Champoux Vineyard

Champoux Vineyard is a grape growing estate located in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA of Washington state.

[1] Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from Champoux vineyards were featured in the consecutive 100 point Robert Parker rated wines from Quilceda Creek Vintners for the 2002 and 2003 vintages.

In the early 1970s, the ranch's owner Don Mercer decided to plant a vineyard with the aim of growing grapes that would rival those of the Bordeaux wine estate Chateau Lafite.

The site of the original block was chosen by mere happenstance since it was an isolated segment of the ranch by the main road that was out of the reach of circle irrigation sprinklers that would have been needed if the land was to be usable for another agricultural crop.

Paul and his wife Judy began leasing the estate from the Mercers and started to expand with additional plantings of various grape varieties.

[1] Paul Champoux was a hop farmer who was first approached by Chateau Ste Michelle in the late 1970s to oversee the plantings of an expansive vineyard along the Columbia River.

After receiving medical attention in Portland, Oregon, Champoux was transferred to a rehab facility in Richland, Washington where he was expected to make a full recovery.

[8] In recent years, he has been experimenting with Rick Small, owner of Woodward Canyon, with delaying the early season pruning of the vine's canopy in order to get more physiologically ripe grapes but at lower potential sugar/alcohol levels.