Gordon Estate
About
We take great pride in being the oldest estate winery in Washington State by using only estate-grown grapes in making our superb, hand-crafted Washington wines.
Location Description
Located in the heart of the Columbia Valley in Washington State.
Features
- Superb hand crafted wines, made with estate grown grapes.
Additional Information
- Meeting / Conference Facilities:
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- Dog Friendly:
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- Wine Tasting:
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- Organic / Biodynamic:
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Winemaker
While he loved Seattle, it was becoming clear that he was ready for a change. Perhaps it was the traffic or the constant busyness that goes along with living in the city, or maybe just the simple fact that it didn’t take him long to realize that he wasn’t suited for a 9-5 downtown desk job. Regardless, he was becoming more and more enamored with Washington wine and driven to do something where he would have a chance to work with his hands. Eastern Washington quickly revealed itself as the place for him to make his way into the wine industry, and in the Fall of 2009, Tyler and his wife packed up and moved to Walla Walla where he enrolled at the Center for Enology and Viticulture.
During his winemaking studies, Tyler had the privilege to work for Dusted Valley where he had his first taste of what it really takes to craft world class wine. Upon graduating, he moved on to become the Assistant Winemaker for Seven Hills Winery, where he honed his skills and appreciation for small lot, vineyard designate wines and began to understand the importance of nuance in winemaking.
“Simply put, I love Washington wine. I’m proud to have learned from some of the most innovative winemakers in the state and to be among the Washington wine community where so many understand the value in guiding a wine through the cellar with minimal intervention in order to showcase the vineyard, varietal and vintage. I believe that the diversity in climate and varied soil types make Washington wines some of the most intriguing wines in the world – each with their own story and distinct sense of place. With a rich 30-year history, Gordon Estate is truly a pioneer in Washington wine, and I couldn’t be more excited to have found my home as a winemaker here.”
Tyler lives in the heart of Washington wine country with his wife, Chelsea (high school sweetheart and fellow UW Grad) and two amazing children, Oliver and Charlotte. Outside of wine, Tyler enjoys kicking back with friends and family, fly fishing, skiing and all things Husky football.
History
Before planting the vineyard, Jeff sought out the expertise of Walt Clore, the “Father of Washington Wine.” Together the two inspected a 200-acre parcel of sagebrush-covered land near the confluence of the Snake and Columbia Rivers. Walt strongly approved of the land that would soon become Gordon Brothers.
At the time the vineyard was planted, there were 19 wineries in Washington and less than 5,000 acres of winegrapes in production. Jeff and Vicki quickly fell in love with the camaraderie of the small, but remarkably supportive winemaking community. Now, the Washington wine industry has grown to over 300 wineries and 30,000+ acres of winegrapes, but the Washington industry still maintains its solidarity.
Along the way, there have been a few changes. In 1998 Jeff’s brother Bill retired. That same year a new wine production facility was built on the vineyard that greatly centralized all aspects of the winemaking process. In 2001, Jeff’s daughter and son-in-law, Katie and Marc Nelson, joined the family business. Marc manages the vineyard along with the organic cherries, potatoes, melons, corn and alfalfa. Katie does the bookkeeping for the farm and is the Branding Coordinator for the winery.
In 2012, as things in the business and wine industry continued to evolve, the family decided it was time to implement a comprehensive brand audit. They believe that in order to remain competitive in an ever-changing industry, it is important to keep in touch with those who support your brand. It was through this communication with consumers, media and trade that the decision was made to change the brand name from Gordon Brothers to Gordon Estate.
The Team
Owners
A native of Washington State, Jeff Gordon was born in St. John near Spokane, Washington. The son of a farmer, Jeff worked the family dry-land farm where the Gordons grew wheat, barley and peas. Adept behind the wheel of a tractor by the age of ten, Jeff never got the soil out from under his fingernails.
As a student in the 1960s, Jeff understood that his legacy – the life of the American farmer – was at a crossroads. Love for the land and the pride in the work were no longer enough. Modern farming required business acumen and scientific know-how. Jeff graduated from Washington State University in 1971 with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture.
That same year, Jeff married Vicki Durham, whom he had known since his early teens. Vicki grew up in Colfax, Washington where her parents owned and operated the service station in town. You could say Vicki was considered a “city girl.” That is, until she married Jeff.
