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Spanning just 4,000 coveted acres of land, Red Mountain is Washington State’s smallest winegrowing appellation. It is also its most renowned. With ideal soils, a perfect sloping southwestern exposure, and a dry desert climate with 40+˚ temperature swings between day and night, Red Mountain has done more than establish itself as one of the finest regions in Washington for growing Cabernet Sauvignon; it has rapidly earned a reputation for producing some of the most compelling and distinctive Cabernet Sauvignons in the world. In 2012, building on its 35-year history of making globally acclaimed Cabernet Sauvignons, the Duckhorn Portfolio came to the mountain to make Canvasback Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. The wineries of the Duckhorn Portfolio are built on the idea that certain varieties find their best expression in specific regions. Cabernet Sauvignon grown on the rugged slopes of Red Mountain is one of these special combinations. To create wines that are as complex as they are captivating, Canvasback follows the model established decades ago by Duckhorn Vineyards, combining grapes from top growers with fruit from Canvasback’s own Longwinds Estate vineyard. While the Canvasback team began their work on Red Mountain by establishing great relationships with the growers who farm some of the appellation’s most esteemed vineyards (including Klipsun, La Coye, Shaw and Quintessence), in 2013, Canvasback put down roots when it acquired a 20-acre unplanted vineyard site. Located near the top of the mountain, the site was widely recognized as the most coveted uncultivated site of the mountain. Guided by Washington winegrowing legend and Canvasback vineyard manager Dick Boushey, and founding winemaker Brian Rudin, Canvasback planted its Longwinds Vineyard in 2014. Today, in both the vineyard and winery, Brian embraces the challenge of making a richly compelling wine that shows the complexity and structure of great Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. “Red Mountain is one of the best places on earth to grow Cabernet,” says Brian. “The desert environment, with its long days, cold nights and mineral-rich soils, produces epic Cabernet Sauvignons.” Additionally, because Red Mountain receives only about 6 inches of rain a year, the viticulture can be finely tuned, contributing to the intense, uncommon character of the wines. “As a Washington winemaker,” adds Brian, “planting a vineyard from scratch, in what is widely recognized as the grand-cru portion of Red Mountain, was a dream come true. In the years to come, I know establishing our Longwinds Vineyard will be one of the proudest accomplishments of my career.” In spring of 2019, Canvasback opened a dedicated tasting room in Walla Walla to showcase our expanded portfolio of Washington wines. Designed to embody the rustic elegance and frontier spirit of the region, the tasting room offers an idyllic setting for indoor and outdoor seated tastings. The opening coincides with the launch of the Canvasback Wine Club. The name Canvasback was chosen in keeping with the Duckhorn Portfolio’s waterfowl tradition. The Canvasback duck is native to the Pacific Flyway, with breeding grounds in Washington State.