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Winemaker to Put Down Roots on Red Mountain

Posted on: Wednesday, 23 November 2005, 21:00 CST

By Mary Hopkin, Tri-City Herald, Kennewick, Wash.

Nov. 21--After three years of sub-letting space in Badger Canyon, Fidelitas Winery is looking to plant roots on Red Mountain.

"At some point you need an identity of your own," said Charlie Hoppes, owner and winemaker for the boutique winery founded in 2001.

Hoppes, a Mid-Columbia winemaker, has made a name for his Fidelitas wines, which captured gold medals in this year's wine competitions for its 2001 Meritage, Columbia Valley; the 2002 Syrah, Columbia Valley; and its 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley.

But the winery has been tucked inside Caon de Sol Winery on East Badger Road.

Hoppes has purchased five acres of land on Red Mountain where he plans to build a 15,000-square-foot production facility, a tasting room and a small estate vineyard. Hoppes said he hopes to break ground on the production facility in the spring, but may build a temporary tasting room at the site first.

"From a business perspective the big key is to have retail space, which gives the consumers a chance to visit you and gives you an identity," he said.

Hoppes knows a lot about identity. The distinguished winemaker has helped numerous other wineries build their own reputations and personalities. He has been a consulting winemaker for Caon de Sol, Goose Ridge, Ryan Patrick Winery, Three Rivers, Alder Ridge, Gamache Vintners and others.

He gained his experience at Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, first at Snoqualmie then at Chateau Ste. Michelle.

"I've just completed my 18th vintage in Washington and it's always been a dream of mine to go out on my own," he said.

And he's always held a secret hope to find a spot of his own on Red Mountain.

"I've always thought Red Mountain was a special place and it's going to become more of a destination now because all these wineries are going to be within three or four miles," he said.

Hoppes' Fidelitas wines are made with fruit from several area vineyards, including Red Mountain. While the Red Mountain American Viticulture Area is Washington's smallest appellation at an estimated 4,000 acres, with only 600 planted in vineyards, it is know to produce grapes of exceptional quality and character due to distance climate conditions and soil characteristics, Hoppes said.

"This region is quickly becoming a premier wine destination in Washington and the opportunity to be part of that growth is tremendous," he said. "Our presence on Red Mountain is an important next step for Fidelitas and for me as a winemaker."

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Copyright (c) 2005, Tri-City Herald, Kennewick, Wash.

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Source: Tri-City Herald

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