Hogue Cellars

The Hogue Cellars was founded in 1982 and is located in Eastern Washington's Columbia Valley, which the winery calls "the premier grape-growing region of the state." The Hogue Cellars, LTD. is based in Prosser, Washington. The Our Story page opens with a quote from one of the founders: "My brother Mike and I opened our doors to The Hogue Cellars™ in 1982, with a commitment to source only the finest fruit from the Columbia Valley's best vineyards."

• Founded in 1982
• Located in Eastern Washington's Columbia Valley, in Prosser, Washington
• Founding commitment: to source fruit from the Columbia Valley's best vineyards

Ackley Brands acquired Hogue Cellars and Columbia Winery from Gallo in April 2024. Wine Spectator described the pair as "two well-known value-priced wine labels"; as of May 2024 their combined production was 130,000 cases per year. Ackley Brands was founded in 2016 when the Ackley family purchased Montinore Estate in Oregon, and Brandon Ackley was the company's CEO as of May 2024. Ackley Brands also purchased Betz Family Winery and the Charles Smith Wines portfolio.

• April 2024: Ackley Brands acquired Hogue Cellars and Columbia Winery from Gallo
• Combined production of the two brands: 130,000 cases per year (as of May 2024)
• Ackley Brands was founded in 2016 with the Ackley family's purchase of Montinore Estate in Oregon
• Brandon Ackley, Ackley Brands CEO (as of May 2024)

Most of Washington's wine grapes are planted east of the Cascade Range in the Columbia Valley appellation, which encompasses the Yakima Valley and Walla Walla appellations, and the state's vineyards straddle the 46th and 47th parallels. East of the Cascades, annual rainfall averages less than 10 inches, and the Cascade Range creates a rain shadow that protects Eastern Washington from Pacific storms. Daily temperatures can fluctuate as much as 40-50 degrees during the growing season, a swing the winery credits with retaining the grapes' natural acidity and fresh fruit flavors. Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Semillon, Pinot Grigio, Viognier, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Barbera are among the varieties that thrive in Eastern Washington when planted in the right locations.

• Most of Washington's wine grapes are planted east of the Cascade Range in the Columbia Valley appellation
• Annual rainfall east of the Cascades averages less than 10 inches
• Daily temperatures can swing as much as 40-50 degrees during the growing season
• Washington's vineyards straddle the 46th and 47th parallels

The current lineup is Hogue Cellars 2023 Chardonnay, 2023 Sweet Riesling, 2023 Pinot Grigio, 2024 Sauvignon Blanc, 2023 Riesling and 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon. The winery describes its style this way: "The wines have a liveliness and ripe, zesty fruit flavors that make them ideal complements to a wide range of food." Its tasting notes call the 2023 Riesling "well-balanced and slightly sweet" and the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon "a rich, balanced Cabernet with luscious fruit qualities."

• Whites: 2023 Chardonnay, 2023 Riesling, 2023 Sweet Riesling, 2023 Pinot Grigio, 2024 Sauvignon Blanc
• Red: 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
• House style, in the winery's words: liveliness and ripe, zesty fruit flavors suited to a wide range of food

Hogue Cellars switched to screw caps after an in-house closure study begun in 2001 and completed in 2003. Wine Spectator, covering the move in July 2004, called Hogue "one of the largest producers in Washington." The study compared natural cork, two synthetic stoppers and two kinds of screw caps, with a panel tasting the 1999 Hogue Merlot Genesis and the 2000 Hogue Chardonnay Fruit Forward at six-month intervals for 30 months. The winery chose the Stelvin screw cap with a Saranex liner and planned to use screw caps on 70 percent of its 500,000-case annual production as of the 2004 vintage. David Forsyth was Hogue's director of winemaking at the time.

• Closure study begun in 2001 and completed in 2003; results presented at the American Society of Enology and Viticulture conference in San Diego
• Five closure types tested over 30 months
• Screw caps planned for 70 percent of a 500,000-case annual production as of the 2004 vintage
• David Forsyth, director of winemaking (as of 2004)

Primary sources (producer's own site): https://www.hoguecellars.com/, https://www.hoguecellars.com/our-story, https://www.hoguecellars.com/wines/p/orchid-dyj2z-dz6kc-d54k4, https://www.hoguecellars.com/wines/p/orchid-dyj2z-zjjs6, https://www.hoguecellars.com/wines/p/orchid-dyj2z-dz6kc-d54k4-lskm9, https://www.hoguecellars.com/wines/p/orchid-dyj2z-dz6kc-d54k4-hj2fw-r6lps-pjcrm, https://www.hoguecellars.com/wines/p/orchid-dyj2z-dz6kc-d54k4-nrh6n, https://www.hoguecellars.com/wines/p/orchid-dyj2z-zjjs6-xd4wd, https://www.hoguecellars.com/trade. Secondary sources: https://www.winespectator.com/articles/betz-family-winery-purchased-by-ackley-brands, https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/new-wine-and-health-study-alcohol-tiktok-ackleys-rapid-growth-early-harvest-austria, https://www.winespectator.com/webfeature/show/id/Hogue-Cellars-Releases-Results-of-Wine-Closure-Study-Switches-to-Screw-Caps_22059. Last verified 2026-10-12