Semillon
⏳ Drinking Window
2021 - 2024
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
seared scallops, roasted chicken, creamy pasta dishes
✨ Technical Specifications
While Washington's Red Mountain is world-renowned for its powerful, sun-drenched red wines, winemaker Charlie Hoppes of Fidelitas has long championed the potential of white Bordeaux varieties in the Columbia Valley. The Fidelitas Semillon is a brilliant showcase of this dedication, offering a beautifully textured, rich, and complex white wine that stands out in a region dominated by reds. Sourced from select older-vine plantings in the region, this Semillon is crafted using a combination of stainless steel and neutral French oak fermentation. This thoughtful approach preserves the grape's bright, natural acidity and vibrant citrus notes while coaxing out the signature waxy, viscous mouthfeel and subtle fig and melon undertones that make aged Semillon so legendary. It represents a sophisticated nod to the classic dry whites of Graves, reimagined through the lens of Washington State's unique terroir.
🍾 About the Producer
Fidélitas was founded in 2000 by veteran Washington winemaker Charlie Hoppes, formerly the head red winemaker at Chateau Ste. Michelle. Joined by his son Will Hoppes, the winery embodies an unyielding dedication to Bordeaux grape varieties cultivated exclusively within Washington State's prestigious Red Mountain AVA. Situated on warm, southwest-facing slopes, the region's intense sunlight, fierce winds, poor gravelly loam soils, and profound diurnal temperature fluctuations foster thick-skinned berries with formidable concentration and natural acidity. The estate vineyard, first planted in 2008 and farmed sustainably with Sustainable WA certification, is complemented by premier fruit partnerships with iconic sites such as Ciel du Cheval and Quintessence. Winemaking employs micro-lot fermentations in oak and neutral barrels, yielding structured, deeply expressive wines. The estate's benchmark portfolio is anchored by the flagship Optu Red and Optu White blends, vineyard-designated Cabernet Sauvignons, and varietal Malbecs.
🍇 Grapes
Semillon