The six points of Red Mountain
On a regular basis, I am asked by guests, “what makes Red Mountain so special.” It’s one of my favorite questions and topics to share with visitors! Red Mountain is woven into our story from start to finish. From our first vintage of Red Mountain Merlot that dates to 2005, to our tasting room that opened in 2007, and our Estate Vineyard that was first planted in 2008, we are all in on Red Mountain. As an AVA, we’ve established six points that make the region we call home unique and specific to Red Mountain.
Southwestern Facing Slope
The southwest slope provides the vineyards in the region with a direction aspect to the sun that is ideal for prolonged sunlight and exposure. These conditions allow for prolonged sun exposure and warmth provide for ripe tannins, a primary characteristic of Red Mountain.
Warm Summers
More growing degree days create ripeness and concentration, while cool nights help retain acidity for balance and structure.
Low Rainfall
Red Mountain gathers less than 8 inches of rain per year. Drip irrigation and canopy management create ideal grape growing conditions. In addition, Red Mountain experience lower mold and mildew pressure compared to most other vineyard regions.
Smallest AVA in Washington
Defined by natural borders, the AVA is reminiscent of Old World, where every block is seen by a single vantage point. The Red Mountain AVA which was established in 2001, is comprised of 4,040 acres, 2,338 of which are planted with predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon.
AVA Specific Soils
Wind-blown Loess (Warden, Hezel, and Scooteney) were brought in by pre-historic floods. The high alkalinity and calcium carbonate content of the soil, along with the granular consistency, allow vines to form well-established root systems that reach deep nutrients and moisture.
Consistent Winds
Regular gusts of warm air keep grape clusters small and concentrate for flavors of the fruit for richness and intensity.
Feb 21, 2018 at 1:00 PM
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Faithful, Loyal, True
The season of love couldn’t be a better time to share the meaning behind our favorite phrase. Fidelitas, which is Latin for “Faithful, Loyal, and True”, is something that we stand behind in everything that we do. Fidelitas is faithful to Bordeaux grape varieties, loyal to modern craft winemaking techniques, and true to Washington State's Red Mountain terroir. Here’s what that means to us:
Fidelitas is faithful to Bordeaux grape varieties.
We source only grape varieties that can be found in the Bordeaux region of France. This includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. For white wines it’s Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon (Muscadelle is also on the white wine list but Fidelitas has yet to produce one). Our choice to be faithful to only Bordeaux grape varieties was simple. The most obvious reason being that Charlie’s favorite grapes to make wine out of are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Did you know that over 90% of Bordeaux wines are red wines made with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon? Also lucky for us, the Red Mountain AVA happens to have the ideal terroir for growing these grapes. Could it be because Red Mountain sits at nearly the same latitude as Bordeaux?
We are loyal to modern craft winemaking techniques.
This is one of my favorite topics to dive into conversation about with Fidelitas fans. What does “modern craft” mean anyway? It means that we take the tried and true winemaking techniques from the past and merge it with modern technology. Prime examples of this are in the numerous types of oak barrels we use for fermenting, or our TCA (cork taint) free corks. Charlie says “to source grapes from Red Mountain means that once they come into the cellar we don’t have to do a lot to them produce great wines, but the fine tuning that we can do with modern technology helps us get one step closer to producing a “perfect bottle of wine”.”
True to Washington State’s Red Mountain terroir.
Red Mountain is quickly becoming known for being the top growing region in Washington and we couldn’t be happier to call it home. The smallest AVA in Washington state, Red Mountain makes up only 4 square miles (4,040 acres) and we source all of our grapes exclusively from here. We're also fortunate to have our 12-acre Estate Vineyard sit right in the middle of the AVA. Because of Charlie’s long-standing relationships with vineyard owners and growers, we’re able to get our hands on some of the most sought-after lots like those from Blackwood Canyon, Quintessence, and Ciel du Cheval. All the wines we produce are a true expression of the AVA and our favorite place to enjoy a glass is sitting on our back patio while watching the sunset over the vineyard.
