Fielding Hills Winery
Devotion to the Land Leads to Great Wines at Fielding Hills Winery
In 1919, brothers J.M. Wade and Isham (Ike) Fielding Wade left Tennessee for Wenatchee Valley, WA. Here, they planted orchards and instilled in their families a devotion to the land. Mike Wade, grandson to Ike, is the third generation to grow apples and cherries. Mike fell in love with wine as a young man when, while out to dinner with his Grandmother Wade, he ordered a glass of Burgundy paired with prime rib. The experience showcased how powerful the combination of food and wine can be.
Fast forward to 1998, when the region that would become the Wahluke Slope AVA was quickly earning a reputation for world-class grapes. Large wineries from around the state began asking Mike to replace his orchards with vineyards. Seeing the opportunity, Mike pulled out apples on a southern-facing slope in the middle of an organic orchard and planted the Riverbend Estate Vineyard. In 2000 Mike and his wife, Karen, with the help of their children, family, and friends, made their first 400 cases of wine, and Fielding Hills Winery was born.
“When Fielding Hills Winery began, my husband said his goal was simply to ‘make a red wine that I like. If the rest of the world likes it, I will be honored,’” says Karen. With his first vintage, Mike was named Washington State’s Rising Star Winemaker by Wine Spectator. The demand for Fielding Hills wines quickly surpassed their production ability. In 2014, they built a tasting room and production facility along the shores of Lake Chelan and welcomed Winemaker Tyler Armour to the team.
Honoring a Legacy
Fielding Hills Winery’s flagship red blend, Tribute, is bottled to honor Ike Fielding Wade. The wine is a near 50/50 split of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. The Syrah gives the wine its dark ripe fruit aromas and flavors, while the Cabernet Sauvignon provides well-balanced structure and richness. In 2016, the Wade’s decided to add white wines to their line up, and they planted Chardonnay, Karen’s personal favorite, along with Roussanne and Chenin Blanc. Our featured wine is their first vintage of Chardonnay from their Estate Riverview Vineyard. While the family continues to grow, pack, and ship apples and cherries, Mike also strives to embody his grandfather’s legacy in each glass of Fielding Hills wine.
The fabulous wines we featured:
2017 Wahluke Slope Tribute
- 93 Points, James Suckling
- 92 Points, Washington Wine Blog
- 91 Points, Wine Enthusiast
Tasting Notes: Mesquite and dark earth aromas lead to notes of vanilla and pepper with a round finish. The Syrah gives the wine its dark, ripe fruit aromas and flavors, while the Cabernet Sauvignon provides well-balanced structure and richness.
2019 Estate Riverview Vineyard, Wahluke Slope Chardonnay
- Pair with: Parmesan-crusted Cod with Parsnip Purée.
- Enjoy now or hold up to 5 years.
Tasting Notes: Aromas of toasted brioche, lemon zest, acacia, lees, and subtle tropical notes. The palate is deeply textured, and full-bodied, combining lemon custard, ripe peach, and candied pineapple that shows concentration well into the finish.
Winemaker's Notes
2017 Wahluke Slope Tribute: North Ridge Vineyard and Riverbend Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope AVA supplied all the fruit. Aged for 22 months in 68% French and 32% American barrels (77% new).
2019 Estate Riverview Vineyard, Wahluke Slope Chardonnay: Estate Riverview Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope AVA supplied all the fruit. Planted in 2016, this is the first vintage of Chardonnay produced. Due to the long, hot days, canopy management is paramount for the delicate white grapes. The wine aged for one year in a combination of a 7hL concrete egg and oak barrels (60% French oak, 10% mixed European).
Wahluke Slope, WA
Mike and Karen Wade
Tyler Amour