Maryhill: One of Washington State’s Destination Wineries



By Kori ~ August 11th, 2010.

Maryhill Winery, located in Goldendale, Washington, is perched on a bluff overlooking the Columbia River Gorge with Mt. Hood in the distance. Founded in 1999 by Craig and Vicki Leuthold, Maryhill’s production has grown from 4,300 cases in 1999 to over 80,000 cases today, making it the 15th largest winery in Washington State. The winery has a beautiful setting with gorgeous views, a 3,000-square-foot tasting room, and a 4,000-seat outdoor amphitheatre, which plays host to a summer concert series.

Craig and Vicki Leuthold each gave up successful careers in Spokane to pursue their dream of owning a winery. Even as the winery has grown, Craig and Vicki continue to oversee the entire operation. New Zealand-native Richard Batchelor joined Maryhill as winemaker in the summer of 2009. He had previously been head winemaker for Hall Winery in St. Helena, California.

Recently, we had the opportunity to taste six wines from Maryhill in a blind samples tasting. We recommend five out of the six. We particularly enjoyed the 2008 Viognier, the 2007 Zinfandel, and the 2006 Sangiovese. In addition to being very good wines, those three also deliver serious bang for your buck. Maryhill produces a total of 28 wines, most of them (except the Reserves) retail for $20 or less.

As I have mentioned previously, a trip to the Columbia Gorge is well worth your time. If you time it right, you could take in a concert at Maryhill and enjoy outdoor recreation on the Columbia River in addition to visiting some outstanding wineries. However, if you do not live in the area and are unable to visit, Maryhill’s wines are distributed nationally.

2008 Maryhill Viognier (Columbia Valley, Washington): Pale, greenish yellow in color. Very aromatic with floral, orange blossom, honey, and lemon/lime aromas; flavors of citrus fruits, flowers, green apple, pear, and dried apricots. Dry, light to medium-bodied, crisp and refreshing with a very long finish. Well-balanced with good complexity. Residual sugar: 1.24%
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $15; Available elsewhere, $11

2007 Maryhill Zinfandel (Columbia Valley, Washington): Deep, ruby red in color. Aromatic with Red Vines, raspberries, and black cherries on the nose that lead to more red fruits, spice, pepper, and a hint of cocoa on the palate. Medium-bodied with lively acidity and medium tannins. Fruit-forward and jammy with a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $22

2006 Maryhill Sangiovese (Columbia Valley, Washington): Deep garnet in color with slight browning around the edges. Aromatic with cinnamon and red fruits on the nose; cherry and spice on the palate. Medium-bodied and lively with medium tannins and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $18; Available elsewhere, $11

2008 Maryhill Pinot Gris (Columbia Valley, Washington): Very pale, straw yellow. Nice nose with lemon square aromas. More lemon and a hint of hay come through on the palate. Dry, light-bodied and crisp with a long finish. Residual sugar: 0.64%
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $15; Available elsewhere, $11 to $15

2008 Maryhill Winemaker’s White (Columbia Valley, Washington): 31% Viognier, 24% Chardonnay, 23% Sauvignon Blanc, 22% Semillon. Pale, straw yellow in color. Aromatic with oak and minerality on the nose; citrus and floral notes on the palate. Dry, light to medium-bodied, crisp acidity, and a long finish. Residual sugar: 1.1%
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $12; Available elsewhere, $9

2008 Maryhill Winemaker’s Red (Columbia Valley, Washington): 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 20% Syrah, 10% Cabernet Franc. Deep, ruby red. Stinky feet and Kool-Aid on the nose and palate. Medium-bodied, soft tannins, and a medium finish.
Quality: 2.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: NR (not recommended)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $14; Available elsewhere, $11


Filed under: American Wine, Five-Bangs For Your Buck Wines, Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris, Red Wine, Sangiovese, Viognier, Washington State Wine, White Wine, Wines NOT To Buy (1 & 2 Star), Wines Under $15, Wines Under $20, Wines Under $25, Zinfandel

Reader's Comments

  1. Another Day In The Pristine Pacific Northwest « Pacificmelody's Blog | August 15th, 2010 at 7:15 pm

    […] Maryhill: One of Washington State’s Destination Wineries (winepeeps.com) […]