Feb 14, 2018 at 12:41 PM
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The Importance of the Custom Club
A few weeks back, I was lucky enough to sit on a panel in front of industry peers to discuss the benefits of “Custom Clubs”. That is, I chatted about the Fidelitas Wine Club and the hows and whys of letting our members select their own Club allocations. This is a big deal! It’s breaking away from the traditional Club model of “we choose wines and send whatever we want to you” that has been followed since the dawn of Wine Clubs. And while all of the boring (inventory) details may not be best suited for this blog, I think that there are a few key points worth sharing:
Selecting what is best for your cellar
Is your vertical of Optu Red Mountain growing nicely? Wish you had more Merlot and less Cabernet? Allowing members to create their own combination of wines in each allocation gives people the chance to take home the wines that they really want to shape their cellar. We are releasing 3 -4 brand new wines at each Club release, and members can select the exact quantities of what they are going to enjoy the most.
It’s important to note here that some members told us they don’t want the additional work of selecting Club allocations. I get it. Day to day life offers so many choices that sometimes you want wine to be the easy part. So – we will always have a pre-selected allocation as well that means great wines with no effort.
Winemakers get to have more fun
This is maybe the best part. Both for the members, and for us at Fidelitas. If we asked every Club member to take the exact same Club allocation, Charlie would be stuck making large quantities of the exact same wine in every vintage. The problem is, Charlie loves to make small lot quantity wines each year based on what comes in to the cellar. Following a custom club model means that he gets to create wines that are maybe 50 – 140 cases total, and members get to select these wines for their shipments. It’s a win/win, really.
Convenient ship windows and special pricing
We first started offering custom clubs to our out of state members. Knowing that they are often dealing with the inconvenience of having wines shipped when the weather may be too hot or too cold, and needing to have an adult signature for delivery, we wanted to design a Club just for them. Our Electus Club is designed to ship wine only in moderate temperature months, and offers additional discounts and complimentary shipping when 6-bottle shipments are rounded up to a case.
Try before you buy
Just last weekend, we launched our “preview tastings”. Two times per year, Custom Club members are invited to taste through the line up of upcoming releases and build their allocations at that time. We love letting people experience the wines before they make their selections, and also found that it was a great time to just connect with members and help them learn the ropes of our new allocation system.
Feb 1, 2018 at 9:50 AM
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Start Previewing + Planning
This year we listened to our members and are delivering on our promise! 2018 has some changes in store including members now having the ability to choose what they would like as their allocation from our newest and most limited releases. Finally!
With all the great wine being released its nice to be able to personally select what you want in your cellar. Who doesn’t like being able to call the shots? We understand it can be a little difficult to choose the 4 bottles you want without being able to try them first. Here comes the second change to 2018! We just hosted our first (of two) Preview Tastings this past weekend. At this event, our Optu members were able to taste the wines before they are even released, so they can make a more educated decision for their allocation. Below are the wines we tasted this past weekend that are set to be released in the first half of the year.
2015 Red Mountain Merlot – February Release
2015 Optu Red Mountain – February Release
2015 Blackwood Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon – February Release
2015 Red Mountain Malbec – Bonus Wine!
2017 Quintessence Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc – April Release
*this wine is still in The Ovium (our special barrel specifically for Sauvignon Blanc) so was not able to make it to the party
2015 The Canyons Vineyard Red Wine – April Release
2015 Quintessence Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon – April Release
2015 Red Heaven Cabernet Sauvignon – April Release
*with only 144 cases produced and more members than bottles, we saved this wine so we could allocate it instead of pour it
2015 Quintessence Vineyard Malbec- Bonus Wine!
If you are currently an Optu member and weren’t able to make it, don’t fear! Our second Preview Tasting will be hosted in July. Now is the perfect time to join if you aren’t already part of the Fidelitas family. One easy step and you can get in on our first release of the year happening in just one week.
Jan 30, 2018 at 9:00 AM
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Red Wine can be Healthy + The Articles to Prove it
As usual, resolutions are an ongoing thing this time of year. If you’re anything like me, you are still trying to hold yourself accountable (at least for another month) and make this year…the best one yet! I think I speak for most of us when I say, “being healthier” is always at the top of the resolution list. And being as I’m an avid lover of wine it always makes it difficult to find the balance between being healthy and still enjoying a glass of wine (or two) during the evening.
Fear not, our Faithful, loyal and true readers! I’ve put together a list of articles that supports the theory of the health benefits that wine has to offer us. I do encourage you all to keep up with those resolutions, since we are still in January, despite the unusually warmer weather we’ve been having. Take a look at these great links, if for nothing more than reassurance that it’s perfectly acceptable to enjoy wine while living and creating a healthier lifestyle this time of year.
