the Columbia River”, combined with composting added to break down nutrients in the soil, making them more readily available to the plant, help Nickolaus cultivate strong canopies he can stress after fruit set for enhanced structure and flavor.
Nickolaus chose to partner with winemaker Will Camarda of Andrew Will Winery to transform the fruit into a one-of-a-kind wine. Camarda, familiar with Champoux Vineyards, embraced his winery’s minimalist, fruit-focused approach, creating a Cabernet Sauvignon blended with 10% Merlot from the same vineyard. The result is a wine that reflects both the terroir of the vineyard and style of Andrew Will Winery. With 10% Merlot, also from Champoux Vineyards, blended before bottling, this unique Cabernet Sauvignon exemplifies Andrew Will Winery’s approach to wine; unfiltered, unfined, and made with native yeasts, showcasing the terroir of the Horse Heaven Hills AVA.
Every element of the process is instrumental in bringing this program to life. Even the bottle and label are a reflection of the Washington wine industry’s collaborative nature: Universal Packaging and Jim Carrey Creative have provided bottles and labels, respectively, since the Collaboration Series’ inception.
Presales of the 25-case release of Series Six are available at https://washingtonwinefoundation.org/collaboration-series/ where you can also purchase and learn more about past Series’ wines. Proceeds benefit the Washington Wine Industry Foundation, a 501 (c) 3 whose mission is to fund creative and sustainable solutions to the Washington wine industry’s challenges. Presale purchases secure your spot at a Release Party on November 13th, 2024 in Walla Walla.
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About the Foundation: a dynamic network of wine industry professionals united by a common vision: to foster a thriving Washington wine industry. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the Foundation facilitates, manages, and distributes funding to confront challenges and invest in solutions including scholarships, industry events, and sustainability such as pest control, clean plants, risk management, safety, and more. Through collaboration and partnerships, the Foundation honors the industry’s heritage while forging a path to a flourishing future for Washington wine. To learn more, visit www.washingtonwinefoundation.org.
