Gary Hogue, Co-Founder of Hogue Cellars
Hogue Cellars was founded in 1982 by entrepreneurs Mike Hogue and his brother Gary. Popular among wine enthusiasts, Hogue Cellars rests along the south-central area of the Columbia Valley AVA. Begun as only a few concord and riesling vines nestled on a gently sloping hill in the lower part of the Yakima Valley, Hogue grows their grapes with a keen eye for quality. With a family heritage of working Prosser soil, it’s no wonder they have grown to be the third largest wine producer in the state of Washington.
In pursuit of a brand to be proud of, Hogue Cellars has brought several highly experienced and passionate viticulturists and enologists to the business. A well chosen team of experienced wine-makers (Greg Winter, Jim Mills, and Kerry Norton) work together to create a varied selection of award winning, quality wines at a sensible price. Unafraid to try new blends and techniques, the team uses an artistic blend of applied science and art to create new vintages.
They offer four tiers of wines; Hogue, Genesis, Reserve, and Terroir. Their first three labels are available internationally on store shelves as well as online. When ordering directly from the winery, you will be provided personal service by an employee to assist you in choosing one of the 26 varieties available. Recently rebranded, the new modern label features a gold grape leaf and prominent logo. Genesis wines are created with higher-elevation grapes and as such have a more deeply developed flavor. The Hogue Reserve label offer wines with the most intensely focused flavors and complexities most often found in finely crafted wines. Their most exclusive Terroir tier is only found on-site in their tasting room. However, they also offer a wine club; which earns such perks as private tastings for groups and access to Terroir level wines.
For those visiting the region, a modern tasting room is located in Prosser and offers several gifts as well as tastings. If planning to visit the tasting room, you may want to bring along a picnic as they have a small picnic area outside.
Hogue Cellars prove that dedication to quality soil and expert care of fruit makes for spectacular finished wines. Their willingness to use technological innovations like Saranex-lined screw caps, commitment to affordable wines, and care for their customers ensures their place at the forefront of the Washington wine industry they have helped establish. Finding a favorite amongst their offerings is easy.