Working out of a humble 60’ by 10’ winery, Chris Camarda launched Andrew Will Winery (named after his son Will and nephew Andrew) with the inaugural 1989 vintage, and he has spent the last three decades producing some of Washington’s most well-respected wines. In 2013, Chris was joined by Will who is now in charge of the winemaking, but the focus has not changed: structured, elegant, and age worthy, the wines reflect a singular voice that has never adjusted to chase scores or suit trends. Although always a focus, Chris’ attention to terroir has only intensified over time. His initial releases were single variety wines, but since 2001 he has focused blends for the single vineyard cuvées, as he feels this expresses the vineyards more clearly than a one-variety bottling. Chris and Will source from four of the best sites in Washington State, all planted to Bordeaux varieties: Champoux Vineyard and Discovery Vineyard in Horse Heaven Hills AVA, Two Blondes in Yakima Valley AVA, and Ciel du Cheval on Red Mountain AVA. The best grapes (regardless of variety) from each of these vineyards are used for the single-vineyard blends, and the remaining gets used for the “Black Label” single-variety wines. The fruit is harvested all by hand and transported by truck and then ferry boat to Vashon Island, just off Seattle, where the winery and cellar are now located. All of the wines are treated more or less the same in the cellar. All fruit is 100% destemmed, fermented with native yeasts in stainless steel tank, and aged in mostly neutral French oak with 25-35% new depending on the vintage and wine. Production is around 4500 cases/year.
2018 Andrew Will Sorella
80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot from Champoux Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. Sorella translates to sister in Italian, and was named after Chris Camarda's late sister Jane Camarda. Sorella has been made from 100% Champoux Vineyard fruit since it's first vintage in 1994, and represents the nature of the vineyard by highlighting the Cabernet Sauvignon, which is considered some of the best in Washington State. Vinified with indigenous yeasts and matured in French oak (35% new/65% neutral) for 22 months. Bottled unfined/unfiltered and minimal so2 added.
