Goose Ridge Estate Winery [August 2021]

Soooo, I may have said that this week my blog was going to be about a road trip to Montana, BUT long story short... I was wrong!! LOL This week, Wine with Wixy will be telling you about a different road trip, one with my very good friend, Katie Gordy!! Katie came up to visit us in Spokane, and we revisited many of the wineries that I have already talked about this summer. However, part of our EPIC adventure included a trip to Cannon Beach, on the Oregon Coast. [you may remember the winery there, The Wine Shack!?] On our way back to Spokane, I said... “When you need to get out and stretch from the long drive you may as well do it in style!!”

I honesty do not even remember how we came upon this absolutely gorgeous 2,500-acre vineyard!! I kind of remember that it was down a back road of sorts that was under construction. Since there were not any construction workers, you were on your own to hopefully not meet anyone on the one lane that was blocked off!! It was so random and out in the middle of nowhere in Richland, Washington. Lucky for us we made it, and they were open for tastings 7-days a week. We were the only ones there, maybe due to the fact that it was right when they opened at 11am. [because who drinks wine at 11am!? WE DO!!! You must remember our Washington 9am wine tasting!? LOL]

As you can see from the photo above, we decided to sit outside since it was so beautiful, both the patio and the weather. It was getting close to lunchtime and we were stopped anyways, we also ordered charcuterie too!! While we were waiting for our wine, Katie and I walked around the grounds to get a close and personal look at some wine vines!! These vines were planted in the spring of 1998 by Bill Monson and his son Arvid. You know how I love a good back story, so let's head back to the 1930’s!! Bill Monson, lovingly known as Monsy, hopped on a train from North Dakota heading to Washington. He was chasing the dream of becoming a farmer and starting a family.  

Mission accomplished. Bill met his wife, Suzanne and by the early 1970's they had a successful cattle ranch, complete with apple and cherry orchards. Then came the planting of the wine vines with his son, [as mentioned above] on roughly 2000 acres [which just blows my mind] of the property to turn it into what it is now… Goose Ridge Estate Vineyards & Winery. You may be wondering [because I know I was] about the significance of the words “estate winery” so let me tell you. An estate vineyard is a winery that owns or controls 100% of the vineyard used to make their wine. They grow, produce, process, and bottle their wine all on the same premises.

I don't know why I love visiting estate wineries, I guess it's just the whole idea of it, one family doing everything from start to finish on their own property!! Kind of romantic if you ask me!! I have been known to take some different and unique photos, but the one above was just too cute not to share. In all the vineyards, wineries, wine bars, and tasting rooms I’ve visited over the years [and to this day] I have never seen a wine wipe. Anyone else?? Plus... “Wipe that wine off your smile” because they know if you are drinking some of their wine, you are smiling!! Love it!!

This may sound like I’m repeating myself, but… I know you remember me writing about my friend and #pilotwife Deb?? We are going for another visit to Montana, so you won’t want to miss it when Wine with Wixy stops in at Glacier Sun Winery!!

Cheers to you my wine loving friends, and TTFN!!