Ep 114

Can grapes truly thrive in a place shaped by fire, wind and water? These winemakers say yes and they have the wine to prove it!

In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Rachel Horn and Anaïs Mehra of AniChe Cellars, a mother-daughter winemaking team based in Washington’s Columbia Gorge. We dive into what it’s like to build a winery from scratch, make wine as a family, and care for the land in a way that supports future generations.

We explore what makes Columbia Gorge such a magical (and wildly diverse) place to grow grapes, why they believe in working with the elements, not against them, and how they’re navigating the real challenges wildfires smoke and unpredictability.

You’ll also hear how Rachel and Anaïs are moving away from conventional farming in favor of more regenerative, nature-driven practices and why sustainability isn’t just a trend in their vineyard, it’s a long-term legacy plan.

AniCHe Cellars was established in 2009 championing red and white blends from Washington State. Now this second generation winemaking family in the Columbia Gorge, are producing estate white and sparkling wines, and estate reds, too! This winery is always women-made, "Renewing the tradition of women making wine" and they focus on low intervention, vintage driven wines.

So, if you’re curious about what makes the Columbia Gorge so special and want a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges and heart behind every bottle then this episode is for you!

Thank you to Wine.com for sponsoring this episode. Go to Wine.com/corkfizz and use code CORKFIZZ for FREE shipping on your order over $150. (Limit one per customer.)

Connect with AniChe Cellars

https://www.instagram.com/anichecellars/

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Episode Highlights:

• The story behind AniChe Cellars
• Anaïs Mera’s path into winemaking
• What to know about the Columbia Gorge wine region
• What makes Columbia Gorge one of the most unique AVAs
• How smoke taint affects wine and why it’s so complex
• Transitioning away from conventional vineyard practices
• The practicality of sustainability winemaking
• The emotional and financial impact of losing a vintage

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