Patterson Cellars introduced right now the acquisition of the previous Tertulia Cellars vineyard and its surrounding Whistling Hills Winery in Walla Walla Valley. The long-time Woodinville producer will transfer most of its manufacturing to the valley and open a tasting room there.
“My staff’s excited. I’m excited. It’s going to be a very good transfer,” says proprietor and winemaker John Patterson.
The acquisition contains Tertulia’s 9,200-square-foot manufacturing facility and tasting room area positioned within the southside of Walla Walla. It additionally features a 14+ acre surrounding winery. Just a little over seven of these acres are presently planted, with room for a further 1.4 acres. The Tertulia model and stock weren’t a part of the sale.
The constructing shall be rebranded as Patterson Cellars and can have a tasting room, Patterson’s fifth. Patterson will proceed to have two tasting rooms in Woodinville, one at Hollywood Hill and one within the Warehouse District. The vineyard can even proceed to function satellite tv for pc tasting rooms in Seattle and Leavenworth. Patterson himself will relocate to Walla Walla.
“I am simply searching for a little bit little bit of a change. I am hoping that, with the transfer, life shall be a little bit slower,” Patterson says, noting this yr shall be his thirty sixth harvest.
The vineyard plans to proceed all current winery contracts and rent somebody to handle the brand new property property. Walla Walla Valley presently contains roughly 20% of Patterson’s fruit. Patterson produced 18,000 instances of wine in 2021. The vineyard plans so as to add 2,800 sq. ft of area to its new constructing to accommodate that manufacturing.
“We are able to get one classic in [to the existing building], however we won’t get two vintages,” says Patterson. “In order that shall be one of many first issues we do.” The vineyard additionally plans so as to add coated out of doors areas to serve visitors.
Along with shifting nearly all of manufacturing, Patterson shall be winding down his wholesome consulting enterprise. This has concerned all the things from customized crush and gear use to varied different providers for quite a few western Washington wineries.
“I’ve bought quite a lot of prospects and associates that I’ve labored with for 15-plus years,” says Patterson. “I’ve been letting them know that I’ve to concentrate on a unique section of my enterprise.”
Patterson Cellars was based in 2000 in Monroe, Washington by John Patterson and his father Jack. John had beforehand spent 13 years at Quilceda Creeokay. The vineyard moved to Woodinville’s Warehouse District in 2007. Whereas Patterson is relocating the vineyard, he stays bullish on the way forward for Woodinville.
“Downtown there’s a lot occurring,” he says. “You have bought the brand new schoolhouse, you’ve got bought Woodin Creek, and you have all of the multi-use buildings. It is thrilling to see all of it.” Patterson is presently serving his ninth yr as president of Woodinville Wine Nation, a neighborhood promotional physique.
With the transfer, Patterson says he hopes to spend extra time with the vineyard’s prospects. “I really like working with the visitors after they are available in and in greeting them and speaking to them. For me, that’s so enjoyable.”
Tertulia Cellars closed its doorways in 2021 after 16 years in enterprise. With this sale, proprietor Jim O’Connell continues to have two vineyards in Walla Walla Valley, Elevation Winery within the North Fork area and Rivière Galets in The Rocks District. METIS, a mergers and acquisitions agency specializing in Pacific Northwest wineries and vineyards, served because the unique transactional advisor within the sale. Phrases weren’t introduced.
Photos of Tertulia Cellars and John Patterson by Richard Duval.
