White Salmon Vineyard Producer of Fine Wines Grower of Premium Wine Grapes

White Salmon Vineyard Producer of Fine Wines Grower of Premium Wine Grapes

The Vineyard

This unique property in Underwood, WA, was  transformed twenty-five years ago from an aging pear orchard into a thriving vineyard. The location was specifically picked for its potential to grow world class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. Among  other varietals grown are Syrah, Malbec, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc. The resulting wines have proven that White Salmon Vineyard and the Columbia Gorge AVA, is the ideal growing region for these grapes.

The physical location of the vineyard lies on the eastern slope of the Cascade mountain range on the north bank of the Columbia river, on a rocky slope 550′ above sea level. The vineyard’s climate, volcanic soil and carefully planned mix of grape clones combine to provide a terroir conducive to the varietals grown.

The Wines

White Salmon Vineyard has been producing wines in Washington since 2003. Our primary wines are Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and our up-and-coming Riesling, with a dry finish, is showing beautifully. The 2009 Estate Field Blend, consisting of Syrah, Malbec, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, is a customer favorite and one of our best sellers. The 2005 Estate Chardonnay is  classic, aged in neutral French oak, smooth and lush without a harsh finish sometimes found in Chardonnays.  Another favorite, our ’09 Estate Pinot Noir is a classic Pinot with good balance and exceptional fruit flavors. This wine is drinkable now with excellent aging potential.

Our Winemaker

Peter Brehm, a native of Connecticut, relocated to Northern California to attend law school in San Francisco. With a close proximity to the wine regions of Napa, Sonoma, and beyond, he was quickly lured into winemaking as a diversion from his studies. His career took a sudden change of course and, long story short, he became a self-taught enologist and later, viticulturist.

Peter has become well known in the industry for his innovations and contributions to the education of home winemakers and development of small commercial wineries. He has been sharing his experiences with home winemakers and professionals alike first through his retail winemaking business and Brehm Vineyards, his wine grape business. Over the years, he has won numerous awards for his wines. He always strives to get the best from his grapes and truly believes in his motto, “fine wine comes from fine grapes”.

White Salmon Vineyard Featured Wines

 Estate Chardonnay 2005

A perfect yellow-green color precedes the integrated flavors of Chardonnay and oak. This Chardonnay is rich, deep toned, with soft sur lees character. Crisp acid provides balance to these rich flavors. A short growing season with long intense light, summer heat, and cool fall-ripening delivers a Chardonnay unlike California or warmer regions. The western end of the Columbia Gorge AVA is deemed by many professionals as the best source of Chardonnay in the northwest. This wine is a Gold medal winner, 2013. INDY, plus other gold, silver and bronze medals.

Estate Pinot Noir 2009

A rich, pure Pinot Noir, with minimal oak and lush mouth feel for fine dining and cellaring. The wine is focused on the grapes creating a wine of place and terroir. The wine has good body and color. Extended aging in neutral French oak barrels has rounded the tannins of a rather vigorous, vibrant wine.

Estate Field Blend 2009

This Rhone-style blend of Malbec, Syrah, and Pinot Noir, with a hint of Chardonnay, is a full bodied, fruit-forward wine “born-in-the-field. The grapes are grown and fermented together producing a wine with a perfect balance of fruit, acid, tannin and oak. The deep color shows the Malbec grapes’ blueberry nuances. Syrah provides complexity with a pleasant aromatic fruit aroma and a slight scent of white pepper. The addition of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay assist in gaining sufficient sugars as Malbec and Sryah ripen quite late with low sugars. Beyond helping the structure, the Pinot Noir imparts a note of the sensual mouth feel, uniquely it’s own, it’s velvet glove.

Big White Chardonnay

Big White is a blend of two distinct Chardonnays. An early ripening MacAndrew clone is grow with minimal or no irrigation. Located 50 miles east of Portland, the shield of the Cascade mountains is breached through the Columbia Gorge. This break in the Cascades allows a gusty marine influence, without excessive precipitation, to ripen the grapes. Light yellow in color, a nose of mixed fruit tinged with banana and kiwi, this wine is well balanced with moderate, bright acid. Aged in stainless steel, without the addition of oak, a dry and fruity wine with a mineral aftertaste.