Washington Grown. Southern Europe Inspired.
Italy, Spain, and Portugal. Reimagined in the Columbia Valley. This month, we travel. Not by leaving Washington, but by planting Europe here in our vineyards.
Rooted in Columbia Valley soils. Shaped by desert sun and cold nights. And yet, the inspiration stretches across Southern Europe.
These regions built reputations over centuries, refining varieties into benchmarks for structure, longevity, and meals that demand attention. We did not try to recreate them. We asked a better question: What happens when those varieties meet Columbia Valley conditions?
Portugal: Architecture in a Glass
Portugal may be underestimated globally, but serious wine drinkers know better. Portuguese wines are built with architecture. The Douro Valley is steep, dramatic, unforgiving, its red blends structured, dense, layered with dark fruit and tannin that feels intentional. These wines are composed, not casual.
Mistura, our newest offering, was born from that philosophy. Inspired by Portuguese red blends and crafted in the Columbia Valley, Mistura brings Tempranillo, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Cão, and Sousão together into something deliberate and composed. Blackberry and dark fruit lead. Heavy spice follows. Vanilla rises from barrel aging. On the palate, it is rich and dense with tobacco and cedar, finishing with grainy tannin that holds the wine upright.
This is not Port. It is not sweet. It’s structure. The Columbia Valley gives Mistura long summer daylight to deepen color and build concentration. Sharp temperature drops at night preserve acidity and keep the wine disciplined. Portugal provided the blueprint, Washington interpreted with intention.
Spain: Heat With Restraint
Spain built its reds on sun and stamina. Tempranillo under open skies. Grenache through dry terrain. Wines layered with spice, leather, and deep fruit.
Eastern Washington speaks that language. Our vineyards sit east of the Cascades, where sunlight is abundant and rainfall scarce. But contrast defines the Columbia Valley. When the sun disappears, temperatures drop sharply. That swing preserves acidity and shapes tannins with intention.
The 2022 Tempranillo, Art Den Hoed shows this balance: fresh red fruit aromas of raspberry with a hint of clove and dry flower. Silky tannins carry the palate to a vibrant, precise finish.
The 2021 Grenache, Proprietor’s Reserve features strawberries, cherries, and rhubarb with a hint of cardamom. The palate shows toasty oak with a touch of marshmallow, lush and smooth on the finish.
The 2022 Albariño, Proprietor’s Reserve opens with melon, Asian pear, and fresh jasmine. The palate brings honey, apricot, and lychee through the length with a refreshing finish.
Spanish influence brings warmth. Washington brings restraint. Fruit with authority, balanced by the Columbia Valley.
Italy: Acidity, Elegance, and Energy
Italy built reds on structure and food. Sangiovese, Barbera, Dolcetto, Primitivo. These wines are lively, precise, anchored by acidity and refined tannin, designed for meals that demand attention.
Washington adds clarity. Columbia Valley’s long days and sharp nights allow fruit to ripen fully, tannins to form naturally, acidity to remain intact. The result: Italian varieties expressive yet disciplined.
The 2022/2023 Sangiovese, Elephant Mountain opens with cherry and boysenberry aromas. The palate delivers a rich, jammy mid-palate with subtle acidity that pulls the fruit through to a bright finish.
The 2022 Sangiovese opens with honeysuckle and red currant edged with fig. Vanilla and caramel guide the palate to a balanced, layered finish.
The 2021 Sangiovese, Proprietor’s Reserve adds cherry, plum, and vanilla interwoven with dried sage. Roasted redwood and toffee enhance the core, finishing clean and focused.
The 2022 Rosé of Sangiovese delivers strawberries, raspberries, and peach with hints of orange blossom and vanilla bean. Flavors continue with good viscosity and a bright acid finish.
The 2021 Barbera, Gunkel Vineyards shows pomegranate, cherry, strawberries, and a hint of honey and molasses. Dried sage, anise, and subtle toast highlight balance and energy.
The 2021 Dolcetto, Art Den Hoed presents strawberry, boysenberry, and a hint of caramel, leading into a smooth, fruit-driven palate with a balanced finish.
The 2022 Primitivo, Art Den Hoed offers ripe plum, cassis, chocolate, and blueberries with a hint of licorice. Chocolate and warm stone give way to tobacco and warm cedar on the finish.
Italian varieties in Washington are not replicas of Tuscany or Piedmont. They are expressions of place. Acidity is vibrant, fruit is clean, and tannins are deliberate. Every sip reminds you that grapes and ground both matter.
The Columbia Valley Advantage
The unifying thread across all these wines is not Europe, but place. The Columbia Valley is a high desert AVA east of the Cascades, with long daylight, little rainfall, and irrigation from the Columbia River for precise farming. Heat develops phenolic depth and color. Cool nights preserve acidity. Dry conditions reduce disease pressure. The result is fruit that is both powerful and structured.
Mistura carries grainy tannin without losing composure. Spanish-inspired reds feel ripe but lifted. Italian varieties maintain backbone even in warm vintages. The climate does not overpower the grape. It refines it.
Not Old World. Not New World. Our World.
Old World wines are restrained, earthy, traditional. New World wines are bold, fruit-driven, and expansive. Washington sits somewhere more interesting. New World sunlight with Old World structure.
We achieve ripeness without sacrificing acidity. Depth without losing line. Power without spilling over. Portugal contributes architecture. Spain contributes warmth and depth. Italy contributes acidity and discipline. Washington brings balance.
When you open these bottles, you taste interpretation shaped by Columbia Valley sun, wind, and elevation. Wines built with intention. Wines that hold structure. Wines that understand blending is design, not chance.
These wines may be inspired by Southern Europe, but they are defined by place and proudly Washington grown.
Not Old World, not New World, but our world.
About Maryhill Winery
Maryhill Winery is one of Washington’s most celebrated wine destinations, known for crafting award-winning, approachable wines that showcase the diversity of the Columbia Valley. Family-owned since 1999, Maryhill crafts one of the region’s most diverse portfolios, sourcing from premier vineyards across eight AVAs. Maryhill invites guests to experience the spirit of Washington wine through unforgettable moments at one of their four tasting rooms, as well as through their popular wine club memberships.
Learn more at maryhillwinery.com.
