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Pepper Bridge Winery
WALLA WALLA
Named for the old military road running from Fort Walla Walla to Fort Dalles,
which forded the river at the Pepper family farm, Pepper Bridge Winery pays
homage to Washington's pioneering spirit in everything it does. Owned and
operated by three families—the McKibbens, the Goffs, and the Pellets—the
winery produces Bordeaux-style wines from mature estate vineyards while
integrating modern innovation into the process.
Norm McKibben began planting grapes in 1989 and throughout the Walla
Walla Valley in the 1990s. He founded Pepper Bridge Winery in partnership
with Anheuser-Busch veteran Ray Goff in 1998, and the next year, they
brought third-generation Swiss winemaker, Jean-François Pellet, on as the
final expert in the trio, who received distinction as 2015 Winemaker of the
Year from the Washington Wine Awards. First and foremost, McKibben, Goff,
and Pellet view themselves as stewards of the land. Every decision—from
planting to integrating new technology into the winery—is done with an eye
toward the goal of making quality wine while leaving the soil healthier for
the next generation. As managing partner of the winery, Norm McKibben
brings his vision and expertise as a trained engineer to the growth of Pepper
Bridge Winery and the larger Walla Walla Valley AVA. His son, Eric McKibben,
is actively involved as a partner.
With 30 years at Anheuser-Busch where he served as vice president of
corporate purchasing and president of the company's agriculture subsidiary,
LEFT: Jean-François Pellet and Norm McKibben in the
Pepper Bridge Winery barrel room.
Photograph by Amy Allen Photography
TOP: Evenings are magical at the Pepper Bridge tasting
room overlooking the Pepper Bridge Vineyard in Walla Walla.
Photograph by Jack von Eberstein
