Two Vintners

Two Vintners traces its roots to 2007, when Morgan Lee, already working as the first employee of Covington Cellars, launched a sister brand with Covington founders David and Cindy Lawson. Lee had joined Covington in 2007 after relocating to Washington, where he had fallen in love with the Pacific Northwest during a family trip at age 17. Born in Michigan and raised in Indiana, Lee had no winemaking degree. His education came entirely through hands-on work, starting with a harvest internship at Columbia Crest. Because Covington Cellars focused on Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese, Lee saw an opportunity to explore his passion for Merlot and Syrah under a separate label. The three partners named it Two Vintners, and the brand debuted with the 2007 vintage featuring three wines: Syrah, Merlot, and a Cabernet Sauvignon-Syrah blend.

• Founded 2007 as a sister brand to Covington Cellars, launched by Morgan Lee with David and Cindy Lawson
• Lee had no formal winemaking education; learned through a harvest internship at Columbia Crest and hands-on work
• Covington Cellars focused on Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese, so Two Vintners was created to explore Merlot and Syrah
• First vintage (2007) comprised three wines: Syrah, Merlot, and a Cabernet Sauvignon-Syrah blend

Morgan Lee is the head winemaker and driving force behind Two Vintners. His approach emphasizes vineyard relationships and transparency of fruit over heavy-handed cellar work. Lee was named Seattle Magazine's Winemaker to Watch in 2016, and his wines have earned consistent critical praise from both domestic and international press. His 2013 Some Days Are Stones Syrah from the Rocks District of Walla Walla was named Red Wine of the Year by Seattle Magazine, and his 2015 Columbia Valley Syrah also won that honor. Lee has won Seattle Magazine's best Syrah under $25 category three years running, demonstrating his commitment to quality at accessible price points. He also produces wines under the Covington Cellars and City Limits labels.

• Named Seattle Magazine's Winemaker to Watch in 2016
• Won Red Wine of the Year for the 2013 Some Days Are Stones Syrah and the 2015 Columbia Valley Syrah
• Won best Syrah under $25 at Seattle Magazine's Washington Wine Awards three consecutive years
• Also makes wine under the Covington Cellars and City Limits labels

Two Vintners does not own estate vineyards, instead relying on long-standing grower relationships across Washington's Columbia Valley. Boushey Vineyard and Olsen Vineyard, both in the Yakima Valley, have been core sources since the winery's earliest days. Dick Boushey's vineyard is especially important for Grenache and Grenache Blanc, while Olsen provides fruit for multiple bottlings. In the Rocks District of Walla Walla, the winery sources from Stoney Vine and Stones Speak vineyards for its single-AVA Syrah program. Additional vineyard partners include Pepper Bridge, Dineen, Discovery, Konnowac, StoneTree (the source of the winery's Zinfandel since 2008), May's Discovery, Pollard, Summit View, Weather Eye (Red Mountain Grenache Blanc), and Monette's Vineyard in the Rocks District for Grenache.

• Boushey and Olsen vineyards in the Yakima Valley are the two longest-standing and most important sources
• Rocks District fruit from Stoney Vine and Stones Speak vineyards feeds the Some Days Are Stones Syrah
• StoneTree Vineyard has supplied Zinfandel fruit since 2008
• Weather Eye Vineyard on Red Mountain provides single-vineyard Grenache Blanc
• Additional sources span Horse Heaven Hills, Wahluke Slope, and multiple Walla Walla Valley sites

The Two Vintners portfolio has grown substantially from its original three-wine debut. The Columbia Valley Syrah remains the flagship, a multi-vineyard blend drawing from sites across the Yakima Valley, Walla Walla Valley, Wahluke Slope, and Horse Heaven Hills that has achieved 15 consecutive vintages of 90+ scores. Legit is a Bordeaux-style blend sourced from top Columbia Valley vineyards. Some Days Are Stones is a single-AVA Rocks District Syrah from Stoney Vine and Stones Speak vineyards, known for its earthy, meaty, and spiced character. Make Haste is a Cinsault from Olsen Vineyard in the Yakima Valley, originally conceived as a fun holiday release around November and December. The Grenache Blanc, sourced primarily from Boushey Vineyard, is credited by Lee as the wine that raised his profile more than any other bottling. The lineup also includes Merlot, Grenache, Zinfandel from StoneTree Vineyard, Das Riesling, Have a Nice Day Rose, and a single-vineyard Grenache Blanc from Weather Eye Vineyard on Red Mountain.

• Columbia Valley Syrah: the flagship, with 15 consecutive vintages of 90+ scores and two Top 100 placements
• Legit: Bordeaux-style blend from premier Columbia Valley vineyard sites
• Some Days Are Stones: Rocks District Syrah from Stoney Vine and Stones Speak vineyards
• Make Haste: Cinsault from Olsen Vineyard, a small-production holiday release
• Grenache Blanc from Boushey Vineyard, plus a single-vineyard Weather Eye bottling from Red Mountain
• Additional wines include Merlot, Grenache, Zinfandel, Das Riesling, and Have a Nice Day Rose

Two Vintners operates a tasting room in Woodinville's Warehouse District, a hub for Washington wine producers who make their wines from Eastern Washington fruit but maintain consumer-facing spaces closer to Seattle. The space at 18570 142nd Ave NE functions as both a wine bar and an event venue. The tasting room experience is designed to be relaxed and accessible, reflecting the winery's philosophy that great wine should not be pretentious. Two Vintners is a member of the Rising Wines Collective, a group of independent Washington wineries, and sources fruit from vineyards in the Rocks District of Milton-Freewater, connecting them to one of Washington and Oregon's most distinctive terroirs.

• Located in Woodinville's Warehouse District, approximately 30 minutes northeast of downtown Seattle
• Operates as both a tasting room and event space
• Member of the Rising Wines Collective, a group of independent Washington wine producers
• Listed as a Rocks District producer, sourcing from vineyards in this acclaimed Walla Walla sub-AVA