Naughty Vines was established in 2009 as a pet project of Craig Allen and Mitchell Greenblatt. Their love of drinking and their passion for fine things (including many leather bound books) meant wine making was destined to occur.
Here is the short story that brought it all to life...
Mitch was living and working in Sacramento, California in 2008. He spent many a weekend in Napa and Sonoma experiencing what the California wine country had to offer. This, however, didn't spark his interest in making wine.
One random weekend, Craig was visiting Mitch from Seattle and while leaving from Mitch's home they noticed neighbors outside of their garage making wine with a few friends. They were equipped with a basket press, bins of fresh grapes and an entire room of aging barrels.
The neighbor invited Mitch and Craig over to help and after much consumption, attention from other neighbors, laughter, tiresome press duty and even more tiresome cleanup, Mitch and Craig stumbled back to Mitch's home and ordered a pizza. While eating, they looked at each other and said simultaneously "we must do this" and as they say, the rest is history.
That very next weekend Mitch flew up to Seattle to meet Craig, they drove out to Eastern Washington to visit the Colombia Valley AVA and an obscure "you pick" grape farm to harvest their first grapes--Viognier and Syrah. They rented a basket press and bought the equipment they thought they'd need including a "How to Make Wine" book from Barnes & Noble. As of this writing, they are enjoying that 2008 Viongier and Syrah. Not the best wine ever produced but certainly not bad for a first go from Craig's garage in Seattle.
As of the 2010, Naughty Vines produces 350 cases of select varietals and is ever-expanding. This coming 2011 season should see an increase to 400 cases with a doubling to 800 for 2012.
Wine for Craig and Mitch and the Naughty Vines label isn't about making money, it isn't even about making amazing wine, it is about having a great time with family, friends and fellow enthusiasts. It is about engaging in the art of, not the science and business of wine making (and of course, consumption).
2010 Chardonnay/Semillon
With a true-to-the-core 50/50 split. This blend of Colombia Valley APA Chardonnay and Semillon has a soft pallete with bright, fruity notes.
2010 Syrah
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2010 Cabernet
2010 Cab-Syrah
2009 Chardonnay
Let's not talk about it. Anyone need a great cooking white?
2009 Syrah
2009 Cabernet
From the managed hills of Two Mountain Vineyards comes our 2009 dark as the night Cabernet.
2008 Viongier
The first. The only. The GodZilla from Zillah!
2008 Syrah
At the moment we do not have any events planned. We can't really until our first commercial release. Stay tuned and we'll have something for you shortly!
Voice
1.425.765.8460
Snail Mail
PO BOX 50612
Bellevue, WA 98015
Contact
info_naughtyvines.com
mitch_naughtyvines.com
craig_naughtyvines.com
Map
Just wait. It will be here soon.
