Waterbrook

Waterbrook Winery Image

Walla Walla, WA

Founded in 1984 in the heart of Walla Walla, Washington, Waterbrook is recognized for producing wines that truly exemplify the outstanding vineyard sources in the Columbia Valley. The winemaking philosophy underscores fruit-forward, food-friendly wines at an exceptional value. From vineyard to bottle, every detail of production is completed by a dedicated team led by winemaker John Freeman.

  • Total production capability: 350,000 cases (Waterbrook-currently 75,000)
  • Barrel capacity: 10,000
  • Fermentation tanks: 60 (1,000 – 3,000 gallon)
  • Bottling line: Multi-functional high-speed, 100 bottles/minute

Unique production tools:

  • Cross Flow filtration for more gentle and efficient wine filtration
  • Automated barrel racking station allows for efficient and thorough racking and sanitation
  • Centrifuge equipment to remove solids quickly from wines

Best Practices used to achieve consistent quality:

  • General sanitation practices allow us to maintain the cleanest wineries in Washington
  • World class bottling QC program that standardizes our sanitation, start-up, production standard checks, and shut down procedures

Technology:

  • State-of the art lab that includes equipment that most wineries don’t have (alcoholizer, spectrometer, etc), allowing our winemaking team full in-house diagnostics to react quickly and maximize wine quality
  • Orion Wine Software allows our winemaking team to issue and track work orders efficiently and to ensure that additions, wine movements and blending are error free

Long-term plans to continue improving quality:

  • Continue to develop better and more consistent fruit sourcing
  • Dedication to continued industry research & development

Strengths of the production team:

  • Consistent cellar crew. The average number of years of service in the cellar is 8 years. We also have three employees who have been with Waterbrook for 15 years
  • Talented, experienced winemaking team led by John Freeman