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149 Den Hoed Wine Estates SEATTLE Tenacity, family values, and gumption: These principles help define the Washington wine industry, but also describe the journey of the Den Hoed family. Andreas Den Hoed immigrated from Holland to the United States in 1948 with his family. Throughout his teenage years, Andreas was no stranger to hard work, having labored far from home at a dairy farm at age 15 and then later helping his family start a small farm in New Jersey. Although the family had been successful vegetable farmers in Holland, the Dutch government prevented asset removal from the Netherlands, so the Den Hoeds had to build their American business from scratch. By 1953, the family had nearly 500 acres to their name. That year also proved to be fateful for Andreas. Not only did the family take a trip to—and fall in love with—Sunnyside, Washington, but Andreas was also reunited with the love of his life, Marie Christina Kranendonk. Andreas stayed in the Netherlands for six weeks and during that time proposed to Marie on her 20th birthday. When he returned to the US, Andreas and his father set their sights on Washington and purchased a 360- acre farm north of Grandview in the Yakima Valley while he waited for Marie to join him. In 1956, the Den Hoed family planted their first vineyard. Andreas and Marie were married in 1956, and shortly thereafter, Andreas was drafted into the Army, where he served for two years. His service put his plans for more vineyards on hold for a time, but as soon as Andreas and Marie had the resources to plant more grapes, they never stopped. Each year, the Den Hoeds added to their acreage and in 1988, Andreas' sons, Andy and Bill—who was named Grower of the Year in 2000—were made partners in a new project. As partners, Andreas and his sons added to their acreage in the FACING PAGE: The diverse topography of Wallula Vineyard was created by the huge Missoula floods that raced down the Columbia River during the last ice age. Photograph by Andrea Johnson TOP: A Den Hoed toast as the sun sets at the annual Koning Club event at Wallula Vineyard. Proost! Photograph by Ron Stephens

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