Hogue Cellars

Mike and Gary Hogue established Hogue Cellars in 1982 in a converted machine shop in Prosser, Washington, making it the state's 19th bonded winery. The very first vintage, produced in 1981, yielded just 60 bottles of Riesling. The first commercial release totaled 2,000 cases of 1982 Riesling and Chenin Blanc. Growth was rapid: from 1,000 cases in 1982, the winery scaled to 5,000 cases in 1983, 12,000 in 1984, and eventually 500,000 cases by the 1990s.

• First vintage in 1981 produced only 60 bottles of Riesling
• Washington's 19th bonded winery upon founding in 1982
• Reached 500,000 cases in the 1990s before stabilizing at 650,000 cases
• By 2001, Hogue was the largest family-owned winery in Washington state

The pivotal moment in Hogue's history came when the 1983 Cabernet Sauvignon won Best in Show at the 1985 Atlanta International Wine Festival. That award placed Hogue, and Washington wine broadly, on the national radar. Mike Hogue's decade-long chairmanship of the Washington State Wine Commission reinforced the winery's role as an industry pioneer. Hogue is credited as one of the foundational producers that established Washington's reputation for quality wine nationally.

• 1983 Cabernet Sauvignon won Best in Show at the 1985 Atlanta International Wine Festival
• Mike Hogue served as chairman of the Washington State Wine Commission for 10 years
• Recognized as a pioneer winery instrumental in building Washington's national wine reputation
• Introduced technological innovations including Saranex-lined screw caps

Hogue Cellars does not own vineyards. Instead, the winery sources fruit from more than 50 contracted local growers across some of Washington's finest sub-regions, including Wahluke Slope and Horse Heaven Hills, as well as Mike Hogue's personal vineyard holdings. The Columbia Valley setting delivers warm, dry days with temperature swings of 40 to 50 degrees daily, fewer than 10 inches of annual rainfall, and up to two more hours of sunlight per day than California's North Coast during the growing season. The latitude, between the 46th and 47th parallels, mirrors that of Bordeaux and Burgundy.

• Grapes sourced from 50+ contracted growers rather than estate-owned vineyards
• Key sources include Wahluke Slope, Horse Heaven Hills, and Mike Hogue's personal vineyards
• Columbia Valley receives less than 10 inches of annual rainfall east of the Cascades
• Daily temperature fluctuations of 40 to 50 degrees preserve natural acidity in the grapes

Hogue produces four distinct wine lines: Terroir Wines, Reserve Wines, Genesis Wines, and Hogue Wines. The range spans cool-weather white varietals through Bordeaux-style red blends, covering grapes including Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Gewürztraminer, Viognier, Semillon, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Malbec, Sangiovese, and Barbera. The winery's affordable pricing strategy aligns with the broader Washington market, where 85% of wine by volume sells under $15.

• Four wine lines: Terroir Wines, Reserve Wines, Genesis Wines, and Hogue Wines
• 14 grape varieties grown or sourced, from Riesling and Chenin Blanc to Malbec and Barbera
• Affordable pricing strategy; 85% of Washington wine by volume sells under $15
• Style emphasizes intense fruit flavors and high natural acidity across the range

Hogue Cellars remained family-owned until 2001, when it was sold to VinCor for $36.4 million, at which point it was the largest family-owned winery in Washington state. Constellation Brands, the world's largest wine company, subsequently acquired the operation in June 2007. Today, Hogue operates under Constellation Brands' ownership and continues to produce 650,000 cases annually from its address at 2800 Lee Road, Prosser, Washington.

• Sold to VinCor in 2001 for $36.4 million
• Constellation Brands acquired Hogue in June 2007
• Currently third-largest wine producer by volume in Washington state
• Holds approximately 8% of Washington's total wine market volume