Handcrafted Boutique Red Mountain Wines

Compelled by our history and a desire to push the boundaries of winemaking, we make handcrafted boutique Red Mountain wines that capture the essence of Washington's unique terroir and showcase the artistry of our winemaking style. Each bottle tells a story of passion, innovation, and dedication to producing exceptional Washington wines.

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Award-Winning Washington Wines Something must be working.

Starting a new winery is daunting. You take what you've learned, fold in what you like, try to buy some quality grapes...and wait.

That's why we're particularly proud of the validation coming from the awards and accolades Argonne Cellars has won, and we've won them from our very first vintage.

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Our Winemaking Philosophy How do we go about making a great bottle of wine?

Grapes from the Red Mountain & Rattlesnake Hills AVAs

Argonne Cellars is fortunate to have relationships with some of the best growers in WA. Red grapes are sourced from Shaw Vineyards in the heralded Red Mountain AVA; suffice it to say we’re in very good company with the best producers in the region. Red Mountain grapes have a way of revealing a unique terroir and reflect remarkable color, intensity and power; while also having a balance of acidity, fruit, and tannins. Whites are sourced from an amazing set of growers as well, including Lonesome Springs Ranch, a family-run operation that proudly adheres to Vinewise® sustainability practices, and from a vineyard which was one of the first planted in the Rattlesnake Hills AVA, Château Puryear Vineyard.

A Unique Winemaking Approach

We’re on a different path than many wineries; instead of blending, Argonne celebrates “the single varietal.” (Why 100% Petit Verdot? Because it turns out that many of you happen to love it.) We’re also exploring more obscure grapes and using less than commonplace methods. (Why Sauvignon Blanc in barrel for 6 months? Or a white port? Because it turns out that many of you happen to love those, too.)

Distinctive Barrels

Our barreling program is different. Argonne is proud to be using barrels, unique in the Northwest sourced from oak trees from the very Argonne Forest where our story takes place; trees so old that they were standing during the battle in World War I. We also use new French barrels which are made from Pennsylvania Oak in an homage to our brave soldier who was a Pennsylvanian. Beyond an interesting story (trees from Pennsylvania and coopered in France), they are among the finest, most subdued oak barrels on this side of the Atlantic.

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"Crush-Free Zone”

We do not crush our red grapes. Surprised? Well, it IS a “thing.” The theory which Argonne Cellars follows? Entire, intact grapes are much better candidates for longer, gentler fermentation. There are several other reasons for this technique, especially the slower release of tannins which produce a smoother, velvety wine. And, yes, the grapes do eventually rupture giving our winemaker more control over the vinification process.

Low Impact Sulfites

Unlike many wineries liberally dosing wine with sulfites from the very beginning, we use a much lighter touch. Other than a gentle spray on the berries when they start fermentation, no addition of any Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) is done to the reds through barreling. Wine produced under careful, sanitary conditions does not require the addition of sulfites until ready to be bottled. Our method yields a much cleaner gentler approach on your palate.

Truly Handcrafted Washington Wines

We do not take the term loosely. We mercilessly pick through the grapes during the destemming process looking for “OTGs” (inside joke… “other than grapes”) and we remove any lesser developed grapes from clusters. Our winemaker closely monitors the progress during fermentation, and we go the extra step of frequent hands-on tasting throughout the barreling process. Every. Single. Barrel. It’s a tough job, but, well, you know…

Matched Yeasts and Malolactic Inoculations

We also make every effort to identify and use the specific yeast strain that’ll be optimal for each varietal we’re fermenting. This also includes matching the strains of any malolactic inoculations that we do (“malolactic” helps wine to achieve more body and a mouthfeel aspect). And it turns out most all these “matches” end up being varieties imported from France.

Award-Winning Red Mountain Wines Explore our selection of handcrafted Washington wines.

We're passionate about creating premium Washington wines sourced from the best AVAs in the state—including Red Mountain and Rattlesnake Hills. Experience the craftsmanship that goes into every bottle of Argonne Cellars wine for yourself.

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