Chris Upchurch of Upchurch Vineyard & Winery
Upchurch Vineyard’s 2020 Hero Twins Cabernet Sauvignon receives 100 points from the Wine Advocate (May 2023)
When most people in the US were drinking Lancers and Mateus, Chris Upchurch was sipping on Beaujolais and Bordeaux wines. His father loved wine, and always brought bottles back for home consumption when he travelled abroad. Chris’s global palate impressed bar managers in restaurants where he worked while in college, so he was often tasked with designing wine lists. This experience turned out to be the foundation for a career in wine, first in retail, then wholesale and, finally, winemaking. David Lake was his mentor, and helped him get started in 1992 as a co-owner and founding winemaker at DeLille Cellars in Woodinville. Chris remained head winemaker at DeLille until 2019, making some of the most sought-after wines in the state. DeLille has always sourced from Grand Cru vineyards mostly in the Yakima Valley, especially those on Red Mountain.
In 2007, Chris and his wife Thea purchased land on Red Mountain for what became their Upchurch Vineyard. The 18 acres are planted to Cabernet Sauvignon (90%) and Merlot (10%). They sell grapes to DeLille Cellars and keep the rest for their own Upchurch Vineyard (UV) and LtL wines. The signature UV wine each year is a Cabernet Sauvignon, which typically has 9 to 12 % Merlot blended in. In some vintages, Chris singles out a couple of barrels for a Hero Twins wine that is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. The recently released 2020 Hero Twins wine received a 100-point score from the Wine Advocate. In addition to stellar wines, visitors to Upchurch Vineyard will be treated to a cozy barn style structure that is both rustic and elegant, with plenty of space for tasting room, winemaking, and cellar. The views of Red Mountain from the outdoor seating area complete with kitchen are hard to beat. Similarly, the art on all the UV and LtL labels is some of the finest to be found on wine bottles anywhere. Great wine, great art, stunning setting, friendly folks at Upchurch Vineyard!!
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