In 1973, Jeff began working for a major Washington State agricultural corporation. Though instructive, Jeff’s time in corporate agriculture left him unfulfilled. He was unhappy with the corporate obsession with the bottom line that sacrificed quality for quantity.
So, in 1977 Jeff and Vicki, along with Jeff’s brother Bill, struck out on their own renting 130 acres of potato land in the Columbia Basin. With diligent care and sustainable goals, the Gordon family grew their potato enterprise to 1,500 acres over the next 25 years.
While still farming potatoes, Jeff took stock of the rich Columbia Valley and began to have a vision for its untapped potential. Inspired by the growing buzz surrounding the Washington wine industry, Jeff became one of a handful of pioneers forging a new direction for Washington agriculture. In 1980, Jeff began planting wine grapes, sweet cherries and apples on a sagebrush covered slope overlooking the Snake River in Southeastern Washington’s Columbia Valley. The small, tightly knit Washington wine-making community who readily shared knowledge, experience and even equipment with one another, quickly embraced the Gordon family.
Much to the bemusement of local and fellow farmers, Jeff made a bold decision to plant red grape varietals. “As far as everyone was concerned the Columbia Valley was Riesling country. That was all there was to it. We thought red grapes would work. We took a chance. It was the right thing to do.”
Over the last twenty years, Jeff and Vicki have reaped the rewards of his maverick decision and found fulfillment in their work at Gordon Estate. Jeff’s artisan approach to farming, coupled with Vicki’s business savvy has allowed them to cultivate a property they take genuine pride in.
In addition to founding and operating Gordon Estate, Jeff was the first President of the Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers. He was also instrumental in the development of Washington State University’s Enology and Viticulture program, and he proudly served from 2005-2007 as Chairman on the Washington Wine Commission.
Marc Nelson
Vineyard & Orchard Manager
Marc Nelson grew up in the small town of Ephrata, located in central Washington state. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Technology & Management from Washington State University in 1998. After college, Marc began his career in agriculture with a potato processing facility in Quincy, Washington where he worked for three years in Quality Assurance. He married Katie Gordon in 1999, and they moved on to join the family business in 2002.
Marc’s strong agricultural background and talent has been a great asset in managing Gordon Estate’s vineyard called Kamiak Vineyards, Inc. In addition to wine grapes, he farms organic cherries and he has expanded the organic farming operation to include potatoes, melons, corn and alfalfa.
Marc believes that the best farming methods preserve the land, and he is constantly working to hone his sustainable management practices. Wine quality begins in the vineyard, and Marc is determined to deliver the highest quality fruit to the winery for production. He works closely with the winemaker through every step of the process, and this diligence has made Gordon Estate wines some of the best wines in Washington State, if not the world.
Crystal Elsey
National Sales Director
Crystal Elsey was born and raised in Fredericksburg, Virginia, a suburb approximately 60 miles south of Washington, DC, and earned a degree in Psychology from James Madison University in 2006. Her post-collegiate career in nonprofit development eventually led her to Nashville, Tennessee in 2009, where she continued in the nonprofit field for two more years before deciding it was time for a change.
Crystal’s passion for food, wine, and people led her into the restaurant industry, where she eventually became the wine staff trainer for a local restaurant, and began her studies with the Wine and Spirits Education Trust. This aspect of her job led her to pursue a career in full-time wine sales, and she found a happy home at a Nashville fine wine and spirits distributor where she was first introduced to – and fell in love with – Gordon Estate Wines.
“What I love about wine is that it reminds me to slow down, notice and enjoy. A well-made wine deserves attention. Taking the time to notice the aromas, flavors, and body of a wine and thinking about what those qualities say about where the wine comes from and how it was made, is an engaging, enjoyable, intoxicating (no pun intended) experience. I still remember the first time I tasted the Gordon Estate Merlot, and all of the sensory impressions it made. What you pull from the glass is a true testament to the level of quality that goes into the bottle.”
Crystal will continue to call Nashville her home base as she hops around the country working with our wholesale and distribution partners, beating the streets to further the Gordon Estate brand nationwide. In between travels, Crystal’s favorite things to do to relax include walking to the local farmers’ market, cooking, brunch with her friends, playing with her dog, hanging out by the lake and drinking too much Champagne. Her favorite life experiences are hang gliding, competitive ballroom dancing and trips to Italy and France. Next on her bucket list: make Gordon Estate a household name.
Awards
Assoc Members of SCSI & RICS