Denise Isenhower, GENERAL MANAGER
Denise grew up in rural Fairland, Indiana in a farming family. Denise earned her Bachelor’s of Pharmacy degree from Butler University in 1993. Brett and Denise were married in 1995. Denise agreed to Brett’s winemaking dream but said they had to stay in the Western USA. Together they moved to Walla Walla, Washington in 1998. Denise enjoys hiking, gardening, and reading.
The Isenhower’s have three daughters, a Red Labrador Retriever, and two felines.
Brett Isenhower, Winemaker
Brett grew up in rural Lebanon, Indiana. He earned a Bachelor’s of Pharmacy from Purdue University in 1992. Brett and Denise were married in 1995 and moved to Boulder, Colorado. Brett earned his Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Colorado in 1997. Corporate health care was unsatisfying to Brett so they moved to Walla Walla, Washington in 1998 and pursued Brett’s winemaking dream. Brett enjoys cycling, working out, and reading.
History
Isenhower Cellars was founded in 1999 by Denise and Brett Isenhower and was the 18th winery in Walla Walla. Denise is the General Manager and Brett is the Winemaker. Brett researched every state in the Western USA and chose Washington because of the wide-open, entrepreneurial nature of the wine business. They started Isenhower Cellars in the prettiest town in Eastern Washington, Walla Walla. Isenhower Cellars is one of the few medium sized Washington wineries that is 100% husband and wife owned and operated.
The Isenhower's built their winery in 2002 and opened the Woodinville tasting room in 2009. Currently Isenhower Cellars produces 7,500 cases a year.
Minimalist WINEMAKING
Minimalist Winemaking is a philosophy of only light intervention in the natural process of winemaking. This style of winemaking produces wines with a lightness of touch and a depth of character. Every bottle is age worthy, fresh, and interesting.
Our grapes are primarily picked by hand. However, we are experimenting with a Pellenc mechanical harvester at a couple vineyards. At harvest we seek to emphasize bright acidity, tension, and a lower extraction of tannins through lower fermentation temperatures and addition of whole clusters into the fermentation vessel.
VINEYARDS
We have long-term acre contracts with the following vineyards:
- Columbia Valley – Dionysus Vineyard (Petit Verdot)
- Horse Heaven Hills – Champoux Vineyard (Malbec), Wallula Vineyard (Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Mourvèdre), Phinney Hill (Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec)
- Walla Walla - Blue Mountain Vineyard (Sangiovese, Viognier), Francisca’s Vineyard (Viognier), Seven Hills Vineyard (Sangiovese)
- Yakima Valley- Dineen Vineyard (Cabernet Franc, Viognier), Lonesome Springs (Barbera), Olsen Ranch (Syrah, Viognier), Tudor Vineyard (Pinot Gris, Viognier, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah), RKP (Sangiovese, Merlot, Mourvèdre), Konnowac Vineyards (Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese).
- Oregon – Le Cadeau Vineyard (Pinot Noir)
- Red Mountain – Shaw Vineyards (Cabernet Sauvignon)
- Wahluke Slope – Weinbau Vineyard (Cabernet Sauvignon)
Unifying these vineyards are experienced grape growers farming high elevation vineyard sites with either old vines or new experimental vine clones.
https://www.isenhowercellars.com/about.html
