Our WHY ?
We came to winemaking later in life, understanding that the pull arose from the realization that it was an opportunity to live a life that reflects our values. We value family, friends, great times, hard work and following your passions. Our goal is to focus on the vineyard and unique terroir in the Chelan Valley and hopefully create world-class, low intervention wines.
This journey and the subsequent reality haven’t always been straightforward. We chose the Chelan AVA because we believe it gives us the best chance for the perfect balance and harmony in our wines. We are the most northern AVA in Washington separated from the mammoth Columbia Valley. This reflects our search for that special place; the end of the road, off the beaten track – the unpaved Primitive Road. Grape growing here is not for the faint of heart. Its equal parts sweat, tears and a lot of saying, maybe next year. If you, like us, believe great wines are made in the vineyard then the Lake Chelan AVA has that potential. To make great grapes. the vines must struggle - this means conditions; poor soil, rocks, deficit irrigation and the vicious prevailing winds coming out of the Cascades due to the Venturi effect that stress them. We have them here in spades. Second, some of the best grapes are grown at the extremes of where they can ripen. Growing grapes in these "extreme" conditions is a delicate balance. However, there is something magical that happens when the exact amount of sun, soil and terroir leads to the perfect harmony - the moment of viticultural Zen.
Viticulturally speaking, the Chelan AVA is on the razor’s edge and unfortunately, a lot of the time we end up on the wrong side of that blade. But every once in a while, the wine gods smile, the planets align, we can grow grapes with a perfect balance of ripeness, acidity, and complex flavors. In the cellar, we keep our interventions low with the hope this terroir will shine through.
Our passion is to share that bottle with you. So, come share our journey. Share the joy, share the experience and share the pain when a harvest goes bad but most importantly, share the hope that the perfect season is just around the corner.
You will always be welcome at Primitive Road. Come join us in a glass.
Slange,
Robb and Lyndsey