Zero One Vintners was co-founded by Gordy Hill and Kristin Vogele. Hill serves as winemaker. Zero One’s name has two meanings – the first is for the binary system, the second is for a “first step.” The winery is run out of Redmond, although the wine itself is made in Mattawa.

Zero One Vintners focuses on producing two wines – a Cabernet Sauvignon (sampled here) and a Riesling. The Cabernet is called “The Wild Sky” after the Washington wilderness area that was recently approved (a portion of all sales of this wine go to Leave No Trace, a non-profit organization dedicated to outdoor stewardship). The 2006 Wild Sky Cabernet is one hundred percent varietal from Walla Walla’s Spofford Station Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley. The 2008 ‘Golden Delicious’ Riesling is made in an off-dry style with fruit from Gamache Brothers Vineyard.

While these two initial releases totaled a little over 600 cases, the winery plans to expand this number to several thousand cases in the coming years.

Zero One Vintners The Wild Sky Cabernet Sauvignon WWV 2006 $30
Rating: * (Excellent) Some really fun earth aromas along with dark cherry and bramble berries. A hedonistic wine that is rich and opulent on the palate with lots and lots of chocolate. Spofford Station, Walla Walla Valley. 14.25% alcohol. 388 cases produced.

Wine sampled at The Local Vine‘s Celebration of Washington Winemakers