Long Shadows Vintners
WALLA WALLA
ABOVE: The classic gated entrance to Blankiet Estate.
FACING PAGE: Sunrise over the winery at Blankiet Estate in Yountville.
Photographs by Kurt-Inge Eklund
Long Shadows Vintners is the creation of Washington wine legend Allen Shoup. Founded
by Allen in 2003 following a 20-year career leading Chateau Ste. Michelle and its affiliate
wineries, Long Shadows brings together seven internationally acclaimed winemakers who are
partners in a winery dedicated to each crafting a single, distinct world-class wine showcasing
the exceptional grapes of the Columbia Valley.
Widely recognized as a founding father of Washington's wine industry, Allen's lifelong ambition
has been to elevate and shape the state's reputation for outstanding wines. Recognizing that
the world's newest and arguably most unique wine region was capable of growing wine
grapes that would compete with the finest in the world, Allen also knew the region lacked
the knowledge that multigenerational winemakers bring from experience spanning centuries.
While CEO at Chateau Ste. Michelle, Allen helped compensate for this by establishing two
international part nerships with world-renowned vintners, first with Italy's Piero Antinori to
craft Col Solare and then with Ernst Loosen to make Eroica Riesling. Long Shadows is an
extension of this work and a natural outgrowth of his friendships with many of the world's
great winemakers built over three decades in the industry.
