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A Bold New Chapter

Hiatus Collection

The Hiatus Collection represents a moment of reflection and exploration. After two consecutive winters of extreme cold damaged many of our vineyard blocks, we made the decision to accelerate our long-term replanting plans. It was a difficult choice, but one that allows us to move forward with intention and a renewed commitment to our future.

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A Pause With Purpose

While our young vines take root, we ventured south to explore new growing regions and sourced from exceptional vineyards. Throughout this transition, we remain focused on producing wines that reflect our philosophy of care and precision. The name Hiatus captures this chapter: a pause with purpose.

Before making any decisions, our winemaking team spent countless hours on the ground in Washington and Oregon—walking vineyard rows, tasting broadly, and building relationships. We sought out growers who not only farm with care, but who share our commitment to thoughtful, exacting winemaking.

The Hiatus Collection is the result of this journey. Crafted in the Okanagan, each bottle reflects resilience, dedication and a clear vision for the future, reminding us that every pause can lead to progress.

These wines have honoured where we come from and point to where we’re going. Rooted in resilience, curiosity, and clarity of purpose.
Head Winemaker, Ryan McKibbon

The Region

For the Hiatus Collection, we carefully selected vineyards from some of Washington and Oregon’s most renowned AVAs, each known for its unique terroir and exceptional grape quality. Sourcing from Yakima Valley, Horse Heaven Hills, Walla Walla Valley, and the Chehelem Mountains were chosen for their ideal growing conditions and distinctive flavour profiles. This thoughtful selection allows us to craft wines that are a similar expression to the wines we make on the Black Sage Bench.

Map of growing regions the Hiatus Collection grapes were sourced from.

Chehalem Mountains

In our search for cooler sites to grow Chardonnay—similar to our approach in the Okanagan—we were drawn to Oregon’s Willamette Valley, where Chardonnay is increasingly surpassing Pinot Gris as the region’s premier white grape. Chehalem Mountains, located at the northern end of the valley, features some of its highest elevation vineyards. These cooler sites are naturally suited for both sparkling wine and our restrained, mineral-driven style of Chardonnay. We sourced our fruit from Finnigan Hill Vineyard, situated in the Laurelwood sub-AVA of the Chehalem Mountains, where soil and aspect bring a distinct character. The site is organically farmed by Simon Burr of Mountain Top Vineyard Management. Discover Laurelwood District AVA Wineries.
Horse Heaven Hills

Sitting between the Willamette Valley and Walla Walla, just across the Columbia River, Horse Heaven Hills is among the warmest AVAs in Washington state. While Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot dominate plantings, we were particularly drawn to Tempranillo and Rhône whites such as Roussanne and Viognier. Spanning a large area, the AVA offers broad diversity, and we focus on a higher elevation parcel that helps preserve freshness through the region’s long, warm summers. Our fruit comes from Coyote Canyon Vineyard, managed by the Andrews Family.
The Rocks District

Driving through miles of wheat fields, you wouldn’t expect to find a place that feels straight out of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The vineyards here are scattered with basalt cobblestones that hold and radiate heat well into the night. Known for producing world-class Syrah, the area delivers wines that are deeply meaty, earthy, and full of rugged black fruit. We’ve also been impressed by Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc from this region, both showing intense minerality. All of our fruit was farmed by Earl Brown & Sons, led by Jack Klipfel.
Walla Walla

Although The Rocks District is technically part of Walla Walla, wines from the broader AVA offer a distinct expression. Syrah and Bordeaux varieties continue to shine here. The Syrah leans toward an Okanagan profile, with rich dark fruit, peppery spice, and floral lift. We’re also sourcing Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec from across the AVA—wines that are structured and dense, yet packed with ripe fruit. (shown on the Rocks District Map) All of our fruit was farmed by Earl Brown & Sons, headed by Jack Klipfel.
Yakima Valley

Situated in south-central Washington, Yakima Valley is a historic sub-appellation of the Columbia Valley, shaped by dramatic natural contrasts. Our Sauvignon Blanc comes from Schmidt Vineyard, located in the heart of the valley. This south-facing slope, just north of Zillah and near the Yakima River, is ideally positioned to soak in heat and sunlight for ripeness, while benefiting from cool nighttime breezes that help preserve acidity—essential for vibrant Sauvignon Blanc.

Discover the Inaugural Release of the 2024 Hiatus Collection

Our Return to the Black Sage Bench

Across the Black Sage Bench, our vineyards are entering a new chapter—one shaped by the realities of a changing climate and the increasing frequency of severe weather events. Recent extremes have led to significant vine loss across the region, prompting a bold and necessary effort to replant and renew affected blocks. In response, we are introducing hardier grape varieties and employing forward-thinking viticultural practices to safeguard the future of our land.

But our commitment extends well beyond replanting. We are embracing a new era of precision agriculture—integrating modern equipment, refined farming methods, and advanced technologies that allow us to monitor these changing climate conditions in real time. These investments reflect more than adaptation; they represent a deep-rooted respect for the legacy of viticulture on the Black Sage Bench not only by us but by our neighbours and generations before us.

Discover the Hiatus collection