Kiona Vineyards

Jim Holmes and John Williams founded Kiona Vineyards in 1975 with the planting of the first commercial vineyards on what later became known as Red Mountain. At the time of the 1975 founding, no commercial vineyards existed on Red Mountain; Holmes and Williams's planting decisions were based on Walter Clore's WSU horticulture research demonstrating Columbia Valley premium variety viability plus the founders' assessment of the south-facing Red Mountain slope, the basalt-derived soils, and the broader Yakima Valley climate suitability. The 1975 founding plantings (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Riesling, Chenin Blanc, and the distinctive Lemberger variety) established the experimental foundation that subsequent Red Mountain producers built upon. Kiona Vineyards' commercial wine production began with subsequent vintages; the first Kiona bottlings established the producer as the founding Red Mountain commercial operation. The Holmes and Williams families' commitment to Red Mountain has continued across multiple decades and generations.

• Jim Holmes and John Williams founded Kiona Vineyards 1975; first commercial vineyards on what later became Red Mountain AVA
• At 1975 founding: no commercial vineyards existed on Red Mountain; planting decisions based on Walter Clore WSU research + founders' assessment of south-facing slope + basalt-derived soils + Yakima Valley climate
• 1975 founding plantings: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Lemberger; established experimental foundation for subsequent Red Mountain producers
• Kiona commercial wine production began with subsequent vintages; first Kiona bottlings established producer as founding Red Mountain commercial operation

Kiona Vineyards' foundational role in Red Mountain wine commerce is universally acknowledged in industry retrospectives. The 1975 plantings predated Quilceda Creek's 1979 founding (initially in Snohomish County, with Red Mountain operations expanded later through the 1990s), Hedges Family Estate's 1986 founding (with vineyard plantings beginning 1991), Cadence's 1998 founding, and the broader Red Mountain producer hierarchy that emerged through the 1990s and 2000s. Kiona supplied fruit to many of the early Red Mountain commercial wine ventures and continues to supply fruit to numerous current Washington producers. The 2001 Red Mountain AVA designation (which formalized the AVA's boundaries) was driven in part by the documented heritage of Kiona and other early Red Mountain producers; the AVA's designation established the regulatory framework that supports the broader Red Mountain wine commerce identity.

• Kiona 1975 plantings predated all subsequent Red Mountain producer foundings: Quilceda Creek 1979 (Snohomish initially, RM operations expanded 1990s), Hedges 1986 (vineyard plantings 1991), Cadence 1998, broader hierarchy emerged 1990s-2000s
• Kiona supplied fruit to many early Red Mountain commercial wine ventures + continues supplying fruit to numerous current WA producers
• 2001 Red Mountain AVA designation: driven in part by documented heritage of Kiona and other early Red Mountain producers
• AVA designation: established regulatory framework supporting broader Red Mountain wine commerce identity

Beyond the eponymous Kiona Vineyards brand, the Holmes-Williams family operations expanded through the Ciel du Cheval Vineyard (Jim Holmes's principal subsequent vineyard, planted on additional Red Mountain land beyond the original Kiona Vineyards plantings). Ciel du Cheval (French for 'sky of the horse') has become one of Red Mountain's most-cited premium grower-supplier sites: the vineyard supplies fruit to dozens of Washington premium producers including Andrew Will (vineyard-designated Ciel du Cheval Bordeaux blends), Mark Ryan Winery (founding 1999 first vintage from Ciel du Cheval), Avennia (Sestina Bordeaux blend uses Ciel du Cheval), Cadence (vineyard-designated Bel Canto from Ciel du Cheval), and many other premium WA producers. The Holmes-Williams family's broader Red Mountain footprint (Kiona Vineyards + Ciel du Cheval + other plantings) represents one of the most consequential single-family vineyard contributions to Washington wine industry development. The family's pioneering role and continued operation have shaped the broader Red Mountain commercial wine identity.

• Ciel du Cheval Vineyard (French 'sky of the horse'): Jim Holmes's principal subsequent vineyard beyond original Kiona Vineyards plantings
• Premier grower-supplier role: supplies fruit to dozens of Washington premium producers; one of Red Mountain's most-cited grower-supplier sites
• Producers using Ciel du Cheval fruit: Andrew Will (vineyard-designated Bordeaux blends), Mark Ryan Winery (1999 founding first vintage), Avennia (Sestina Bordeaux blend), Cadence (Bel Canto), many others
• Holmes-Williams family broader Red Mountain footprint: Kiona Vineyards + Ciel du Cheval + other plantings; one of most consequential single-family vineyard contributions to WA wine industry development

Kiona Vineyards' lineup includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Riesling, Chenin Blanc, and the distinctive Lemberger variety. Lemberger (also known as Blaufränkisch in Austria, Kékfrankos in Hungary, and other names across Central Europe) is the German name for a structured red variety grown extensively in Württemberg, Austria's Burgenland, and broader Central Europe. The 1975 Kiona founding plantings included Lemberger as one of the original variety selections; Kiona has continuously produced Lemberger as a distinctive Red Mountain offering across multiple decades. Among Washington producers Lemberger is rare (most producers focus on Bordeaux varieties or Rhône varieties or Riesling); Kiona's continued Lemberger production gives the producer a distinctive variety identity within the broader Red Mountain landscape. The broader Kiona lineup serves both the producer's own tasting room and direct-to-consumer distribution plus broader wholesale; production scale of approximately 15,000-20,000 cases per year supports moderate-volume distribution within the broader Washington wine market.

• Lemberger (also Blaufränkisch in Austria, Kékfrankos in Hungary): structured red variety grown extensively in Württemberg + Austria's Burgenland + broader Central Europe
• 1975 Kiona founding plantings included Lemberger; continuously produced as distinctive Red Mountain offering across multiple decades
• Among WA producers Lemberger is rare; most producers focus on Bordeaux + Rhône + Riesling; Kiona's continued Lemberger production gives distinctive variety identity within Red Mountain landscape
• Production scale: ~15,000-20,000 cases/year; both own tasting room + direct-to-consumer + broader wholesale; moderate-volume distribution within broader WA wine market