Wine’s Most Inspiring People: Doug Frost, MS, MW — A Veteran Wine Educator Turns Washington Vintner

By Melanie Young

Many industry professionals would gladly rest on their laurels after becoming only one of four individuals* in the world to achieve both Master Sommelier (1991) and Master of Wine (1993) distinctions. But Doug Frost seems unstoppable after four decades in wine. 

Since joining that rarefied list, he managed the wine program for The American Restaurant in Kansas City, Mo. (1995-’96) and was nominated for Outstanding Wine & Spirits Professional by The James Beard Foundation Awards (1997). He’s written three books: Uncorking Wine (1996), On Wine (2001) and Far From Ordinary: The Spanish Wine Guide (2009).  For Kansas City public television, he created and hosted the series Ferment Nation, which received Emmy Awards in 2015 and 2017, and also hosted Emmy-nominated Check, Please! Kansas City (2009).

In 2005, with beverage colleagues Dale DeGroff, Steve Olson, Paul Pacult, Andy Seymour and David Wondrich, Frost created BAR (Beverage Alcohol Resource), an intensive certification program for cocktail industry professionals. He continues to teach for BAR and within the Master Sommelier and Master of Wine programs.

Back to His Roots

In 2018, Frost established Echolands Winery in Washington’s Walla Walla Valley AVA with fellow Kansan, Brad Bergman, a conservationist and agricultural specialist. They currently work with veteran Washington State winemaker, Brian Rudin. The team focuses on regenerative organic viticulture and experiments with several varieties. Wines include a Reisling, Sauvignon Blanc, Grenache Blanc, Cinsault, Syrah and Bordeaux red blends. Echolands Blue Mountain Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2022 received Platinum recognition at the 2025 Decanter World Wine Awards.

Owning a winery in Washington State brings Frost full circle. His mother was from Tacoma; he was born in Portland, Ore. Echolands’ Taggart Vineyard is named for a favorite uncle in Walla Walla who served a young Frost his first glass of wine, a Louis Martini Special Select Pinot Noir. In 1960, Frost’s family moved to Kansas City which he currently calls home. He started working in local restaurants in his teens; there, he developed an interest in wine and a knack for selling it. Later, while working as a wholesaler, he traveled to the Pacific Northwest to purchase wines and became friends with local producers. 

“I fell in love with these people and with this area. I knew it was a place I wanted to go when I had a chance to finally build a winery and start a vineyard,” shares Frost.

An Educator Keeps Learning

Echolands is Frost’s first venture into wine production. He acknowledges that wine education is an unending process. “As for [learning] the production side of things, I knew there was only one way, and that’s to dive into the pool and start paddling. Fortunately, I’ve worked with two good winemakers.”

He encourages others to take the plunge with their eyes wide open and to have good partners with deep pockets and long-term vision.

“You had better be there because you love and believe in it no matter what. Don’t chase scores or critics. Hire wonderful, kind people and let them do what they do. This is not a 10-year project. It’s a 20- or 30-year project, and you must approach it that way.”

Reflecting on his decision to become a vintner after 40 years in the game, Frost says, “At my age [ he’s now 70], I saw it as: this is your one chance. If you’re going to do it, do it.”

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*Frost is one of four individuals in the world to simultaneously hold the Master of Wine and Master Sommelier titles, along with Gerard Basset, Ronn Wiegand and Eric Hemer.

Melanie Young

Melanie Young is a certified specialist of wine and co-host/writer for The Connected Table LIVE, a global podcast featuring conversations with thought leaders in wine, food, spirits & hospitality. Her articles have appeared in Wine Industry News, Wine Enthusiast and Seven Fifty Daily. She travels frequently to report on wine regions,