2009 HARVEST
 While Growing wine grapes is not easy, the 2009 seemed to fit into the string of outstanding vintages from both the Columbia and Walla Walla Valley. July was quite hot, but August and September seemed to settle down and Mother Nature offered perfect conditions for slow and even ripening for all wine grapes. Washington is blessed with an average of 17.4 hours of daily sunlight during the growing season. Warm days allow the grapes to ripen fully, while cool nights keep fruit acids high creating rich, flavorful, well balanced wines. Needless to say, in 2009 Five H was once again fortunate to benefit from these ideal conditions. 

The 2009 harvest was a record for both Oregon and Washington vineyards. If we continue having these outstanding vintages to share, it will keep our wine quality high, with good availability. That is a winning combination for “good growth for good grapes” in the future!

2008 Five H Seven Hills Syrah
Harvested in Milton Freewater, Oregon at sun-up on Sept. 21, the fruit for the 2008 Five H Seven Hills Syrah was crushed, stemmed and in fermenting tanks in Eugene, Oregon by the end of the day. As the first winery to bring syrah grapes off the Seven Hill Vineyard property, Five H is committed to making a syrah that has balanced acidity and does not exhibit the high alcohol levels common of high sugar grapes.

The 2008 vintage of the Five H Syrah is, currently, aging in oak puncheon in the cellars. While the wine will see some new oak, we do not want to “mask” the wonderful fruit this wine exhibits. The oak will merely season the wine with subtle hints of complexity that only oak aging can give. The new vintage of Five H Syrah will be interesting in comparison to our 2007 vintage, just another reason to celebrate Five H Syrah.

Five H 2008 Columbia Valley White Riesling
With warm autumn days bringing optimum ripeness to this noble variety, the fruit for the 2008 Five H Columbia Valley White Riesling was harvested on Oct. 30. White Riesling is one of the last grapes to harvest during the season, with vineyard managers paying close attention to acid levels. High acidity allows Five H to use the süssreserve process that created the distinct character and flavor of the 2007 Five H Columbia Valley White Riesling. Fermentation is just now beginning, and it will be early 2009 before we can make the final judgment. Given the quality of the harvest, Five H has good reason to be optimistic.

GRAND CANYON IS “GRAND”!
Five H is proud to have our Heritage included at the historic El Tovar Hotel and Restaurant at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Our friend David Beckerleg, director of food & beverage, has not only been a good customer of our Five H Heritage, but he and his wife Judi are great mentors to the youngest member of the team, Cody Hinman.  David gave Cody the opportunity to work at one of the most spectacular places on earth. This was not only a great experience for Cody, but also his personal experience with Five H wines helped advise El Tovar customers with their wine selections.”

The Grand Canyon is all that it’s hyped up to be, and much more. As we at Five H have said many times “Do yourself a favor, and check it out”. El Tovar has a progressive wine list, and we are privileged to have Five H Heritage included. Please remember if you have the opportunity to see this magnificent site, please tip your glass of Heritage to the Five H clan.


AWARDS
San Francisco International Wine Competition – June 2009
GOLD: Five H 2006 Heritage

Hilton Head South Carolina Wine Competition – February 2009
GOLD: Five H 2006 Columbia Valley White Riesling

The 32nd International Eastern Wine Competition – June 2008
GOLD: Five H 2006 Columbia Valley White Riesling

Wine Press Northwest Magazine –
2008 Platinum Judging: Best of the best in the great Northwest
Double Gold: Five H 2006 Columbia Valley White Riesling

San Francisco International Wine Competition
• SILVER: Five H 2006 Columbia Valley White Riesling
• SILVER: Five H 2006 Columbia Valley White Riesling for label design

International Eastern Wine Competition
• Gold: Five H 2006 Columbia Valley White Riesling

Dallas Morning News
• Featured wine of the week for July 14 – 18 2008