Powers Winery

Powers Winery was founded by Bill Powers (d. 2014), who spent his boyhood in Oklahoma and came to the farm country of Eastern Washington in the 1950s. Before planting grapes he grew apples at a time when heavy pesticide use was the norm, which led him to question the long-term impact of those chemicals. The Drinks Business reported in 2014 that he moved to Kennewick in 1982 to grow grapes on the south slope of Badger Mountain after a period as an apple farmer in Othello. Bill Powers founded Badger Mountain Vineyard, the estate, in 1982; the first rows of grapes were planted in 1978. Construction on the tasting room began in 1988, and the joint tasting room opened on Badger Mountain next to the estate vineyard. The inaugural Powers wines were released in 1992, the year the winery was established, and in 1998 Powers expanded into wholesale distribution across the United States. The Bill Powers Sabbatical Fund, established in 2017, supports winemakers studying sustainable practices worldwide.

• Bill Powers (d. 2014): Oklahoma boyhood; came to Eastern Washington in the 1950s; grew apples before planting grapes
• 1982: Badger Mountain Vineyard founded by Bill Powers; first rows of grapes planted 1978
• 1988: construction on the tasting room began; the joint tasting room opened on Badger Mountain
• 1992: inaugural Powers release; the winery is established
• 1998: expansion into wholesale distribution; 2017: Bill Powers Sabbatical Fund established

Badger Mountain Vineyard, the Powers estate, lies in the Columbia Valley AVA near Kennewick, Washington, on a dry, well-drained site on Badger Mountain. Conversion to organic farming began in 1988, and in 1990 Badger Mountain became the first wine grape vineyard in Washington State to be USDA Certified Organic. In 2014 the vineyard covered 70 acres. In 2025 Badger Mountain moved from USDA organic certification to WSDA Made With Organic grapes. Vineyard practices include Scott-Henry trellising, cover crops of vetch and rye between the rows, an in-row cultivator for weed control, and a custom-built pest fan that removes insects from the vines. Solar panels were installed atop the tasting room in 2008 and on the barrel room in 2011, and the estate's bottles weigh approximately 400 grams. Powers fueled his tractors with bio-diesel made of used cooking oil from local restaurants. Andy Perdue told the Tri-City Herald that the winery made the first premium organic box wine in the country.

• Columbia Valley AVA near Kennewick; the Powers estate vineyard
• Organic conversion began 1988; 1990: first wine grape vineyard in Washington State to be USDA Certified Organic
• 2025: transition from USDA organic certification to WSDA Made With Organic grapes
• Scott-Henry trellising, vetch and rye cover crops, in-row cultivation, custom-built pest fan
• Solar panels on the tasting room (2008) and barrel room (2011); bottles of approximately 400 grams

The Reserve selections are bottlings from individual vineyard sites that underscore the variations between growing regions across Washington. Champoux Vineyard, in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA, was first planted in 1972 and grows Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Syrah, Chardonnay, Riesling, and Muscat Canelli on sandy loam soils. Paul Champoux has farmed the vineyard following organic practices for over 20 years. Sheridan Vineyard is a family-owned vineyard in the Yakima Valley AVA planted to Bordeaux varieties including Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. Kiona Vineyard, in the Red Mountain AVA, was planted in the late 1970s by the Williams family. Decanter's James Button scored the 2017 Powers Champoux Vineyards Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 92 points in 2022, describing leafy dark fruits with a balsamic and chocolatey character and fine tannins and acidity, and noting 32 months in 55% new French oak.

• Champoux Vineyard: Horse Heaven Hills AVA; first planted 1972; sandy loam soils
• Sheridan Vineyard: family-owned, Yakima Valley AVA; Bordeaux varieties
• Kiona Vineyard: Red Mountain AVA; planted late 1970s by the Williams family
• 2017 Champoux Vineyards Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon: 92 points, James Button, Decanter (2022); 32 months in 55% new French oak

The winery describes its program as balanced by New and Old World influences, aiming for wines that are concentrated, structured, and age-worthy. The Columbia Valley range lists Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Spectrum, Malbec, Merlot, Chardonnay, Riesling, Muscat Canelli, Sauvignon Blanc, and Rosé. Reserves include Champoux Cabernet Sauvignon, Champoux Red Blend, Champoux Old Block Red Blend, Kiona Cabernet Sauvignon, Sheridan Cabernet Sauvignon, Sheridan Old Block Cabernet Sauvignon, Sheridan Cab Franc, Ravenscliff Grenache, and Ravenscliff Cabernet Sauvignon, alongside a Wahluke Slope Grenache. Powers also offers 3l boxed Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Badger Mountain label covers Chardonnay, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Pinot Noir, plus boxed Pure White, Pure Red, NSA Pure White, and NSA Pure Red.

• Columbia Valley: Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Spectrum, Malbec, Merlot, Chardonnay, Riesling, Muscat Canelli, Sauvignon Blanc, Rosé
• Reserves: Champoux, Sheridan, Kiona, and Ravenscliff bottlings
• Boxed wine: 3l Chardonnay and 3l Cabernet Sauvignon
• Badger Mountain: Chardonnay, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir; Pure White and Pure Red boxed wines

Bill Powers' legacy is carried forward by the winemaking team and grower partnerships. The team lists Steve Rothwell as Director of Operations and Winemaking, Irving Mendoza as Winemaker, and Lisa Taaffe as National Sales Manager. The Drinks Business reported that Bill Powers received the lifetime achievement award from the Washington grape growers' association and that in 2010 he was inducted into the Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center's Legends of Washington Wine Hall of Fame. The Kennewick tasting room on Badger Mountain is now closed to the public; the office at 1106 North Jurupa St., Kennewick, remains open on weekdays, with online order pickups on Wednesdays.

• Steve Rothwell: Director of Operations and Winemaking
• Irving Mendoza: Winemaker
• Bill Powers: lifetime achievement award from the Washington grape growers' association; 2010 Legends of Washington Wine Hall of Fame (The Drinks Business)
• Tasting room closed to the public; office open weekdays, online order pickups Wednesdays

Primary sources (producer's own sites): https://powerswinery.com/, https://powerswinery.com/about/, https://powerswinery.com/history/, https://powerswinery.com/vineyards/, https://powerswinery.com/trade/, https://powerswinery.com/contact-us/, https://badgermtnvineyard.com/, https://badgermtnvineyard.com/about-us/, https://badgermtnvineyard.com/sustainability-organic-practices/, https://badgermtnvineyard.com/trade/. Secondary sources: The Drinks Business (25 September 2014), Decanter (review tasted 05 Sep 2022). Where the producer's site and a secondary source disagree, the producer's site governs. Last verified 2026-10-12