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Celilo Vineyard, one of the oldest vineyards in the state, was planted in the early-to-mid 1970's.
The 60-plus acres of vines occupy a southeast-facing slope on Underwood Mountain, an extinct volcano high above the Columbia River near the town of White Salmon - straight north across the Columbia River from Hood River, Oregon.
Views from this site are incredible. To the east are the Columbia River and the arid hills of eastern Washington and Oregon and to the west is Mount Hood. Planted meticulously by hand by the late William McAndrew, a Seattle surgeon who purchased the upper part of the property in 1971, the vineyard is still owned by the McAndrew family. Rick Ensminger, the vineyard manager, has been with Celilo Vineyard since 1976.
Woodward Canyon has been using Celilo chardonnay since the early-to-mid 1990's, sometimes making a vineyard designated wine, but more typically blending the Celilo fruit with our Walla Walla Valley fruit.
The cool climate Celilo Vineyard sees some 50 inches of rain per year and much cooler temperatures than the Columbia or Walla Walla Valleys. Due to the higher acidity found in Celilo fruit, it is a perfect blender with our warmer region chardonnay from Woodward Canyon Estate Vineyard.
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Lowden, Washington 99360
