Gordon Brothers Family Vineyards
In 1980, Jeff and Vicki Gordon, along with Jeff's brother Bill, decided to plant wine grapes on a sagebrush-covered slope overlooking the Snake River in southeastern Washington's Columbia Valley. At that time there were only 19 wineries in Washington and less than 5,000 acres of wine grapes in production (today, there are more than 475 wineries and 30,000+ acres of vineyards in the state). In 1985, Gordon Brothers released their first small lot of Chardonnay produced (139 cases) from their estate vines. Since then, the winery has grown in both production and world acclaim.
Gordon Brothers is a leader in the Washington winemaking boom. Crafting wines from an exceptional piece of land, the Gordon Brothers portfolio of estate wines has grown to include Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Late Harvest Gewürztraminer, Syrah, and their highly acclaimed flagship red blend, "Tradition."
In addition to founding Gordon Brothers, Jeff was the first president of the Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers. He was also instrumental in the development of Washington State University's viticulture and enology program. Jeff now serves as past chairman of the Washington Wine Commission. In 2001, Jeff and Vicki's daughter and son-in-law, Katie and Marc Nelson (both WSU graduates), joined the family business. Katie manages marketing and brand development while Marc is learning the craft of managing the vineyards.
Recent Acclaim
Decanter magazine
2002 Syrah - Best Syrah in North America
Wine Spectator Magazine
90 points - 2003 Merlot
CEO Magazine
2002 Syrah & 2003 Chardonnay, "Best in Washington State"
Gordon Brothers Family Vineyards
Pasco, WA
Established 1983
25,000 cases
Jeff and Vicki Gordon, Marc and Katie Nelson
Wine-By-Cougars wine club has previously showcased Gordon Brothers Family Vineyards. WSU alumni, friends, and wine aficionados alike can enjoy hand-crafted superb wine delivered to your doorstep.
Did you know?
The viticulture and enology option for a bachelor's of science degree in horticulture from WSU is the first program of its kind in the Pacific Northwest. Find out more about WSU's viticulture and enology program.