Five years after planting an orchard above Duck Lake, Wynnwood Cellars Estate Winery has finally opened its doors to the public.
“We are getting a very positive response,” said winery partner Dave Basaraba. “We wanted to start with a soft opening so that we don’t create too much momentum — we don’t have a huge supply of wine just yet.”
Basaraba and Michael Wigen partnered in the project after discovering they each had a long interest in making wine in the Creston Valley. Basaraba was growing grapes on a test site in Canyon when he learned that the Wigen family owned property on Duck Lake, an area he had identified as a potential vineyard site.
“That land has limestone in it, just like some of the great French vineyards,” Basaraba said.
Ten acres are now producing a variety of vinifera grapes, including Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. The slope to the north of Duck Lake is proving to be very good for ripening grapes, with the late afternoon sun reflecting off the lake surface and helping ripen grapes that don’t grow well in other areas of the Creston Valley.
The Wynnwood winery and shop is located at 5566 Highway 3A, north of Wynndel, on Basaraba’s home site. Watch for the roadside signs.
“I’m amazed at how much traffic we get,” Basaraba said. “We have been steadily busy since we opened last month.”
The wine shop and tasting room will be open from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. daily through Oct. 15. Three kinds of wine are available — Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.