The Seattle Times
May 25, 2018
Charlie Hoppes has a long fascination with Washington’s signature grape — also the dominant variety on Red Mountain.
CHARLIE HOPPES clearly recalls the first time he was on Red Mountain. It was June 1989; he was working as a winemaker for Chateau Ste. Michelle and visiting Kiona Vineyards and Winery to try its lemberger. Later that day, his wife went into labor and gave birth to their first daughter.
He liked what he knew about Red Mountain, and vowed to return. Eleven years ago, he bought 5 acres, built a tasting room and planted grapes. Today, the graduate of Wapato High School and the University of California-Davis’ vaunted winemaking school gets all the grapes for his 7,000-case Fidelitas Wines from Red Mountain. He has a long fascination with cabernet sauvignon, which is not only Washington’s signature grape but also the dominant variety on Red Mountain. These days, Hoppes bottles no fewer than six distinctive cabs, making him “The Cab King of Red Mountain.”>>>Read the entire article on The Seattle Times