The Inspired Intermedia digital book collection
Issue link: https://inspired.uberflip.com/i/983519
155 Fielding Hills Winery LAKE CHELAN For the proprietors of Fielding Hills Winery, wine is a personal matter. As a family-owned, multi-generational operation, Fielding Hills Winery's story begins with Isham "Ike" Fielding Wade in 1919 as he set off from Tennessee and settled in the Wenatchee Valley of Washington State. Here he planted the family's first orchards and began the Wade family's agricultural heritage. In 1948, Ike launched an apple and cherry packing business, Columbia Fruit Packers, and began shipping fresh fruit nationally from tiny Wenatchee, Washington. In 1950 Ike's son, Jim joined the company and in 1979 his grandson Mike Wade followed his grandfather and father into the business. Today, Mike is the CEO of Columbia Fruit Packers and is the founder, owner, and winemaker at Fielding Hills with his wife and general manager Karen. Their three daughters have grown up in this rural agricultural family and have been involved with the winemaking throughout their lives. Today, they are still drawn to Fielding Hills Winery and make time in their professional careers to be involved. Fielding Hills Winery is an estate winery; the Wade family owns and grows the grapes and does all aspects of winemaking from crush to bottling. In the mid-1990s some of Washington's biggest wineries asked Mike to plant wine grapes. At that time Red Delicious apples were losing their market share, so Mike pulled out 23 acres and created Riverbend Vineyard. Initially Riverbend grew Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot; Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Carmenere were added later. FACING PAGE: Fielding Hills Winery glows in the morning sun surrounded by Syrah grapes. The Cascade Mountains to the North overlook expansive views of Lake Chelan from the tasting room. ABOVE: The tasting room grounds at Fielding Hills Winery provide a spectacular setting for enjoying amazing wines and taking memorable photographs. Mike and Karen Wade take a moment to enjoy the view with wine dogs Ace and Murphie. Photographs by Patrick Bennett