What You Should Know - Kiona Vineyards and Winery

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What You Should Know
44612 N Sunset Rd
Benton City WA 99320
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P: 509-588-6716
F: 509-588-3219
[email protected]
“It’s impossible to hide the fact that Kiona produces consistently top notch wines.”
- Alder Yarrow, Vinography.com
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“Kiona Vineyards and Winery has been quietly producing really good wine since 1980.”
- Seattle magazine, August 2009
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“Any winery seeking quality grapes from a tremendous grower need not look any further than Kiona Vineyards.”
- Kurt and Vicki Schlicker, Winemaker/Owners, Rulo Winery
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“Kiona’s Red Mountain Lemberger was one of my favorite wines of 2011.”
- Anthony Giglio, FOOD & WINE Wine Guide
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“Kiona Vineyards produces fruit that is diverse, expressive, and exceptional.”
- Brennon Leighton, Winemaker, Efeste Winery
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“...a lineup of high Quality-to-Price Ratio (QPR) wines that consistently outperform their price points.”
- Sean Sullivan, Washington Wine Report
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“Kiona is a Washington pioneer and a consistent maker of great wine. One of my trusted favorites.”
- Josh Wade, Owner, Nectar Tasting Room
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“... Quite possibly the prettiest grapes I have ever worked with. “
- Anne Ebenreiter Hubatch, Owner and Winemaker, Helioterra Wines
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“For decades the Williams family has been farming classic varieties on Red Mountain, one of America’s great
AVAs. They know the land like few others do, and their grapes reflect it.”
- Bob Betz, Master of Wine, Winemaker, Betz Family Winery
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Quick Facts
Address
44612 N Sunset Rd
Benton City WA 99320
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Phone/Fax/Email
P: 509-588-6716
F: 509-588-3219
E: [email protected]
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Estate Red Mountain Vineyards
Kiona Estate (65 Acres)
Ranch at the End of the Road (25 Acres)
Heart of the Hill (140 Acres)
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Tasting Room Hours of Operation
Noon - 5:00 PM Daily
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Winemakers
Online
www.kionawine.com
www.facebook.com/kionawine
www.twitter.com/kionawine
www.youtube.com/kionawine
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Year Established
First Vines Planted: 1975
Winery Bonded: 1979
First Commercial Wine Vintage: 1980
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Annual Production
Approximately 30,000 cases
Scott Williams (Also Viticulturist)
Glen Fukuyama
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Marketing Contacts
JJ Williams
Sales Manager
C: 206-403-8898
[email protected]
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Lorne Jacobson
Sales Manager
P: 206-369-8825
[email protected]
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Kiona Vineyards and Winery - Red Mountain AVA - www.kionawine.com
Things You Should Know
Kiona Name Origin
Kiona (pronounced: Kigh-Oh-Na) is the word used by the Yakama Nation Native Americans to describe the Red
Mountain area. Translated, it means brown hills.
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Red Mountain Originals
Kiona Vineyards and Winery pioneered what would later become the Red Mountain AVA in 1975 by planting about
3.5 acres each of Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Riesling. That original planting was followed by Merlot,
Lemberger, and Chenin Blanc in 1976. Kiona Vineyards and Winery currently grows more than 15 Vitis vinifera
varietals on over 200 acres in the Red Mountain AVA.
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Family Owned and Operated
Three generations of the Williams family are involved in the day-to-day operations of Kiona Vineyards and Winery.
The hands that tend our vineyards are the same that craft our wine, a rare tradition in today’s wine industry. There is
no “hand off” between vineyard manager and winemaker, as those responsibilities are not split between mutually
exclusive positions at Kiona. This understanding of our product from vineyard-to-bottle allows us to create lively
wines that are a true expression of the Red Mountain AVA.
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Winemaking Philosophy
Simply stated, it is our goal to produce truly great wine. Kiona Vineyards and Winery crafts wines with a deft,
restrained style that complements food and showcases balance. We employ gentle flavor extraction techniques and
wines that are known to improve with time are often released after a significant aging period. World-class wine is
made with world-class fruit, which is why we showcase the renowned grape growing areas of Red Mountain and
Washington State.
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10 Second Pitch:
For three generations our family's vineyard-to-bottle ideology has helped us develop the Red Mountain AVA into a
world-renowned wine producing region.
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20 Second Pitch:
The hands that tend our vineyards are the same that craft our wine, a rare tradition in today’s wine industry. For three
generations our family’s vineyard-to-bottle ideology has allowed us to develop the Red Mountain AVA into a worldrenowned wine producing region.
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Kiona Vineyards and Winery - Red Mountain AVA - www.kionawine.com
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Pioneering Red Mountain
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As far as John Williams and Jim Holmes were concerned,
the plan was perfect. It was an 84-acre patch of desolate
sagebrush and cheatgrass nestled between Red Mountain
and the Yakima River. They did their research, of course,
and as far as they could tell, the area was perfect for
growing grapes. It had south-facing slopes, incredible silty
soil, and temperate sunny weather conditions. It didn’t
matter that they had to bring electricity in from three miles
away or dig a well on their own dime. They were going to
plant a vineyard, and it was going to be good.
