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Red Mountain , Washington
Go Tell It On the Mountain , Red Mountain
BY ERIC COOK ocated at the far southern / eastern end of Washington ’ s Yakima Valley , the
Red Mountain American Viticultural Area ( AVA ) makes an austere vision of desert — sand , sagebrush , and clear , hot summer days . And rattlesnakes . The Red Mountain American Viticultural Area was officially recognized in 2001 and it remains Washington State ’ s smallest recognized wine grape region . Cam Myhrvold and Ryan Johnson ’ s WeatherEye Vineyard takes up less than 100th of the region ’ s AVA .
Ryan Johnson did not begin professional life as a farmer and vineyard designer , but his experience on Red Mountain , coupled with a remarkable business partner in Cam Myhrvold , has put him firmly in the driver ’ s seat of one of Washington ’ s most creative and impactful wine undertakings . Ryan said he began a career in ophthalmology — then his ready sense of humor kicks in and he quips , “ But I just couldn ’ t see myself doing that anymore .”
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