Renowned veteran winemaker Brian Carter announced today the launch of his winery and the first five premium releases under the new Brian Carter Cellars label. The winery will be the first in Washington to focus exclusively on an array of hand-crafted European-style blended wines.
The winery will release four red blends consisting of two Bordeaux-style blends, a Rhône blend, a Super Tuscan blend and a white wine blend. The wines are showcased by noted artist Stephen Black’s label artistry created specifically to reflect the nuances of each wine. The collection includes the 2002 Tuttorosso, 2000 Solesce, 2002 L’Etalon, 2004 Oriana, and the 2002 Byzance. The wines are to be released in mid-March. In addition, Brian Carter Cellars will produce a second label red table wine to be released later this year.
“I am excited about making European-style blended wines,” said Brian. “Under the Brian Carter label, I will be able to concentrate on my passion for wines of complexity while showcasing the terroir of Washington. With our plans to open a winery in Woodinville, I can share with visitors the art and essence of making and blending great wines.”
Brian Carter is one of Washington State’s premier winemakers. Starting in 1988 Brian contributed to the success of Washington Hills, Apex Cellars, and Bridgman wines. As winemaker and business partner, the Washington Hill brands gained industry accolades. He was also key in the development of many wineries and wine brands in Washington including Paul Thomas, Hedges Cellars, Silver Lake Winery, McCrea Cellars, and Kestrel Vineyards. Among his many accomplishments, he is the only three-time recipient of the Pacific Northwest Enological Society’s Grand Prize, as well as the prestigious Thomas Jefferson Cup (“Best Wine” of 350 invitees to the Thomas Jefferson Wine and Food Classic) for the 2000 Apex Cellars Syrah. He has been winemaker and vice president of Washington Hills Cellars, which produces Bridgman and Apex wines for the past twelve years.
In the most recent issue of his industry newsletter (Vintage Experiences, Volume X, Issue 42) highlighting the best winemakers in the United States, wine columnist and author Dan Berger said, “Brian’s stylish, elegant, and perfectly balanced wines are reliable and excellent values.”
Dan McCarthy, of Seattle’s McCarthy and Schiering Wine Merchants, stated, “It is difficult to name a Washington winemaker who has contributed to winemaking on the level of Brian Carter. The 2002 Tuttorosso is one of the best American Super Tuscan-style reds I have ever tasted. He takes the concept of blending Sangiovese and Cabernet in Washington to a completely new level. It is becoming clear that blended wines made here will clearly outdistance those made of single grape varietals.”
About Stephen Black and label creation: Stephen Black, principal of Studio Black, studied Art, Language and Literature at the Université de Toulouse au Mirail in Toulouse, France and Art and Design at the New School of Visual Concepts. Stephen created the artwork for the Brian Carter Collection and the overall branding of the winery. The labels’ artistic styles reflect the nuances of blending and the winemaking passion of Brian Carter.
About Brian Carter Cellars, A Passion For the Art of Blending: Organized as a boutique artisan winery in the spring of 2005 as Carter-Stevens, LLC. Brian Carter (Winemaker) and Mike Stevens (General Manager) operate the winery. The winery will focus on European-style blends. Carter will produce five core blended wines to include two Bordeaux blends, a Rhône blend, a Super Tuscan blend and a white blend. A second label red table wine will follow. Brian Carter Cellars will produce a limited number of approximately 7000 cases annually. Plans include a retail facility in Woodinville. Brian Carter has produced limited amounts of wines under the Brian Carter Solesce Bordeaux Blend since the 1997 vintage.