Is Wine Good For You? - Wine Folly
8 Health Benefits of Drinking Wine - Food & Wine
Benefits of Red Wine for the Heart, Body and Mind - Dr. Axe
8 Reasons to Love Red Wine - Prevention
And if you're still skeptical, we have some great receipe links for heatlhy meals that pair well with wine. My personal favorite is to eat a nice portion of protien and lots of roasted veggies. I generally pair this with our 2016 Red Mountain Optu White Wine or a lighter bodied red. The next great option is a turkey chili with a glass of our 2015 Red Mountain Malbec. It's protien, veggies, and did I mention super comforting this time of year, given as we're all trapped inside.
Healthy Pairings - Food & Wine
The Food & Wine Diet - Food & Wine
9 Healthier Wine and Food Pairings - Active Beat
Wine Friendly Dishes for Entertaining - Food Network
Jan 24, 2018 at 12:00 PM
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New TCA-free Corks
When you first pop open one of our 2015 Red releases you may notice something a little different about the cork. We’ve switched from our traditionally used “bleached” cork (pictured on the left) to a more natural wash (right). As some of the industry is switching to screwcaps, synthetics, and other ways to seal off their bottles, we’ve taken a step back to a more classic look.
While taking a step back on appearance, we’ve made a simultaneous technological leap forward on performance. Chances are if you’ve been drinking Fidélitas long enough you’ve heard our mantra of being Faithful to Bordeaux grape varieties, Loyal to modern craft winemaking techniques, and True to Washington State's Red Mountain terroir. The switch to Portocork’s new Icon Certified closures is the perfect example of our dedication to modern craft winemaking, and as my dad put it: “a step closer in delivering the perfect bottle of wine.” We pride ourselves in not being tied to tradition and switching if something comes along that will help us make better wine.
Charlie's trip to the cork capital of the world: Portugal
Natural corks have been the choice of winemakers for centuries due to their ability to let in just the right amount of oxygen allowing wine to age properly (info on diffusion vs. permeation). Problems with natural cork material causing the switch to the other types of closures is 1) the chemical compound 2,4,6 Trichloroanisole (TCA) may be present causing cork taint – the unpleasant wet cardboard or musty basement smell we’ve all experienced or 2) inconsistent density – a good example of this is opening an older bottle of wine which should be aged perfectly, however you pull out a squishy cork, too much oxygen has been let through, and the wine is prematurely past its prime.
Thanks to advancements by our supplying partner, Portocork, we have put these natural cork problems in the past. Their NDtech screening method along with other quality controls “effectively eliminates the risk of cork taint” by getting rid of any corks that have TCA content above the human detection threshold of 0.5 nanograms/liter + each cork density is tested for consistency in aging.
Hopefully you'll stop to appreciate all the work that went in to something as simple-looking as a wine cork the next time you open up a bottle of Fidélitas.
Cheers to the pursuit of Red Mountain Wine perfection,
Will
Jan 10, 2018 at 3:00 PM
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Restock the Cellar
2016 Red Mountain Optu White Wine $125/6-pack (that’s only $20.83/bottle reg. $30)
a perfectly balanced sauvignon blanc and semillon blend
2014 Red Mountain 4040 Red Wine $255/case (that’s only $21.25/bottle reg. $30)
team fidelitas' favorite weeknight wine
2014 Optu Red Mountain SOLD OUT
while inventory lasts! only 20 cases remain of the 'wine that started it all'
Act fast! Prices are good through January 14.
Jan 3, 2018 at 11:54 AM
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Happy New Year from Charlie
Dear Friends of Fidelitas:
2017 proved to be a great year for Fidelitas. The Fidelitas Estate Vineyard is continuing to develop, and the other vineyards we source fruit from on Red Mountain are outstanding. The future looks bright for the wines we will continue to make.
This fall, in addition to pulling fruit from the 2009 planting, we were able to harvest a little bit from our 2015 Estate Vineyard planting. We are eager to see how these young wines mature over the months ahead. Also in September, we released our third Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2014. If these first three vintages are any indication of the future of our Estate, then the future looks good. I have been very happy with the wines we have made from our own vineyard. With 2014 being one of the warmest vintages on record, we really looked to make these wines very consistent and a true reflection of Red Mountain.
