When Karen La Bonte' and Ed Dudley first got to know each other while working in the communications industry, they realized they shared an interest in wine--make that, a fervor for wine. Wine was, for both of them, a key component of celebrating life and food and friends. Moreover, each had long before dreamed of actually making great wine for themselves and others to enjoy. Independently, each had spent years learning the many aspects of winemaking and planned on entering the wine business at first opportunity.
From the first time she saw Washington State, Karen fell in love with the climate, the pace of life, the hometown neighborliness, and the open minded attitudes. The setting matched her background while growing up of family, farming, and the outdoors. She knew she could be happy and thrive here. Some setbacks slowed her progress but reinforced her determination. Her "day job" in the corporate world afforded her the opportunity to save and study for her future in winemaking. She read books, reviewed maps, and studied various wine industry publications while on airplanes traveling. On weekends and vacations, she took viticulture classes, did market analyses, toured and volunteered at wineries, and consulted mentors in the field. And began saving.
Ed, meanwhile, was acquiring insights into nuances of the winemaking process. With a background in chemistry and engineering, he focused on the many elements factored into turning fine grapes into fine wine. He did market analyses and studied business models to see what worked. He, too, developed his palate and knowledge base. And of course, began saving.
Karen and Ed combined efforts. They quizzed colleagues and restaurateurs and sommeliers about preferences and pairings and trends. They hired an agent to preview geographic locations. Their scouting focused specifically on Walla Walla's burgeoning wine region. Its terrain, business atmosphere, people, and energy level were what they were looking for. And Patit Creek Cellars was just the right size to get started, in addition to its strong reputation and ratings for making great Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon wines.
Though Karen and Ed have different styles, their talents complement each other in this hands-on operation. Karen's ease with people, experience in business and her project management skills pair well with fine sensibilities to handle public relations, run the tasting room and handle all marketing aspects of the winery. Ed's chemistry background and penchant for numbers work for him in winemaking oversight and as business manager.
The winery may have new premises and equipment, but this duo is making the most of established resources: working with a dedicated and experienced winemaker, never sacrificing quality for quantity and selecting the finest handpicked fruit from area vineyards. They want to grow Patit Creek Cellars' offerings to match the subtleties of grapes with people's tastes. They regard wine as a living thing and wine tasting as both personal experience and social pleasure.
Patit Creek Cellars will soon include a broader palette of varietals, including white wines as well as a few new reds. The selection and output will grow, but never beyond what Karen and Ed can personally handle--They want their love of wine to show through in the tasting and savoring.
|
