THE STORY OF THE "BONTZU CELLARS" NAME BEGINS WITH MY GRANDPA JON NICHOLAS, A COBBLER AND A SHOEMAKER WHO WAS THE HEAD OF OUR FAMILY FOR MORE THAN 60 YEARS. STRONG WILLED, STUBBORN SOMETIMES, HE NEVER BACKED DOWN ON HIS PRINCIPLES OR WORK ETHIC. HE GUIDED OUR FAMILY THROUGH TROUBLES TIMES, KEEPING US TOGETHER AND PROTECTED FROM THE VICISSITUDES OF LIFE AS MUCH AS HE COULD.
EVERYTHING I KNOW I LEARNED FROM HIM. BY NAMING MY WINERY AFTER HIM, I WANTED TO RECONNECT TO AND CONTINUE TO APPLY HIS BASIC, CORE PRINCIPLES: WORK HARD, STAY TRUE TO YOUR MANTRA, FOLLOW YOUR INNER CALLING, LOOK FOR QUALITY FIRST, AND ALWAYS ALWAYS LET NATURE LEAD THE WAY!
THIS IS HOW I MAKE WINE AT BONTZU CELLARS, JUST THE WAY GRANDPA BONTZU DID.
FOR ME, WINEMAKING STARTED WITH MY GRANDPA BONTZU, WHO INSPIRED ME TO CONTINUE THE TRADITION TODAY WITH BONTZU CELLARS. I MAKE WINE THE TRADITIONAL WAY, GROWN ON THE VINE, HARVESTED BY HAND, AND NATURALLY FERMENTED.
Staying true to our core beliefs: "All natural, Minimal intervention."
Staying true to our core beliefs: "All natural, Minimal intervention."
Staying true to our core beliefs: "All natural, Minimal intervention."
Staying true to our core beliefs: "All natural, Minimal intervention."
Staying true to our core beliefs: "All natural, Minimal intervention."
Staying true to our core beliefs: "All natural, Minimal intervention."
Staying true to our core beliefs: "All natural, Minimal intervention."
THE VINEYARDS
IT WAS WITH A CLEAR PURPOSE THAT WE LOCATED BONTZU CELLARS IN THE VICINITY OF THE BEST VINEYARDS IN WALLA WALLA AND COLUMBIA VALLEY'S AVA. NOT ONLY THAT WE BELIVE IN THE NATURAL, TRADITIONAL WAYS OF MAKING WINE, BUT ALSO THAT OUR STANCE IS THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL SITE PROPAGATES AND INFLUENCES THE FLAVORS IN GRAPES AND HOW THOSE FLAVORS TRANSLATE INTO WINES IN A VERY PARTICULAR WAY.
WALLA WALLA VALLEY AVA
Cockburn Ranch Vineyard
Our vineyard source of Granache and Malbec is located on the south-east corner of the Walla Walla AVA, in the foothills of the Blue Mountains. With an elevation of 1,000 to 1,200 feet and a south-east sun exposure, the vineyard provides a silty-loam clay type soil, and wind-blown, very good air drainage. The proximity to the Blues allows for enough precipitation during the spring season, which is the reason irrigation is called for only during the hottest time of the growing season.
Breezy Slopes Vineyard
We source our Syrah, Sangiovese, Carmenere, and Barbera from this vineyard. While only 5 acres, this vineyard is located at the highest elevation in the entire Walla Walla AVA, at 1,780 feet! No irrigation is required, and we don't spray our vines with chemicals. This is our pride and joy, this is the way we want the grapes to grow! We grow the grapes ourselves; a total symbiosis grape grower/winemaker!
The Rocks Vineyard
We get our Syrah from this amazing piece of land with its renowned cobblestone based soil, reminiscent of old Walla Walla river bed; unique earthiness flavors, strong tannins, barn-like flavors and an unmistakable mushroom nose makes this site a true gem!
Colombia Gorge AVA
Bolton Vineyard
Located just a few miles south of The Dalles, OR. This vineyard gives us the Gewurtztraminer grapes. Nestled between hills in a shallow valley, protected from harshness of Eastern Oregon winters the vineyard has a dry, hot climate in the summer that helps develop the core flavors that the grape is known from: perfumed, with lychee, grapefruit and gardenia bouquet.
FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED, BONTZU CELLARS IS DEDICATED TO PRODUCING WINES THAT ARE TERROIR DRIVEN AND VINEYARD DESIGNATED. WE ARE FOCUSED ON RHONE AND BORDEAUX VARIETALS, MAKING WINES IN AN UNCOMPROMISING STYLE, USING TRADITIONAL TECHNIQUES CAREFULLY MANAGED IN A NEW WORLD WAY.
IT ALL STARTS IN THE VINEYARD. THIS IS THE FOUNDATION OF OUR WINE PHILOSOPHY: UNDERSTAND THE VINE, THE SOIL, AND THE SKY. KEEP IT NATURAL, WITH MINIMAL INTERVENTION.
IT IS WISHFUL THINKING THAT ONE CAN ALTER THE INTRINSIC QUALITIES OF THE JUICE OR OF THE WINE DURING THE VINIFICATION PROCESS. WE CAN ONLY RETAIN THE POTENTIAL OF THE GRAPE.
A WINE, AND THE VINES IT COMES FROM, HAVE TO BE IN BALANCE WITH THE SOIL, THE ATMOSPHERE, THE ENERGY FROM THE SOLAR SYSTEM AND ITS INTIMATE SURROUNDINGS. WE KEEP AND IMPLEMENT THESE FACTORS WHEN GROWING GRAPES AND DURING THE WINEMAKING PROCESS, BY APPLYING ORGANIC OR SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES ON THE VINEYARD WE SOURCE OUR FRUIT FROM, WITH THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF BECOMING A BIODYNAMIC WINE PRODUCER OF BRILLIANT WINES, AND AUTHENTIC WINES FOR SURE!