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| Hedges Cellars | Benton City, WA 99320 |
www.hedgescellars.com
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53511 N Sunset Road Benton City, WA 99320 (509) 588-3155 Email: info@hedgesfamilyestate.com
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Origins Anne-Marie Liégeois was born in Champagne, France, in a small village near the beautiful medieval town of Troyes. Her upbringing was very much routed in traditional French culture where work and French formalities took priority over idealism. Within the confines of a "mason bourgeoise" surrounded by organically cultivated gardens and edible game, three generations of family lived and worked side by side for the greater good of name and property. The Dupont-Liégeois family business prospered, the rewards of which were the enjoyment of traditional French life focused around the dinner table. Interesting animated discussions, traditional home cooked meals, and wonderful local wines were the norm. What Anne-Marie was accustomed to, Tom would desire. Tom was born in Richland, Washington State, a government conceived engineering town for the nuclear sciences. He is the product of a traditional American home of strong work ethics steered by the Department of Energy's demands on his apple and dairy-farm-raised father. A firm hand, the pursuit of sports, and the focus of fast eating were typical life patterns for the young American. The eastern Washington State surroundings of shrub and sand --his terroir-- carved a lifestyle of Americana most would find uninspiring at best. However, rigid European customs did not bind him down, as they did for Anne-Marie. The American sixties allowed Tom to rebel, to free his mind, to act on impulse with minimal consequence, something Anne-Marie must have desired during her year at a Parisian finishing school for women. The history of Hedges Family Estate begins in June of 1976, with the marriage of Tom Hedges and Anne-Marie Liégeois in a 12th century church in Champagne, France. The convergence of separate cultural upbringings provides a strong backdrop for creating a modern day, but traditionally inspired wine estate. Ten years after their wedding, an opportunity to become entrepreneurs seemed like a positive move to economic independence, contrasting from the previous decade of working for large multinational agricultural firms. In 1986, this unique opportunity presented itself; Tom and Anne-Marie created an export company called American Wine Trade, Inc., based out of Kirkland, Washington State; they began selling wine to foreign importers. As the company grew, it began to source Washington wines for a larger clientele leading to the establishment of a negociant-inspired wine called Hedges Cellars. This 1987 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot was sold to the Swedish Wine and Spirit Monopoly, Vin & Sprit Centralen, the company's first major client. Tom and Anne-Marie quickly learned that the success of this ancient trade would be based on the site of its vineyards. This concept resonates strongly in Europe, but to less effect in the new world wine regions, where land is less important than brands. Three hours south east of Seattle an opportunity presented itself in a developing wine region called Red Mountain. Tom and Anne-Marie, as new owners, felt its potential for greatness. At this location, American Wine Trade transformed itself from negociant and wine trader to the classic model of a wine estate. Today, this biodynimacally-farmed Red Mountain property continues to be the fundament of the Hedges family. Authentic wine estates must live on for centuries to achieve acceptance amongst the world great properties. The second generation has begun to make its mark at Hedges Family Estate. Tom and Anne-Marie's children, Christophe and Sarah, are now involved in the business, and each has a special set of skills for understanding the terroir. Sarah prefers the fermentation arts, skillfully touching and understanding the world of the microbial spectrum. As the assistant winemaker under master fermentation artist, Pete Hedges (younger sibling of Tom), she carefully observes the forging of a great wine vintage after vintage. Pete, a man of the cloth of science, is open to nature's will. He must work in tandem with the disparate concept of terroir and chemistry. Indeed, it is a dance of patience and of mind, which works to allow the terroir a path to geographic typicity. The eldest of the two, Christophe, spends much of his time sharing knowledge of the terroir and the estate during his travels as national director of sales and marketing. To ground his teachings, he farms his own property using the concept of modern Biodynamic arts, carefully observed under the eyes of John Gomez, Hedges Family Estate vineyard manager. An artist at heart, the Hedges labels are the product of his love for design. Tom, Anne-Marie, Christophe, Sarah, and the entire Hedges company believe place of origin is the keystone of authenticity. Our goal is to treat our wines with reverence and let the Red Mountain terroir speak for itself. |
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Winemaker Pete Hedges
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Pete, a man of the cloth of science, is open to nature's will. He must work in tandem with the disparate concept of terroir and chemistry. Indeed, it is a dance of patience and of mind, which works to allow the terroir a path to geographic typicity.
Washington Tasting Room Magazine |
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Red
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2010 HIP Merlot
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Regular 20% Case Discount as of 06/19 |
Order Direct Online Phone: (509) 588-3155 Tasting Room Open Info & Map Benton City, WA |
Red
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2010 DLD Syrah
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Regular 20% Case Discount as of 06/19 |
Order Direct Online Phone: (509) 588-3155 Tasting Room Open Info & Map Benton City, WA |
Red
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2009 Red Mountain
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Regular 20% Case Discount as of 06/19 |
Order Direct Online Phone: (509) 588-3155 Tasting Room Open Info & Map Benton City, WA |
Red
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2010 CMS Red
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Regular 20% Case Discount as of 06/19 |
Order Direct Online Phone: (509) 588-3155 Tasting Room Open Info & Map Benton City, WA |
White
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2010 HIP Chardonnay
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Regular 20% Case Discount as of 06/19 |
Order Direct Online Phone: (509) 588-3155 Tasting Room Open Info & Map Benton City, WA |
White
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2010 CMS Sauvignon Blanc
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Regular 20% Case Discount as of 06/19 |
Order Direct Online Phone: (509) 588-3155 Tasting Room Open Info & Map Benton City, WA |
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