Our Story
a bold
VISION
When Marchese Piero Antinori traveled the world decades ago from Tuscany, seeking the ideal site for future plantings, he knew that it would be a journey of more than miles. It would take time. It would take trust. And it would demand exceptional attention to every detail.
Col Solare was established in the Red Mountain AVA, with the first vintage in 1995, upon a belief in bold, patient, and innovative winemaking techniques that few in the world have mastered. Many years later, we enjoy the fruits of a continuation of Italian tradition and an emblem of Red Mountain, the shining hill nestled deep in the heart of Washington’s wine country.
Our region’s unique growing conditions, characterized by the celebrated intensity of Red Mountain grapes, make it possible to grow the necessary caliber of fruit year after year. Every bottle of Col Solare expresses the bold vision of Marchese Antinori. Every sip transcends borders, crosses generations, and brings countless years of expertise into focus.
Place
red mountain
EXPRESSED
Known for its Cabernet Sauvignon and comprised of 4,040 acres (about 2,043 acres of which is currently planted with wine grapes), Red Mountain is named for the red-hued native grass that grows on its slopes.
The tiny Red Mountain appellation is the warmest in Washington state, producing grapes with ripe fruit character, great aromatics, and full tannins. The combination of heat, nutrient-poor soils, low rainfall and cool night temperatures leads to concentrated fruit and wines with amazing structure, power, and elegance – just the qualities we look for in creating every vintage of Col Solare.
Col Solare’s estate vineyard on Red Mountain was designed according to the same specifications that the Antinori family uses in its own estate vineyards in Tuscany and Umbria.
Col Solare joins winemaking philosophies from two regions to reflect Washington terroir with the style of Tuscany.
Winemaking
the art of
WINEMAKING
In the cellar, the team, led by head winemaker Stephanie Cohen, pays special attention to each aspect of the fermentation process to guide the grapes into becoming a wine of the impeccable quality and style they seek for each bottle. The unique flexibility of Col Solare’s cellar affords the winemaking team complete control in all aspects of the winemaking process.
STEPHANIE COHEN,
winemaker
Stephanie joined the team at Col Solare in May of 2020, following a year-long stint as Enologist at Columbia Crest. She was promoted to Winemaker in June of 2022, upon the retirement of Darel Allwine. Working with premium grapes from Red Mountain was a major draw for her.
“I love the intimate relationship with the vineyard that the estate property provides. The intense focus on quality, from the vineyard to the bottle, that comes with small production is unparalleled.”