H3 Red Blend
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed within 3–7 years of vintage release.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Grilled ribeye steak, roasted lamb chops, hearty beef stew
✨ wine.spec_sheet
The H3 Red Blend from Columbia Crest celebrates the rugged beauty and unique viticultural heritage of the Horse Heaven Hills AVA in Washington State. The 'H3' moniker pays homage to this distinctive terroir, where wild horses historically roamed the windswept ridges. Defined by intense solar radiation, well-draining sandy loam soils, and powerful winds sweeping through the Columbia River Gorge, the region coaxes concentrated flavors and thick skins from the grapes. The winemaking approach focuses on preserving this vibrant fruit character, utilizing temperature-controlled fermentation and aging in a combination of French and American oak barrels to deliver a velvety, approachable, and structurally balanced red blend.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Established in 1983 in Paterson, Washington, along the banks of the Columbia River, Columbia Crest is one of the Pacific Northwest's most significant and celebrated wineries. Owned by Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, the winery operates a state-of-the-art facility in the Columbia Valley, combining modern gravity-flow techniques with traditional oak barrel aging. Columbia Crest is renowned for delivering exceptional quality and value, showcasing the region's unique terroir through its Grand Estates, H3, and Two Vines series. Their signature expressions include robust Cabernet Sauvignon, velvety Merlot, and the prestigious Walter Clore Private Reserve, which honors the pioneer of Washington viticulture. This dedication to craft has cemented their reputation as a benchmark producer of Washington State wine on the global stage.