For Terry Flanagan,
owner of Ryan Patrick Vineyards, growing grapes and producing wine
was a dream just waiting
to be 
realized. Flanagan grew up working on his father's farm
located near the small rural community of Quincy, Washington. After a
long business
career working at other endeavors out of the country, the appeal of returning
to the farm to grow grapes and make wine became overwhelming. Perhaps
the old saying, "you can take the boy out of the country, but you
can't take the country out of the boy," is true after all.
During his business career, Flanagan worked for a European company where
he was exposed to European wines. A love for fine wines evolved into
a desire to get involve in the industry. As the wine culture in California,
and more recently Washington State, gained momentum, he felt the time
was right.
Flanagan returned to Eastern Washington full-time upon retirement in
1996. He implemented the first phase of his plan by selecting the ideal
location for his family's
future vineyard. "We wanted the best location we could find to assure
the successful growth of top quality grapes. We also needed to minimize
the risk of freeze damage while maintaining the capability to ripen Cabernet
Sauvignon and Merlot grapes," explained Flanagan.
Ryan Patrick Vineyards houses three distinctly separate estate vineyards, each divided into 20-acre parcels. The Bishop's Vineyard was planted in 1996 and is located on a peninsula on the banks of the Columbia River with vertical basalt cliffs rising several hundred feet immediately to the east. The Homestead Vineyard was planted next in 1998 on a portion of the original Flanagan family homestead. The newest vineyard, Vivian's Vineyard, is located near Trinidad on southern slopes overlooking the Columbia Gorge.
Ryan Patrick Vineyards provide grapes for several well-known wineries
as well as being the primary source for Ryan Patrick wines.
Ryan Patrick Vineyards produce two wines, a Chardonnay and a Red Blend. Each wine reflects the terroir of individual vineyards and the meticulous attention paid to each individual plant. The Chardonnay is made from 100% estate grown grapes split evenly between Bishop's Vineyard and Homestead Vineyard. The Red Blend is a traditional Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
"From the beginning, our goal was to produce limited quantities of reserve quality wines," explains Flanagan. "Volume was never a priority." Ryan Patrick vintners select only the most promising grapes from which to produce their wines. This sentiment is carried throughout the entire winemaking process. Traditional winemaking principles are paired with only the finest fruit. The result is wines that are balanced, well integrated and fruit forward. They can be enjoyed immediately or cellared for additional depth and complexity.
Ryan Patrick wines are the embodiment of a dream woven into years of dedication and hard work. Terry Flanagan initiated this "path" but is directly influenced by the support of his family. Vivian, his wife of over thirty years helps coordinate administrative aspects of the business while Flanagan's two sons- Ryan and Patrick, served as the inspiration for the company's name. Both sons work within the wine industry- one as an apprentice cellar master, the other as a Contract Administrator.
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