On a recent autumn afternoon, a small group of people from the Amici d’Italia and the Vancouver USA Sons of Italy gathered at Maryhill Winery to share a few games of bocce, a potluck of antipasti, and some of the finest wines in the Pacific Northwest. The sky was perfectly blue, the sun was hot and the vineyards grew lush and verdant all about them.
It is no accident that the setting is picture-perfect. When Craig and Vicki Leuthold began construction on Maryhill Winery in 2000, they envisioned more than just a vineyard – they wanted to create a destination. From the Tuscan-style tasting house, vine covered terrace, and natural amphitheater, to the acres of grapevines sweeping down the bluff towards the Columbia River, the setting is spectacular.
The Leutholds established the winery on an 80-acre parcel of land leased from the Gunkel Estate and situated on a bluff in the eastern end of the Columbia River Gorge near Goldendale, Washington. The estate is a vintner’s dream. Its warm climate and fertile soil make it an ideal place for growing wine grapes.
“Grapes do really well in this latitude and longitude,” explains Laurie O’Leary, Tour and Tasting Director. “Craig and Vicki did a lot of research before deciding on this location.”
When Maryhill opened its doors in 2001, it was one of only 100 vineyards in Washington. That number has grown to over 800 but Maryhill stands out with its location and sweeping views of the Gorge. It is now the ninth largest winery in the state in terms of production and the third largest family-owned winery in Washington.
The quality of Maryhill’s wines is obvious from the first taste. It starts with top-rated grapes, but the quality of the wines produced is due to the expertise of winemaker Richard Batchelor. Richard directs all production activities at the winery, including winemaking, bottling and harvest coordination. His knowledge of viticulture has created more than 40 award-winning varietals and blends. Maryhill has claimed more than 2,000 awards since its first vintage in 2001.
The past two years have brought two particular accolades for the winery. In 2013, Richard received “Winemaker of the Year” from Indy International Wine Competition. In June of this year, the prestigious San Francisco International Wine Competition named Maryhill Winery as “2014 Winery of the Year.” The competition included more than 4,500 wines from 1,400 wineries, 26 states and 31 countries. In addition, the World Association of Wine Writers and Journalists recently ranked Maryhill as one of the top 10 wineries in the world.
In addition to the 3,000-square-foot tasting room, the terrace and picnic grounds, the winery also boasts an adjacent 4,000-seat terraced amphitheater. A naturally occurring bowl in the terrain, the amphitheater hosted open-air concerts for a few years before construction of the covered stage in 2006.
“They had a few concerts here but we have a few stories to tell where the stage actually blew away the first year,” Laurie laughs. “So they decided that they needed something a little more substantial.”
The amphitheater comes alive every summer with an annual concert series featuring musicians and bands from around the country as well as local performers. Bookings have included Peter Frampton, Foreigner, Styx, B.B. King, and Willie Nelson.
Several years ago, the winery constructed four world-class bocce courts and set them under arbors with an attached covered pavilion. The entire venue is surrounded by a lush green space. The courts are rentable by the hour and an ideal place to spend an afternoon.
“Craig and Vicki love music and outdoor recreation,” says Laurie, explaining why the winery invested in the courts. “It came from that and their exposure to bocce. Bocce goes hand in hand with wine sipping. It’s very fun and competitive and actually gets more competitive the more wine you sip.”
The atmosphere at Maryhill is family-friendly and even dog friendly; there are bowls of water scattered everywhere around the grounds and the tasting room accommodates four-legged friends as well. It is common to see families arrive with folding chairs and picnic lunches ready to spend an afternoon. Visitors to the tasting room are welcomed by a friendly and knowledgeable staff who offer wine tastings, wine inspired gifts and novelties, and even a selection of local cheeses for purchase.
Looking toward the future, the Leutholds want to work with the current beauty they have and not move into any new construction. They are expanding their rental availabilities, now offering the bocce courts, amphitheater, and terrace for private groups or parties.
“Craig and Vicki knew what was coming,” Laurie says, referring to the growth of wineries in Washington. “Maryhill has thrived because of Craig and Vicki’s forethought. They really capitalized on it in a beautiful way.”
For more information about Maryhill Winery, including wine purchases, visit their website: www.maryhillwinery.com
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