About the Producer
Creating wines that are as complex as they are captivating, Canvasback is following the model established decades ago by Duckhorn Vineyards, and combines grapes from top growers and regions across the state.
After conducting extensive blind tastings between Napa Valley and Washington Cabernet Sauvignons, we become extremely excited about the quality and character of the wines from Washington State—in particular the exceptional Cabernet Sauvignons from Red Mountain. Working with legendary Washington vineyard manager Dick Boushey, we begin cultivating relationships with the growers who farm some of the appellation’s most esteemed vineyards.
Using grapes from some of Red Mountain’s most acclaimed vineyards, including Klipsun, La Coye, Shaw and Quintessence, we make our debut vintage of Canvasback Red Mountain Washington State Cabernet Sauvignon.
Canvasback names Washington native Brian Rudin as our winemaker. A rising star, with experience at such esteemed wineries as L’Ecole No 41, Cadaretta and Buried Cane, Brian is an expert with Red Mountain fruit. His vineyard-focused approach to winemaking plays a key role in developing Canvasback’s bold, beautifully structured style. The same year, we acquire a 20-acre unplanted vineyard site on Red Mountain. Located near the top of the mountain, it is widely recognized as the most coveted uncultivated site on the mountain.
We release our debut vintage of Canvasback Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. We also craft our inaugural Canvasback Grand Passage Cabernet Sauvignon from our finest blocks and barrels of wine from the exceptional 2014 growing season. Under the guidance of Dick Boushey, we plant our Longwinds Estate Vineyard to Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
Achieving our goal of establishing a vineyard program that includes Estate grapes and fruit from the best vineyards on Red Mountain, we harvest the first grapes from our Longwinds Estate Vineyard.
We release our 2014 Canvasback Grand Passage Cabernet Sauvignon. Made using grapes from renowned vineyards like Klipsun, Quintessence and Ciel du Cheval—including some of the most coveted older-vine plantings on the mountain—this exciting wine takes its place as the pinnacle of our winemaking program.
Canvasback has taken flight beyond its Red Mountain roots to create an acclaimed portfolio that includes Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Merlot and Riesling from the most renowned appellations in Washington State. To showcase these exceptional wines, we opened a dedicated tasting room in Walla Walla in 2019. Designed to embody the rustic elegance and frontier spirit of the region, the tasting room offers an idyllic setting for indoor and outdoor seated tastings.
