Gard Vintners and Smasne Cellars
Josh and Lisa Lawrence are grape growers and managing partners of Gard Vintners. I had the opportunity to meet them as they poured wine for the late arrivers at their exciting new Woodinville tasting room last Saturday night.
Josh’s family has been farming the Royal Slope near Royal City for over 40 years. The wine they make is from their own estate grown vineyards.
With over 65 acres planted in wine grapes and with expert Scandinavian farmers tending the vines you know their wines have got to be great! Here are the wine varietals they plant:
Currently in production: Riesling (clone 2 and 9), Syrah (Joseph Phelps, Sara Lee, and Tablas Creek clones), and Cabernet Sauvignon (clone 2 and 6) . Coming into production: Pinot Gris (clone 9 and WA clone), Roussanne (Tablas Creek clone), and Riesling (clone 12). Farther out in production: Grenache (Tablas Creek clone), Viognier (WA clone) and Cabernet Sauvignon (clone 6)
OK.. great grapes are only part of the wine equation. Their winemaker is Robert Smasne of Smasne Cellars and acclaimed winemaker for a number of other notable area wines.
You will love this combo Gard/Smasne tasting room! From Smasne’s fun artist drawn Farm Boy labels with wine to match to Gard’s highly acclaimed 2006 Dry Riesling and expertly crafted Gard label wines there is something for everybody.
Don’t miss their Grand opening May 16th! ……along with the much anticipated premier pouring of Smasne Cellars-Carmenere.
NOTEWORTHY:
Gård 2006 Dry Riesling Selected as “100 Best Wines of the Northwest” by Seattle Metropolitan Magazine
Tasting Room Location and Hours
Woodinville Warehouse District
19495 144th Ave. NE, Suite B240
Woodinville, WA 98072
Fridays: 1-6 PM
Saturdays & Sundays: 12-6 PM
Thanks for stopping by, Maureen. It was great to meet you! Hope our paths cross again soon.
Lisa,
It was really nice to meet both you and Josh. I enjoyed your wine very much and appreciate the fact that you…grow the grapes! I am looking forward to the grand opening. I gave the 6 pack of Farm Boys to some clients of mine today. They were so excited to receive the wine. They are moving to Nashville, Tennessee in a couple of weeks. I’m encouraging them that before they leave to go to your tasting room and a few others to expand their Washington wine experience. I think you guys will have fans in Nashville soon;-)
oooh, and one more thing – Lisa. The Carmenere that I told you about was from Merry Cellars in Pullman http://merrycellars.com/.
My husband and I met your parents at the Holiday Inn Express in Pullman for many post- basketball game wine tastings last year. Your wines are wonderful! Since meeting them, I have taken a job as Executive Director of Columbia River Wine Country, an association comprised mainly of Wenatchee and East Wenatchee Wineries. We do many great wine-tasting events, and we are broadening our scope of wineries to include more of North Central Washington. I would be interested in talking to you about the possibility of joining our association so that you can participate in these events also. Cheers, and Go Cougs!