Powers Winery | Columbia Valley, WA

THE CONNECTION:
Graduating from the University of Minnesota, it is no surprise Mickey Dunne enjoys playing ice hockey, fishing, and cooking. Mickey experienced his first harvest in 1987 and has been hooked on the Washington wine industry ever since. After joining Badger Mountain as Sales Manager in 1998, the brand grew from 17,000 cases per year to more than 70,000 cases per year. Can we chalk that up to his Midwestern work ethic? It certainly impressed someone because Mickey was made a partner in 2005. Passionately committed to the success of Washington wines and the environmental sustainability vision embodied by Badger Mountain Vineyard and Powers Winery, Mickey is active in the Washington Wine Commission and sits on the Steering Committee of WineWise, an organization developing a Sustainability Guidebook for vineyards and wineries.

THE PRACTICE:
Second generation winemaker Greg Powers has a deep affinity for Columbia Valley and its viticulture. Growing up in the region’s spectacular farm country he helped his father Bill plant and manage Badger Mountain Vineyard. Today, Greg carries on the family traditions of sustainable farming and the passion-ate production of exceptional wines. Sustainability here is no mere window dressing but a core value. The winery is solar powered; the vineyards are certified Organic and Salmon Safe; the tractors run on biodiesel; the people all earn a living wage. Under Greg’s leadership, Powers Winery has been recognized as a “rising star” by Wine Spectator, and as one of the “50 Great U.S. Cabernet Producers” by Wine Enthusiast.

Under Greg’s leadership, Powers Winery has been recognized as a “rising star” by Wine Spectator.

THE WINES:
Powers wines are creatively blended and crafted to showcase Washington’s distinctive vineyards and diverse microclimates. Deeply rooted in long term relationships, Powers sources a variety of high quality fruit to produce compelling wines of uncommon depth, complexity and harmony. From the sun drenched Wahluke Slope they work with Butch and Jerry Milbrandt of Milbrandt Vine-yards, and Mike Roskamp who oversees Cougar and Coyote Vineyards. In Horse Heaven Hills it is Paul Champoux of Champoux Vineyards, and in Yakima Valley it is Scott Greer of Sheridan Vineyard and Harold Pleasant of Harold Pleasant Vineyard. Back home in Columbia Valley, it is the Monson family of Goose Ridge Vineyard and Mike Taggares of Tagaris Vineyard and organically grown Arete Vineyard. These are the people and places behind Powers.