Hal Iverson is the Winemaker for Tenor Wines, under the Avallé portfolio, in the Columbia Valley AVA in Washington State. He’s been crafting the Tenor wines, along with Matthews, since 2021. His path began with a harvest job in his twenties that revealed the perfect blend of science, art, and sensory discovery. Before joining Avallé, he spent more than a decade at Quilceda Creek, rising to Assistant Winemaker and honing his craft with world-class Bordeaux varietals.
Hal’s style balances rigor with curiosity, drawing on both formal training and hands-on experimentation with Burgundy and Rhône varieties. He sees each vintage as a reflection of time, place, and people — wines made with care and meant to be shared. A Washington State University alum, Hal lives in Snohomish with his wife and three kids, where they run a certified organic U-pick blueberry farm. Media Inquiries: Jennifer Scott jennifer@pressed-pr.com | https://tenorwines.com/
What’s the ONE THING most unique, authentic, & memorable about your brand?
The most unique and authentic aspect of Tenor lies in its unwavering focus on the singular expression, a journey we’ve deepened and refined since our arrival in 2021. For years, Tenor has been a soloist in the truest sense, dedicated solely to 100% varietal wines – from an elegant Chardonnay to spicy Syrah or bold Cabernet, each a pure, unblended narrative.
When Alex Stewart and I took the reins at Matthews and Tenor in 2021, we saw not just an established brand, but an open palette and a blank slate. We embraced this opportunity to evolve, introducing exciting new varietals like Columbia Valley Pinot Noir while thoughtfully streamlining others that didn’t quite resonate with our vision, such as Malbec.
Now, starting with our 2022 vintage, we’ve guided Tenor to its next logical progression: single vineyard expressions. We craft wines that tell specific, unadulterated stories of individual vineyards, distinct vintages, and remarkable varietals from our phenomenal growing region. These are big, ripe, luxurious wines that humbly, yet powerfully, convey their narrative through our artistic perspective. It’s about letting that one voice, that one place, truly sing.
Describe how and what you’d do with your winemaking career or winery business if you were not constrained.
If unconstrained, my winemaking journey would be one of pure innovation and exploration. At Tenor, we’re already fortunate to work with world-class fruit and enjoy the creative freedom to pursue excellence. My dream would be to expand our experimental fermentation program with amphorae, concrete eggs, and other unique vessels, while exploring emerging varietals like Rhône whites, Albariño, and Portuguese reds that challenge expectations of the Columbia Valley.
The ultimate vision? A “dream fruit trade” — exchanging Washington’s best fruit for small lots from legendary vineyards around the world. It would create a global dialogue through wine, uniting diverse terroirs and philosophies in a shared spirit of curiosity and discovery.
What is the One Wine most emblematic of your brand and/or winemaking style? Tell us its story.
The 2022 La Reyna Blanca Vineyard Chardonnay is the wine that best embodies Tenor’s style. It was the first wine to assert the power of individual vineyard expression over blends, defining Tenor’s commitment to a “singular” narrative.
Our Chardonnays are texturally rich, layered, and balanced by the bright acidity of the Columbia Valley. Each barrel is treated individually, using six yeast strains, full malolactic fermentation, and 21 months on the lees, then bottled unfined and unfiltered to preserve every nuance. The 2022 La Reyna Blanca achieved a perfect 100-point score from JebDunnuck.com — the first white wine in Washington State to do so — exemplifying Tenor’s philosophy of place-driven, meticulously crafted wine. Read about another Chardonnay – the Solaksen – from Tenor Wines.
Bonus Question: What’s the one thing people would be surprised to learn about you?
I own a small Blueberry U-pick farm in the town where I live, Snohomish, Washington. It is certified organic, and the bushes are over 70 years old! I love spending my free time pruning, weed whacking, and mowing the bog. And the wine lover in me can’t help but explore what the concept of “Terroir” might look like in such old, heritage blueberry bushes.