In sailing, to “keep a weather eye” means staying alert to the smallest shifts in wind, clouds, and water. It’s about focus, awareness, and respect for nature. The name WeatherEye reflects the Myhrvold family’s sailing roots and our philosophy of farming: to observe closely, respond thoughtfully, and work in harmony with our environment. We watch the vineyard as carefully as a sailor watches the horizon—attentive to changes in climate, soil, and the health of the surrounding flora. This steady vigilance guides us to grow wines of precision and enduring character.

Perched atop the windswept ridgelines of Red Mountain in Washington State’s Columbia Valley AVA, WeatherEye Vineyard is a bold and meticulously crafted viticultural project. Conceived by longtime Washington wine advocate Cameron Myhrvold, the vision began in 2004 with the acquisition of an initial 120-acre parcel and has since expanded into a contiguous 440-acre property, with just under 40 acres currently under vine. The first plantings were established in 2016 under the expert guidance of vineyard manager Ryan Johnson, with acclaimed winemaker Louis Skinner leading the cellar work.

Above the Floodline: A Singular Site

Most of Red Mountain’s vineyards rest on sedimentary soils left behind by cataclysmic Ice Age floods. WeatherEye’s upper ridges, however, sit above the high-water mark. Here, the landscape is carved from fractured basalt, dune sands, and rugged slopes once deemed too harsh for vines. What was once considered inhospitable has become a source of extraordinary character, where roots grip stone and wind-scoured soils yield fruit of remarkable intensity and elegance.

Harnessing Red Mountain’s Five Pillars

Every vineyard on Red Mountain benefits from its legendary terroir—but WeatherEye amplifies these advantages in ways only its hilltop position can.

• Soil: Unlike the deeper, flood-carved valley soils below, WeatherEye’s ridgelines reveal basalt bedrock and sandy loess, creating a mosaic that demands precision. Seventy micro-blocks have been mapped to match vines with their perfect soil expression.
• Slope: WeatherEye maximizes Red Mountain’s iconic southwest exposure across extreme gradients. Head-trained vines cling to steep hillsides, soaking in the long sunlight that drives the famed tannin ripeness of Red Mountain fruit.
• Precipitation: With only 5–7 inches of annual rainfall, WeatherEye practices low-intervention, precisely managed irrigation. Its rugged, well-drained soils and elevated air flow reduce disease pressure even further, enabling purer fruit expression.
• Wind: Nowhere are Red Mountain’s relentless southwest winds more powerful than along WeatherEye’s crest. These gusts keep clusters small, concentrate flavors, and maintain freshness. Cool northern air drainage in autumn protects against frost, extending hang time.
• Temperature: The site’s high elevation sharpens the region’s already dramatic day-to-night temperature swings. Warm days build richness, while cool nights—tempered by the Yakima River below—lock in acidity and structure. The result: wines of balance and precision that define a new benchmark for Red Mountain.

A Bold Viticultural Vision: The Pursuit of Terroir-Driven Perfection

WeatherEye is planted to nearly 40 acres of Rhône, Bordeaux, and Spanish varieties, organized into 70 meticulously designed micro-blocks. Each block is tailored to the site’s striking diversity of soils, slopes, and exposures, utilizing varied vine densities and training methods. About two-thirds of the vineyard is head-trained, with traditional Rhône techniques like single-stake (en echalas) and bush vine architectures playing a key role.

Vine density varies dramatically—from 300 to over 4,000 plants per acre—with some meter-by-meter plantings rivaling the most intense viticultural efforts seen in Europe. Stretching from 950 to 1,430 feet in elevation, the site features extreme gradients and a soil mosaic that ranges from loose dune sand to fractured basalt bedrock.

Once considered too rugged for grape growing, the vineyard’s harsh conditions—including constant wind, rocky soils, and steep slopes—have been transformed into assets. The team embraced high-density plantings, low intervention farming methods and unconventional trellising systems to extend hang times, enhancing freshness, structure, and non-fruit character in the resulting wines. WeatherEye also prioritizes biodiversity, preserving native grasses and vegetation throughout the site to maintain ecological balance and soil health.

Wines and Accolades

WeatherEye focuses on small-lot single-varietal estate wines, offered through limited allocation with three releases per year. Its companion label, Hillfighter, is available year-round and showcases the art of blending, encouraging creative expression and telling a different story with each vintage.

The wines have earned widespread acclaim. In 2022, WeatherEye was named Northwest Winery of the Year, and its 2019 vintage garnered some of the highest scores ever awarded to Washington wines. Critics consistently praise the wines for their precision, intensity, and elegance, placing WeatherEye at the forefront of a new era for Red Mountain and Washington viticulture.

A New Benchmark for Washington Wine

WeatherEye Vineyards is redefining what’s possible in Washington State winegrowing. Through an unwavering commitment to site expression, innovation, and craftsmanship, WeatherEye has transformed a rugged mountain ridge into one of the most compelling vineyard sites in the Pacific Northwest—and arguably, in the United States.