Our Story
Memaloose is about a land, a family and the love of food.
The Place: Columbia River Gorge
Shaped by cataclysmic floods and relentless winds, the Columbia Gorge appellation is more than a visual treasure. It is a collection of microclimates with rich soils, capable of producing a mind-numbing array of grape varieties — all resulting in well balanced wines, blessed with bright acidity.
The McCormick Family
A Father and Son, supported by other family, all on a quest to uncover the true potential of this young AVA. We farm our five vineyards (McCormick Family Vineyards) and work together through harvest and the winemaking miracle.
The Love of Food
Food and wine are at the center of our family life. Because of our backgrounds, we view wine as an integral part of the food experience — we will only produce wines that complement food…lighter alcohol and oak influence, and always dry. This means that our wine is quite different from the typical Washington State wine.
Tasting Notes >> About Our Wines>>
Our Memaloose Label
The Brand
The name “Memaloose” represents the location of our terroir. It is a sacred Indian island, that lies in the middle (geographically) of our estate vineyards — two on the Oregon side of the Columbia and three on the Washington side.
Our Label Design
The distinctive Memaloose label is based on the exploits of Lewis and Clark, who camped in 1806 on the river bank next to Memaloose island. For the label design permission was granted to us for use of the artwork (including their boat, maps and other drawings) from Lewis and Clarks journals. A quote from the journals also appears, written on April 14 1806 when the Corps of Discovery spent the night and next to the island. Note that the explorers referred to Memaloose as “Sepulcher” and the Klickitat River as “Cataract River.”
History of the Winery
We are a young winery (2006 was our first vintage), and we have much to learn as our vineyards mature and we “get a feel” for the compatibility of the many grapes we have planted , with the range of microclimates in the Gorge. This is a long-term effort of pioneering and discovery. We are determined to discover the best wines that the Columbia Gorge AVA is capable of producing. The AVA is only 5 years old (in 2009), and there is a long road ahead.
Brian McCormick and family came to the Gorge from Sonoma’s Dry Creek Valley in 2001. He had long wanted to plant in the Columbia Gorge — believing that he could best produce his style of wine in this location. Rob McCormick and his wife Barbara joined them in the Gorge shortly thereafter.
Planting commenced in 2002 on both sides of the River, at “Idiot’s Grace” in Mosier, and in Parker’s Vineyard at Mistral Ranch in Lyle. The remaining three vineyards were planted on a rolling schedule over the next few years, with completion of the original plan in 2009.
Memaloose Winery was constructed in a new barn on the Mistral Ranch in Lyle, Washington in 2007 and has been gradually improved ever since. In our first vintage, 2006, there were just 250 cases produced. The 2009 crop should yield around 1200 cases.
Our People
The team behind Memaloose is the McCormick Family plus several dedicated field men. Brian is the Operations Manager, saying grace over all growing and winemaking. Rob is the principle owner, business manager, marketer, Washington vineyardist and cellar rat. Others in the family lend their assorted talents to the operations and provide necessary encouragement!
Brian McCormick
A Dartmouth College philosophy/religion major who fell in love with food and wine, Brian received his Masters in Enology and Viticulture from UC Davis after receiving his science degree from the Philadelphia School of Textiles. His early training included work at Zind Umbrecht in Alsace and extensive vineyard supervisory responsibilities with a contract grower in Dry Creek Valley. He is a very serious amateur chef, baker, etc. With his wife Maria and two children he farms Idiot’s Grace certified organic farm in Mosier, Oregon (cherries, pears and grapes). Among other volunteer activities Brian serves as President of the Mosier Community School board.
Rob McCormick
Rob completed a career in the food industry as an executive with several food manufacturers and as a consultant for the food industry. Much of his later work was in the “value –added” produce business, providing strategic marketing planning and product development for that rapidly developing industry. Rob mistakenly thought he might retire when he moved to the Gorge from Northern California. Instead, he found that the effort to develop a Columbia Gorge wine brand was worthy of more than a part time effort.
His wife, Barbara, is a former chef in California (California Culinary Academy trained). She provides a great deal of inspiration, child care and other critical support for her oldest son, plus her apprenticing farmer, ‘cellar rat” and business manager husband. Her other three children put in cameo appearances in the business at peak times.