Coyote Canyon Winery

What started as a dry plot of land restored from its World War II bomb-tests, has grown to over 1100 acres of quality wine grapes at Coyote Canyon Vineyard, in the Horse Heaven HIlls of Eastern Washington’s Columbia Basin. At that time, a vineyard was the furthest thing from George Smith’s mind. George partnered with his son-in-law Bob Andrews, and after years of laboring over unforgiving dry land with meager wheat yields, the family drilled their first well in 1953. By 1974, Bob’s son, Mike, returned to the farm where the chief products were then irrigated wheat and Hereford cattle. Mike had a passion for cattle, and focused the next 25 years raising Herefords and growing various irrigated crops. In 1994, they planted the first 20-acre plot of Cabernet Sauvignon grape vines along a gentle southern slope in the middle of the family property. The vineyard grew slowly, but steadily, over the next years, edging out wheat, grass, watermelons, corn, and a variety of other crops. In 2006, Mike’s son, Jeff, joined the business, bringing with him both business and legal experience. Since then, the vineyard has over doubled in size, expanding to over 1100 acres of the best grape-growing acres in the Horse Heaven Hills. The dedication to the land and attention to detail has produced more than 25 internationally awarded wines.