C. R. Sandidge Wines
From the winery:
A Washington State native, Ray Sandidge
studied horticulture at Washington State University where, for over three
years, he conducted genetic and
physiology research on wine grape and stone fruit plants at the Irrigated
Research and Extension Center in Prosser, Washington. It was here that
Ray sharpened his ability to train his palate, analyze wines in the lab
and more importantly, understand the vitally crucial link between grape
growing and wine quality.
Ray began making wine in 1985 in the far
east. That is, the far eastern end of Long Island, New York as Pindar
Vineyard’s Assistant Winemaker and Vineyard Manager. He excelled
in both areas resulting in Ray being promoted to Co-Winemaker for Pindar
Vineyards as fruit for the 1986 harvest began finding its way into the
wineries fermentation tanks. The 1986 reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and
Chardonnay wines Ray co-authored was selected to be served at George
Bush’s inaugural ball.
In 1987, Ray came to the attention
and into the employ of the prestigious 120 year old German winery estate Georg
Breuer. Located in the Rheingau
region of Germany, Riesling was the primary wine crafted. Prior to Ray’s
arrival, in a country of 12,000 wineries, this winery had never made
Germany’s top 100. Each of the three years Ray was Winemaker, the
winery was placed on this coveted list by European wine critics.
Ray returned to the United States in 1991 to work with Apex
Cellars as a Co-Winemaker with renowned Winemaker Brian Carter. Brian and Ray
teamed up to produce an impressive list of award winning wines. In the
summer of 1994, the Hyatt family asked Ray to become their Winemaker.
In 1998 Ray assumed the head winemaker position at Kestrel Vintners.
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