Paul Beveridge of Wilridge Vineyard, Winery & Distillery
Growing up in the 60s, Paul Beveridge spent time playing in Napa cellars while his parents were wine tasting. He caught the wine bug then and put it into practice in 1988, while at the same time practicing law in Seattle. He and his wife opened a restaurant in Seattle’s Madrona neighborhood and sold their Wilridge wines to restaurant patrons. Twenty years later he retired from the law firm to make wine and grow grapes full time in the Naches Heights area of Eastern Washington northwest of Yakima. Paul was instrumental in getting AVA status for Naches Heights in 2012, an area unique for its andesite rock distinct from the basalt characteristic of other parts of Eastern Washington, and its generous layer of wind-blown loess typical of the Palouse.
Today Wilridge is the oldest continually operating winery in Seattle with tasting rooms in Pike’s Market, in the Sky River Meadery in Woodinville, and in a 100-year farm house in Naches Heights. The farm house sits on 80 acres, with 14 planted to vines and others dedicated to apples and pears used in the on-site distillery. The vineyard and winery are certified organic and biodynamic, reflecting Paul’s belief that the best wines in the world are produced from grapes grown in biodynamic vineyards. He specializes in Italian and French style wines, and is the only vintner growing Sagrantino in WA state. Wilridge Vineyard, Winery and Distillery in Naches Heights is a recreational destination, offering wine tasting, musical evenings in the vineyard, hiking on a canyon trail leading to Mt. Rainier, mountain biking, horseback riding, and cliff climbing. Get all the details in this interview.
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