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Foundry Vineyards
WALLA WALLA
Mark and Patty Anderson have taken the art of winemaking to a whole
new level at Foundry Vineyards. Indeed, the minute the modern white cube
structure that serves as the tasting room comes into view, it's clear that this
is no traditional wine experience. From the beginning, these founders-owners
have integrated the discipline of modern and contemporary art into the wine
experience, thus expanding the dialogue surrounding the creative processes
that underlie the making of both wine and art.
Indeed, every element of Foundry has a distinct aesthetic—from the artistically
inspired artisan labels, to the onsite gallery that features rotating exhibitions
(past artists have included Chuck Close, Kiki Smith, and Ai Weiwei), to the
minimalist, urban vibe of the outdoor sculpture garden.
The roots of Foundry Vineyards can be traced back to 1998, when Mark
planted Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes on his residential property,
which he named Stonemarker Vineyard. As a born and raised Walla Wallan,
he saw his town evolving in the late '90s—in a good way—as wine was all the
buzz and visitors were seeking out local wineries. Mark wanted to be a part
of this new and exciting wine movement, and as a business entrepreneur with
an artist's heart, he capitalized on the opportunity.
New to farming, Mark hired Scott Hendricks to help plant Stonemarker and
initially sold the grapes to other Walla Walla wineries. But, in 2003, Mark
decided to take everything he had learned about grapes and the winemaking
FACING PAGE: Lisa and Jay Anderson operate Foundry
Vineyards as well as an independent design shop JOIN
Shop Foundry.
Photograph by Krista Welch Creative
ABOVE: Foundry Vineyards tasting room offers guests
the opportunity to taste their wines, view art in their
contemporary gallery and sculpture garden, and shop in an
independent design store.
Photograph courtesy of Foundry Vineyards
