Celebrating Spokane Success Stories THE CONWAYS WITH FLOYD AND VIRGINIA BROADBENT, FLOYD'S ART IS DISPLAYED ON THE LABLES FOR LATAH CREEK, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE MONARCH LABELS
Latah Creek Wine Cellars
The Conway’s first day in Washington was definitely one that will never be forgotten. The date was May 18, 1980, and Mount St. Helen’s ash was raining down across Eastern Washington. The couple spent their first week in a motel in Pasco, waiting for the roads going north to open up; most definitely a grand welcome. Mike’s experience in the wine business began in California back in the early 1970s while working for wine giants E&J Gallo and Franzia Brothers. And it was during his time as assistant winemaker at Parducci that he learned the skills needed to venture northward with Ellena to this relatively new wine region of Washington. It was obvious to them early on that they had made the right decision. A “Best of Show” in his first wine competition, along with many other accolades, confirmed it. Wines produced at Latah Creek were instantly hailed as some of the best in Washington State and started the Conways off on their now three-decade journey. Latah Creek’s light and fruity whites are unmatched in the state and are a result of the slow, cold fermentation process learned at Parducci. Additionally, their red wines garnered three Wine Spectator Magazine TOP 100 Wines of the Year and their recommendation as one of the top producers of Merlot in the state. Fast forward 31 years to today and Latah Creek continues to be a family run winery, especially now with daughter Natalie joining the team. Though she was unaware of it at the time, Natalie’s parents have
been grooming her to be a part of the winery her entire childhood. Time at the dinner table meant talking about food flavors and smells. This laid the groundwork for the talented winemaking skills she now shares at Latah Creek. From the beginning, Latah Creek’s aim has been to create wines that reflect the grapes from which they came. And they have stayed true to this vision, using only exceptional fruit sourced from the best growing regions in Washington, assuring a unique experience with each and every bottle. Their award-winning affordable wines, ones that can be enjoyed every day, are what set Latah Creek apart. Latah Creek Wine Cellars is truly a pioneer in Washington State’s wine industry. And today, with more than 700 wineries in (509) 926-0164 Washington, only a handful can 13030 E. Indiana Ave. boast beginnings back to the early LatahCreek.com 1980s when there were only 18. Explore a Washington original in the Latah Creek tasting room daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
2014-2015 SpokaneSizzle.com
43