Hedges Family Wineyards

Here the Wild West, there the Champagne - the Hedges Family Estate gets the best of both. The family winery may be young, but it conquers the wine world like an old hand, walking through the biodynamic winery. For the hot and dry climate of the Red Mountain is full of power and structure, which seamlessly merges into the elegant red and white wines from Washington State.

Hedges Family Estate - where America and France come together

The history of the Hedges Family Estate began in 1976 when Tom Hedges from the small town of Richland in the US state of Washington married Annie-Marie Liégeois. The marriage took place in Annie-Marie's home, the Champagne town of Ossey-les-Trois-Maisons. Together they returned to Washington and founded Hedges Cellars in 1987.

Vineyards in the Yakima Valley followed, where they planted the classic Bordeaux vines, which are gaining more and more international attention with their blends. Both her son and daughter-in-law joined Hedges over the years, which is why the name "Family Estate" is more than fitting. 

The Hedges Family Estate wines

Today, Sarah Hedges Goedhart as Head Winemaker, Christophe Hedges as Estate Manager and of course the founders Tom and Anne-Marie inspire with ingenious red and white wines, which bring out the maximum from the unique terroir. All Hedges wines have a filigree and elegant style, which distinguishes them pleasantly from their overburdened Californian brothers and sisters. The Hedges Family Estates team not only uses the typical Bordeaux grape varieties, but also a variety of old vines, which find ideal conditions in the biodynamically cultivated soil:

• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Syrah
• Merlot
• Malbec
• Cabernet Franc
• Viognier
• Tinta Cão 
• Souzão
• Touriga Nacional
• Marsanne

Biodynamic cultivation in the Wild West

Since 2008, the Hedges Family Estate has been cultivating most of its farmland biodynamically; the rest has been and will be gradually converted to sustainable cultivation. The alternative approach to conventional farming methods is concerned with the natural and responsible use of soil and plants, with no room for artificial fertilisers and pesticides. The plant protection is done by chickens, the fertilisation by nutrient-rich compost. Working in harmony with nature may be slower, but the natural elements are still integral to the production of authentic wines that reflect the land. All these factors, together with the climate and loamy-silty soil, result in small, concentrated, thick-skinned grapes that are selectively harvested by hand. The holistic approach to biodiversity awakens the full potential of the wine, which also matures to perfection in the cellar without artificial additions. All this effort was rewarded in 2015 with the Demeter certification.