“We’d researched it and knew there was water about some 500
feet deep. We were at 550 feet and close to the end of our cash, and
we hadn’t hit water yet, and the well driller asked us how far we
wanted to go. We asked, ‘how much money have we got left?’ We
drilled about five more feet and hit the water.”
- John Williams, Founder
John Williams, Founder
“You know you’ve got to start a winery when you
make more wine than you can drink.”
Turns out it was a great decision to drill just a little further.
With the water now flowing, the partners decided to go
ahead and plant about three acres each of three classic
varieties – Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Riesling.
Employing what one of John’s children would jokingly call
“slave child labor” more than 30 years later, the first grapes
were planted on Red Mountain in 1975. The first fruit was
ready in 1978, but only two years would pass before Kiona
Vineyards became Kiona Vineyards and Winery and
produced the first wine under the name in 1980.
Since then, Kiona has grown from a basement/garage
operation to one of the most decorated wineries in the
United States. Second-generation grape grower and
winemaker Scott Williams now runs and manages the
vineyards and winery.
Scott Williams, Manager & Winemaker
“It feels like we’re an overnight success, it just took
30 years to get there.”
Kiona Vineyards and Winery - Red Mountain AVA - www.kionawine.com
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Red Mountain AVA
“World class wines produced from grapes grown in the
Red Mountain AVA have brought acclaim to this small
but prominent agricultural region of Eastern
Washington, where the vineyards continue to attract
international interest as the grapes produced in this
area are highly desirable and increasingly in demand.
Growers commit their best efforts to cultivate the
powerful and concentrated fruit that Red Mountain
gives them. They are wholly united in their belief of the
superior quality of Red Mountain grapes.”
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- Red Mountain AVA Alliance
Red Mountain became a federally designated American Viticultural Area (AVA) on April 3, 2001. Comprised of
4,040 acres, the defined boundary of the Red Mountain AVA is among the smallest in the United States.
Approximately 1,200 acres of the Red Mountain AVA are under cultivation, of which roughly 240 are owned and
farmed by Kiona Vineyards and Winery.
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The 1,410 ft Red Mountain is so named due to the abundance of a native grass (Drooping Brome, or “cheatgrass”)
that imbues a reddish hue to the mountain in the springtime.
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Formed in a southeast to northwest diagonal ridge, Red Mountain provides the northern boundary of the
triangular-shaped AVA. The Yakima River defines the western edge while soil and topography designate the
southern border.
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The southwest slope of Red Mountain lies in what was once a backwater eddy during the time of the Missoula
Floods. Much of southeastern Washington’s current landscape was shaped by this massive ice-age flooding. The
predominant soil types within the AVA include the Warden, Hezel, and Scootenay series of wind blown soils
(loess), which were deposited over glacial sediments during this time.
Kiona Vineyards and Winery - Red Mountain AVA - www.kionawine.com
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Red Mountain AVA
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Geography
The small geographic region that comprises the Red Mountain AVA was formed by the repeated ice-age flooding of
Glacial Lake Missoula over 10,000 years ago. The flood water redesigned the landscape, configuring the soft mountain
slopes and depositing desirable topsoils over sand, silt, and gravel.
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Soil
The high alkalinity and calcium carbonate content of the soil, along with its granular consistency, allows each vine to
form a well-established root system. This soil composition allows root systems to grow deep in order to obtain
necessary nutrients and moisture.
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Slope
The southwest slope of the Red Mountain AVA provides our vineyards with a directional aspect to the sun that is
ideal for prolonged sunlight exposure and warmth. These highly desirable conditions allow for flavor intensity that is
recognized as a primary characteristic of Red Mountain fruit. During the growing season, Red Mountain experiences
more than 17 hours of sunlight per day - two more than Napa Valley, California.
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Precipitation
The Cascade Mountain rain shadow has a great effect on Red Mountain, where the average rainfall falls between five
to seven inches annually. Our desert climate experiences almost no precipitation during the growing season, resulting
in dramatically lower mold and mildew pressure compared to most vineyard regions.
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Microclimate
The high latitude (N 46º) and topography of Red Mountain contribute to large diurnal temperature swings,
particularly during the growing season. Daytime temperatures average 90º F (32º C) and nighttime temperature can
often drop below 50º F (10º C). In the evenings the AVA experiences a significant drop in temperature due in part to
its proximity to the Yakima River. Cooler evenings help retain high acidity levels, a rare and desirable trait when
making fine wine.
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Red Mountain grape vines are not susceptible to phylloxera, meaning all of Kiona’s vineyards are planted in their
own rootstocks. We do not plant hybrid vines.
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Winds
Red Mountain experiences prevailing winds out of the southwest and are notable for their frequency and velocity.
These regular gusts, particularly during growing season, help keep the grape clusters small thereby concentrating
flavor, richness, and intensity.
