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ABOUT MILBRANDT VINEYARDS - OUR PEOPLE
Gordon HILL
Winemaker
Born in 1957 in Seattle and raised in Bellevue, Gordy Hill is Washington State, through and through. His first exposure
to wine was at Washington State University, "where I had a roommate from California who drank wine and imported
beers. We started with Wente’s Le Blanc de Blancs, then a Washington Riesling. Later, a spring break trip to Napa Valley
really hooked me."
Studying food science at WSU, he worked for Dr. Nagel processing grapes. This led to a job in the lab at Chateau Ste.
Michelle in 1980. He eventually became winemaker there, and was involved in the creation of Northstar, the Bordeauxstyle
Merlot he made in conjunction with renowned Lake County (California) winemaster Jed Steele.
Gordy is equally at home in the kitchen, where he favors sautéing or barbecuing "pretty much anything. I like things that
revolve around the seasons, especially since here in eastern Washington we have such immediate access to fresh fruit
and vegetables from local farmers. My last meal in prison would be fresh cracked crab, good bread, and fresh tomatoes
from eastern Washington." Hopefully, it won’t come to that.
When talking about what makes Washington State such a great place for wine grapes, he offers, "We are fortunate
to have sunny, rainless days during the growing season. Our farmers control their canopies by using good irrigation
techniques. Cool nights at harvest are also a bonus. Bottom line is that we get wines with good color and fruit
forwardness that you can taste. We aim for good depth and complexity, power with elegance, and ample, full flavors
that stay with you all the way through the aftertaste."
When not making wine Gordy likes to read, hunt, golf and socialize.
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