Fidelitas Winery

 

Fidelitas Winery

“Fidelitas Wines Rising
to the Cream of the Crop
and the Top”

By Christina Kelly
Avalon Editor/Writer
October 2004

Charlie Hoppes has something that can’t be taught in the wine industry—a gut instinct that nudges him when grapes are ready to pick, alerts him when he reaches the “ah-ha” point of blending wines and intuitively informs him what a wine will taste like a year or two down the road in the bottle.

That instinct is distinguishing the Benton City, WA winemaker among his peers, and garnering accolades for his latest releases, the second vintage of Fidelitas wines. In a crowded field of new wineries and new releases, Fidelitas wines are quickly rising to the top of the barrel.
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Fidelitas Winery

Hired Guns: Consulting winemakers are helping to shape the Northwest wine industry
Vineyard knowledge propels Ste. Michelle alum to lofty heights

By Andy Perdue, Editor Wine Press NW

Charlie Hoppes is on a roll. He’s making award-winning wines for no fewer than six boutique Washington wineries, and the mere mention of his name can help a new operation gain instant credibility.

This should come as no surprise, though, because Hoppes has been on a roll for a long time.

 

The Kennewick, Wash., resident got his start from winemaker Mike Januik at Snoqualmie Winery in 1988. In 1990, he spent a season at Waterbrook Winery in Lowden, Wash., then rejoined Januik as his assistant winemaker at Chateau Ste. Michelle in Woodinville. By 1993, he moved to Ste. Michelle’s new facility on Canoe Ridge in Eastern Washington, where he spent eight vintages overseeing red wine production.

In 1999, Hoppes left Ste. Michelle to help launch Three
Rivers in Walla Walla, where he spent three vintages establishing the destination winery as one of the state’s top producers. About the same time, he began to think about consulting. For a number of years, he and longtime friend Victor Cruz talked about starting a winery. The result, Cañon de Sol Winery and Vineyard in Benton City, Wash., launched in 1999. At the same time, Hoppes began making wine for Goose Ridge Vineyards just up the road.

“The opportunity came along right away,” Hoppes said. “I think Three Rivers saw that this was going to help supplement my income, and at the same time, I was looking for a little more of a challenge.”

Today, wine lovers can taste Hoppes’ winemaking prowess behind a number of labels, including Cañon de Sol, Goose Ridge, Ryan Patrick Vineyards, Zefina Winery, Alder Ridge, Six Prong, Saint Laurent and his own label, Fidelitas.

“With some of the labels, you don’t know how they’re going to do,” Hoppes said. “You do the basic winemaking, and it works out. I didn’t have any idea it would all turn out as well as it did.”

In fact, Hoppes has had a remarkable run of quality that has shown in a number of times in Wine Press Northwest blind tastings. Two years ago in our third annual Platinum Judging, Hoppes’ Three Rivers 1999 Meritage earned a rare Double Platinum. A year ago in our Fab Cab judging, four Hoppes-made wines earned our top “Outstanding” rating: Cañon de Sol, Fidelitas, Ryan Patrick and Three Rivers. Last fall in our judging oRyan Patrick and Three Rivers. Last fall in our judging of 103 Northwest Syrahs, the top two wines were by Hoppes: the 2001 Cañon de Sol and 2000 Goose Ridge.

And twice the Cañon de Sol Syrah has won Best of Show in the prominent Northwest Wine Summit, once two years ago for the 2000 vintage and this year for the 2002.

That’s consistency at a lofty altitude, and it all begins in the vineyard. In Hoppes’ case, more than 15 vintages in Washington have helped him get to know just about every row of vines in the vast Columbia Valley.

“I work with about a dozen vineyards,” Hoppes said.

“ My fruit comes from a really diverse cross-section of the
Columbia Valley, from Walla Walla to Frenchman Hills. I
get grapes from Champoux Vineyards. I get grapes off Red Mountain. I get a big chunk from the Wahluke Slope. My business model is to do this on purpose. It gives you a lot more options to make the best wine you can.”

His consulting business, Winemaking Northwest, has helped lead to quick success with Fidelitas, his high-end label produced at Cañon de Sol. The first vintage, 2000, was 360 cases. In 2004, he’ll crush enough grapes for 5,000 cases. Now, his brother Loren has come on full time with Fidelitas. Loren brings a marketing background from Nike that is helping to propel Fidelitas into the limelight — it’s even being sold in Napa Valley. The lineup includes a Meritage, Syrah and some vineyard-designated wines. He’s even making a Chardonnay from famedElerding Vineyard in the Yakima Valley.

designated wines. He’s even making a Chardonnay from famed Elerding Vineyard in the Yakima Valley.

“I didn’t have any plans to make Chardonnay, but
when great fruit comes along, how can I turn it down?”

ANDY PERDUE is editor of Wine Press Northwest.
Copyright © 2004, Wine Press Northwest

   


$39.55 - Case price
(any 12 or more bottles)

Price: $43.95

Qty.

A true reflection of its origins, the 2003 Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon is a beautifully integrated wine from four of the appellation's finest vineyards. Beneath its approachable red fruit flavors
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$40.01 - Case price
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Price: $44.45

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In Latin, Optu means "best." A harmonious, seamless wine of exceptional character, Optu unites five different varietals from the Columbia Valley's most prestigious vineyards. The result? A tremendous
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$29.66 - Case price
(any 12 or more bottles)

Price: $32.95

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This deep rich Cabernet Sauvignon is packed with cherry, plum and vanilla in the nose and on the palate. The finish is extremely lingering, with the wine very drinkable upon release. This is the seco
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$23.62 - Case price
(any 12 or more bottles)

Price: $26.25

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Highlights of intense, ripe black fruit flavors create a complex are of mocha, black cherry, and cassis in the aroma and on the palate.
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$23.62 - Case price
(any 12 or more bottles)

Price: $26.25

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Spicy cherries, bold jammy fruit, and a hint of moist earthiness come center stage in this 2004 Syrah. Its layers of complexity are backed up with exceptional acidity, mild tannins, and a lengthy fini
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$18.41 - Case price
(any 12 or more bottles)

Price: $20.45

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This lovely, well-rounded wine brings figs, apple and spicy floral aroma. Its delicate balance of fruit and oak make it a delightful companion to white fish, shell fish and chicken-all foods light and
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$24.52 - Case price
(any 12 or more bottles)

Price: $27.25

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The 2005 Merlot is a wine of impressive concentration and richness from what could be one of the very best vintages from Washington's Columbia Valley. Highlights of intense, ripe black fruit flavors
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$17.50 - Case price
(any 12 or more bottles)

Price: $19.45

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Flavors of apricot/pear and lemon zest, along with the flavors of citrus, melon and creamy vanilla are a delightful pleasure to the senses.
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Fidelitas M100 Red Table Wine 05

$17.50 - Case price (any 12 or more bottles)

Price: $19.45

A blend of Cabernet and Merlot, nice fleshy mouth feel, with plum and black fruit flavors, hints of pie spice, undercurrent of cedar and smoky finely delineated tannins. Excellent value. Named for Cha
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