Union Gap Vineyard
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 5–15 years from the vintage release.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
roasted lamb chops, grilled ribeye steak, braised beef short ribs
✨ wine.spec_sheet
The Union Gap Vineyard Red Blend is a premier estate bottling from Owen Roe, sourced from their dramatically steep, south-facing estate vineyard in the Yakima Valley. Situated where the Yakima River cuts through the basalt ridges of the Rattlesnake Hills, this unique geological formation—the Union Gap—creates a natural wind funnel that moderates temperatures. The soil is a rugged mix of fractured basalt and cobblestones, forcing the vines to struggle and yield concentrated, mineral-driven fruit. This proprietary red blend typically marries the structure of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc with the plushness of Merlot and a touch of Syrah, all aged in French oak barrels. The resulting wine is celebrated for its complex layers of dark fruit, savory herbs, distinctive stony minerality, and refined, age-worthy tannins.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Established in 1999 by winemaker David O'Reilly and co-founder Jerry Owen, Owen Roe is a highly acclaimed Pacific Northwest winery dedicated to producing exceptional, terroir-driven wines from Washington and Oregon. Named after the historic 17th-century Irish patriot Owen Roe O'Neill, the winery operates its estate vineyard and production facility at 309 Shipley Rd, Granger, WA 98932, United States, in the heart of the Yakima Valley, while sourcing fruit from legendary sites like DuBrul, Red Willow, and Seven Hills. Owen Roe's winemaking philosophy centers on minimal intervention, utilizing small-batch fermentations and meticulous French oak aging to craft expressive, structurally complex wines. They are particularly celebrated for their bold, single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons, northern Rhône-style Syrahs like Ex Umbris, and creative blends such as Sinister Hand and Abbot's Table. More information can be found on their official website at https://www.owenroe.com.