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Air Drainage
In the autumn, the cooler air from the north flows down the slope of Red Mountain, toward the river. This natural air
drainage provides continual air movement which helps prevent frost from settling in the vineyards and damaging the
grapes.
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Kiona Vineyards and Winery - Red Mountain AVA - www.kionawine.com
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Viticulture
Three vineyards constitute Kiona Vineyards and Winery’s estate Red Mountain acreage. All are directly managed by
Scott Williams, general manager and winemaker. With the exception of some of the earliest vines, Kiona’s plantings
employ a bi-lateral cordon training system.
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Kiona Estate
Included in this vineyard is the 10 acre block that pioneered the Red Mountain AVA. The Kiona Estate vineyard is
situated directly west and north of the Red Mountain tasting room. Varietals include Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet
Franc, Merlot, Lemberger, Chenin Blanc, Riesling, and Chardonnay.
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Ranch at the End of the Road
This is one of the highest planted vineyards on Red Mountain by altitude. Direct winds and pronounced basalt
outcroppings in the soil contribute to intense flavor concentration. Varietals include Gewürztraminer, Zinfandel,
Syrah, and Sangiovese.
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Heart of the Hill
This is Kiona’s most recent planting on Red Mountain. It is situated immediately to the west of Col Solare and has 140
acres under vine. Cabernet Sauvignon represents the largest amount of acreage, but smaller amounts of blendingoriented varietals including Malbec, Petite Sirah, and Merlot are planted as well.
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What about Organic?
Kiona Vineyards and Winery employs what we consider to be the best growing and winemaking practices from a
number of philosophies from around the world. We consider our practices to be low impact, minimum input, and
environmentally sustainable. Over 35 years of farming on Red Mountain has taught us that there are many
complexities and variables that simply cannot be addressed by a single set of ideologies. Environmental stewardship
is of utmost concern to us, and is something that we value as a core responsibility of running our business. Extensive
investment has been made in practices that increase efficiency, grape quality, and worker safety while at the same
time reducing excessive carbon inputs and outputs. Winemaker and Owner Scott Williams lives on the property and
raised his children there. New ideas and technologies are tested on a continual basis and incorporated into practice if
they prove to be of benefit.
Kiona Vineyards and Winery - Red Mountain AVA - www.kionawine.com
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Kiona Label Breakdown
Kiona Vineyards and Winery’s Estate Red Mountain Label
This label designates a Kiona wine that is made with 100% estate Red Mountain fruit. These wines are
made to express the Red Mountain AVA in its purest form. It is rare in the New World wine industry
that a producer is both a winery and a vineyard; our family is responsible for this product from the time
we first plant the vine in the soil to when the finished product is bottled and sent out into distribution.
It is common for people to pronounce
Kiona as “Key-Oh-Na”. This pronunciation
guide is included on every bottle.
In the classic European tradition, these wines
are grown, harvested, vinted, aged, and bottled
all on our Red Mountain estate.
This one-piece label incorporates what we call a “wrap design.” The
graphic is designed to encourage customers to pick up the bottle and
spin it around in order to see the entirety of the illustration.
Our Red Mountain Seal. Kiona Vineyard was established in
1975 on Red Mountain, Washington, USA. The three stars
represent the three generations of the Williams family
working together at the winery.
Kiona Vineyards and Winery - Red Mountain AVA - www.kionawine.com
Kiona Label Breakdown
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Kiona Vineyards and Winery’s Non-Estate Label
This label designates a non-estate wine. Kiona Vineyards and Winery owns and farms vineyards that are
located outside of the Red Mountain AVA, and are therefore not considered “estate.” Additionally, for a
small number of our wines, we do source fruit from other highly respected vineyards in the area. This
label exists to help differentiate wines that are 100% estate Red Mountain from those that are blended
with grapes grown in surrounding areas. Even Kiona Vineyards and Winery wines without an “Estate
Red Mountain” designation/label are largely comprised of fruit from our own estate Red Mountain
vineyards.
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This Kiona script logo has been used
on our labels since the 1982 vintage.
The graphic is a watercolor-based stylistic
depiction of Red Mountain and nearby
Saddleback/Rattlesnake Mountains. You can
see the real-life inspiration in the picture at
the top of this page.
Kiona Vineyards and Winery - Red Mountain AVA - www.kionawine.com
Kiona Label Breakdown
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Kiona Vineyards and Winery’s Dessert Wine Label
Kiona’s Dessert Wine labels are designed to adhere to the general aesthetic of the rest of the lineup, while
conveying the harsh conditions late harvest and ice wine grapes must go through. The goal was to be
able to look at the graphic and be able to tell immediately the wines are sweet.
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Metallic gold foil stamped into the paper represents the golden color
and richness of our dessert wines.
Windswept vines nearly devoid of leaves and bitter cold
temperatures are commonplace when making dessert wines.
This illustration was designed to depict that environment in
a stylized way.
This is the International Riesling Foundation
standardized sweetness scale. We use it to
visually depict the amount of sugar a customer
can expect in our wines.
Kiona Vineyards and Winery - Red Mountain AVA - www.kionawine.com