We also released our last wine ever for Fidelitas from Champoux Vineyard, closing a long term working relationship with Paul and Judy Champoux. With Paul’s retirement following the 2014 vintage, we decided this would be the last Champoux Vineyard wine we would make. This is, to say the least, the end of an era for Fidelitas. We made our first Champoux Cabernet Sauvignon in 2002. In total, we made 27 wines from 13 vintages from Champoux Vineyard. Many of you enjoyed these wines over the years when we expanded our offerings to Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon from Block 1 and our Cabernet Franc based blend we called Magna. Paul and Judy have been great to work with over the years and we all will have lasting memories every time we open these wines from our cellars. Check with any of our team members to see what might still be available from Champoux Vineyard.
Looking forward to 2018, we have many great wines we are extremely excited about from the 2015 vintage of red wines as well as some very unique 2017 white wines to look forward to. As many of you know, we make wines from many sites on Red Mountain, giving us a great cross section of what the mountain has to offer. A few highlights of exciting new offers we will have in the upcoming year will include a 2015 Old Vine Merlot from Ciel Du Cheval and Kiona Vineyards. This wine comes from some of the first plantings on Red Mountain from both the Holmes and Williams families from the mid-1970s. We feel fortunate to have been able to source this fruit and look forward to sharing this with all of you. 2015 will also be the first vintage of Malbec sourced from Quintessence Vineyard. We currently make a Cabernet Sauvignon for this vineyard as well as limited release Sauvignon Blanc. Having the Malbec will be a nice addition. I have had a chance recently to go back and try some of the upcoming 2015 vintage releases and am looking forward to sharing some really stellar wines.
As always, we aim to continually try and improve our wines from Fidelitas. We continue to experiment with oak fermentation, use new barrels we have never worked with before and pushing the envelope in winemaking to continually improve.
Fidelitas exists as a winery because of our faithful customers. Thank you for your continued support. Many of you have been with us from our very first vintages and we truly appreciate your loyalty. We are All in on Red Mountain!
Happy New Year!
Dec 27, 2017 at 12:01 PM
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Taking a Look Back on 2017
This year was one of the best we've ever had in my opinion! From a crazy winter on Red Mountain, to releasing our first vintage of a Sauvignon Blanc. We celebrated 10 Years of calling Red Mountain our home in May. We made some minor upgrades to our Red Mountain Tasting room, we added a library room complete with all of our favorite vintages dating back to 2000.
During the warmer months we celebrated the year by taking a minute to enjoy the stunning views that over look our Fidelitas Estate Vineyard. It's crazy to think how smoky it was this year and how fortunate we are to work in such a supportive industry within Washington and the country. Summer wouldn't be complete without our Feast of St. Fidelis and Summer in the City events that feature our favorite Fidelitas wines and the perfect pairing of, That Guy Catering Tacos.
We've ended the year with stunning sunsets, no snow and enjoying the last of the 2014 vintage. This September marked our 3rd Annual Estate Dinner and one of the best ones yet, the sunset was unbelievable. All of our 2017 wines are tucked away for the winter and we are patiently waiting for next years release, that includes some soon to be new favorites like, the 2015 Old Vine Merlot and the 2015 Quintessence Malbec.
Cheers to 2017!
Dec 20, 2017 at 12:32 PM
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Year in Review
As the year winds down and plans are being made to get together with family for the holidays, I thought I'd take a look back at my year and journey coming back to Fidelitas. I get asked in the tasting how long I've worked for Fidelitas, and I can proudly say that one of my first memories is placing capsules on the first run of 2000 Meritage - I still need to dig those pictures out of the basement. Anyways, here's a small sample of what is hopefully many more vintages, long days at the cellar and tasting room, and many more bottles of Fidelitas!
Working Harvest 2016 in the Willamette Valley
January barrel tasting at Wine Boss
Finding gems like this in my dad's cellar - 2005 Red Mountain Merlot - one of the first Red Mountain wines Fidelitas ever made.
Market research in Santa Barbara
Celebrating a birthday with my 2 favorites at Rione XIII - Jessica, and 2014 Blackwood Canyon Cab.
Tasting some Heitz Cellar Martha's Vineyard Cab alongside the original 2012 Fidelitas Estate Cab - everyone seems pretty happy.
Staff vineyard tours at Kiona.
Washington Barrel Auction with some WA wine legends.
Checking out Quintessence Cab a couple weeks before harvest.
Wine and Pines event at Swiftwater Cellars, Suncadia.
Top 10 meals of all time - 2012 Champoux Block One with Bizarro Cafe meatballs.
Happy Holidays from Team Fidelitas!
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