Colvin Vineyards

Colvin Vineyards

 
 

Colvin Vineyards is the dream of owner and winemaker Mark Colvin. He designed the blueprint for the structure on paper when the Colvin family was still living in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and the winery was still just a distant dream.

Colvin Vineyards is truly a family business. Mark's wife, JoAnne, is the winery co-founder. She assists with the organization of the winery and provides inspiration and experience. Their daughter Katherine, 11, has the title of "Creative Consultant" for discovering the rock that became the winery's logo.

JoAnne's son Brian Glover acts as assistant winemaker, and friends and neighbors help out with harvest and crush. Additionally, JoAnne's daughter Kristen Glover has been instrumental in organizing the winery's computer system.

About the Logo

During the brutally hot summer of 1998, as Mark lay in a hammock recovering from a tortuous day in the vineyard, the Colvins' then seven-year old daughter Katherine said, "Daddy, look at this neat rock I found." As Mark held the rock in his hands and turned it over, there, to his amazement, was the logo. A golf-ball-sized piece had calved off of this rock and exposed an intricate pattern which is now our logo. In honor of her discovery, Katherine now holds the title of "Creative Consultant" for the winery, and Mark rewards her with a dollar commission each time he tells someone the story of The Rock.

How the Winery Came to Be

Part One: Colorado
In 1982, winemaker Mark Colvin was a student at the University of Colorado pharmacy school in Boulder. While there, he tasted a 1978 Chateau Cheval Blanc that astonished his senses with its complex aromas, tastes, and textures. That one bottle of wine changed his life.

Vowing to find out more about wine, he spent the next ten years learning as much as he could from books. As he did so, he became more and more convinced that he wanted to be a winemaker. He also knew that he and his family would have to relocate, since Steamboat Springs, Colorado isn't exactly wine country.

The Colvins began to research suitable places for their winery. They briefly considered Napa Valley, where JoAnne had been born and raised.

Then, in 1987, Mark read about the Walla Walla Valley and drove there to talk with one of the first winemakers. He returned to Colorado convinced that the Walla Walla Valley was the right place. In 1993, the Colvin family moved from Steamboat Springs, Colorado, to Walla Walla, Washington.

Part Two: Walla Walla

After moving to Walla Walla, Mark began the more practical side of his continuing wine education by planting a vineyard in 1994. He spent four years learning about the vine from personal experience, other growers and winemakers-especially Rusty Figgins of Glen Fiona.

After a few amateur vintages, Colvin Vineyards was ready for their first commercial crush. In 1999, Ron Coleman of Tamarack Cellars graciously offered the use of his facility to crush their meager thirteen tons of Syrah and Merlot. This first vintage with Ron honed Mark's skills as a winemaker, and provided the confidence to proceed with more ambitious plans.

Colvin Vineyards crushed their 2000 vintage at Mill Creek Cellars, and, with two vintages under their belt, began making plans with Henderson Orchard's guidance to build the winery Mark designed so long ago. The log winery they had always dreamed of became a reality.

In 2001, at their newly completed facility, Colvin Vineyards crushed seventy tons of fruit comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenere, Cabernet Franc, and Syrah

.

They say chemists make great cooks. And certainly Mark's pharmaceutical and scientific side is fascinated by the amazing number of different flavors and aromas provided by the components found in a single bottle of wine. As a winemaker, he derives great pleasure out of both the mystery of great wine and also the science of winemaking, combining both in his efforts to produce fine vintages.


Reviews for Colvin Wines from Wine Press NW

2000 Merlot
This complex wine offers layered aromas of vanilla and nutmeg with bright fruit and bittersweet chocolate flavors. Well-managed tannins lead to a smooth palate through the finish.

2000 Syrah SOLD OUT
Winemaker Mark Colvin is building a reputation as a quality red wine producer. This tasty Syrah opens with cedar, spice, and herbal aromas, rich strawberry jam flavors on the midpalate and silky chocolate on the finish.

2000 Cabernet Franc
With Classic vanilla, oak and berry aromas and flavors, this smooth red is full of finesse and rich jamminess on the midpalate and bittersweet chocolate on the finish.

2000 Walla Walla Red SOLD OUT
This blend of Cab, Merlot, and Cab Franc offers a rich balance of smoky oak, concentrated blackberry flavors and big tannins. This is no simple table wine.


Awards for Colvin Wines

Double Gold
2000 Syrah SOLD OUT - San Francisco International Wine Competition

Gold
2000 Syrah SOLD OUT - Riverside International Wine Competition

Silver
2000 Merlot - Northwest Wine Summit
2000 Cabernet Franc - Northwest Wine Summit
2000 Cabernet Franc - Los Angeles County Fair

Bronze
2000 Cabernet Franc - Riverside International Wine Competition
2000 Merlot - San Francisco International Wine Competition
2000 Cabernet Franc - San Francisco International Wine Competition
2000 Walla Walla Red SOLD OUT - San Francisco International Wine Competition

 
 
 

Colvin Pioneers Carmenere Grape
in Walla Walla

To broaden the genetic diversity of grapes in this region, we have been carefully selecting specific clones we feel will thrive in the Walla Walla Valley. We believe that introducing new grape clones to the valley will increase the complexity of our wines.

An example of our dedication to varietal diversity can be found in our introduction of the Carmenere, or Grand Vidure grape, to the Walla Walla Valley. Hundreds of years ago, it was well-known as a terrific blending grape. For years, winemaker Mark Colvin had been looking for this Bordeaux varietal, thought to be extinct following the in the mid-1800s destruction of French vineyards by phylloxera.

Seven years ago, however, the grape was rediscovered in Chile. Mark had been searching for it for ten years, and finally tracked plants down in California. Colvin Vineyards is a pioneer in planting Carmenere grapes in the Walla Walla Valley.

 
 

Colvin Vineyards Walla Walla Red 05

$17.55 - Case price (any 12 or more bottles)

Price: $19.50

From the winery: "Blueberries and blackberries dominate the nose with a hint of spice. The palate of this medium-bodied blend shows chocolate, coffee and sarsaparilla integrated with leather and mixed
...read more >>

 


$33.71 - Case price
(any 12 or more bottles)

Price: $37.45

Qty.

From the winery: "Loaded with layers of plum, currant and blackberry, the vanilla oak overtones compliments a long, lingering finish. This release of our flagship blend consists of Cabernet Sauvignon
...read more


$25.61 - Case price
(any 12 or more bottles)

Price: $28.45

Qty.

Lusciously ripe raspberries dusted with dark bakers' chocolate and hints of nutmeg and mocha open the nose on this newest vineyard designate. Juice raspberries and plums intermingle with coffee, choc
...read more


$27.00 - Case price
(any 12 or more bottles)

Price: $30.00

Qty.

A big wine with a combination of red plums, black raspberries, and other bright fruit that combines with sweet chocolate and fresh tobacco leaf to give it a truly amazing nose. Mouth-filling flavors o
...read more


$22.45 - Case price
(any 12 or more bottles)

Price: $24.95

Qty.

Wine Press NW says: "Beautifully balanced fruit, oak, tannin and acidity are the backbones for this lovely Syrah. Aromas of huckleberries covered in chocolate sauce and lush, jammy flavors of dark ber
...read more


$22.27 - Case price
(any 12 or more bottles)

Price: $24.75

Qty.

An unusual grape varietal, usually blended into Bordeaux style wines. This rare Bordeaux varietal reveals elegant vanilla and sweet herb aromas with flavors of black pepper, cinnamon, ripe fruit and m
...read more