Zach Richardson is the winemaker for 14 Hands Winery, part of the Chateau Ste. Michelle group in WA State. He’s a native of the Tri-Cities in Eastern Washington and grew up knowing that wine was a major part of the community. It took time away from his hometown (and the 300+ days of sunshine) while getting a degree in Earth and Space Sciences from the University of Washington for Zach to realize he wanted to be back home. After working for a Geotechnical Engineering Firm in Bellingham for two years, in 2015 he moved back to the Tri-Cities and spent harvest running analysis on vineyard samples in the Columbia Crest lab. “I found the entire process to be awe-inspiring and I was hooked,” he says. “It was a great experience to be able to touch the grapes as they come in as berries and then test the great wines once they were bottled. Everything that goes into making a bottle of wine opened my eyes to a great industry that has always been in my backyard.”
In early 2016, Zach was asked to join the 14 Hands team as a Lab Technician. Enamored with the winemaking process, Zach enrolled in the WSU Enology program to further his education. In 2021 he joined the 14 Hands winemaking team as an Enologist and has since worked his way to Assistant Winemaker, and eventually Winemaker.
Media Inquiries: katie.jaeger@smwe.com | https://www.14hands.com/
What’s the ONE THING most unique, authentic, & memorable about your brand?
What makes 14 Hands unique is that the wine can be shared and enjoyed by everyone. When making our wines, I am always trying to put a blend together that each of my family members would enjoy at a family dinner. Everyone has different palates and may gravitate to different aspects of wine, but the fun challenge is to craft something that can be universally liked. Not only are they great expressions of Washington state, but the wine is very food friendly and packs a lot of character into each bottle.
Describe how and what you’d do with your winemaking career or winery business if you were not constrained.
This is a great question, as I often think about what the ideal winery set up would look like if I won the Power Ball. I love innovation and I would need to include that in my winery. There has been so much technological advancement in the wine industry that I would really lean into that, trying as many vessel types as I can to craft the best wine possible.
I would also like to add something that allows consumers to see the process of winemaking because I love looking at the entire process from a 10,000-foot level. The appreciation I’ve gained for all wine and winemaking techniques are through the roof after I first saw what it takes to go from bud break to wine glass. This industry is amazing, and I’d love to be able to show people what goes into making the glass of wine they are enjoying.
What is the One Wine most emblematic of your brand and/or winemaking style? Tell us its story.
My first encounter with 14 Hands was coming home from college to visit my parents and seeing the colorful horses on a label of the Hot to Trot Red Blend sitting on their counter. I learned later that the horses represent the wild, untamed spirit of Washington’s Columbia Valley where they used to roam free. I think that message rings true for 14 Hands wine and Hot to Trot in particular, as it’s the original 14 Hands blend that embodies a bold, yet smooth and approachable style. I often think about that day coming home and trying that wine for the first time. My parents were big fans of Hot to Trot and turned me into a fan as well. My goal is to continue to make wine that can be shared and enjoyed by friends and family. It’s all about the 14 Hands “Hot to Trot” for winemaker Zach Richardson!
Bonus Question: Why Winemaking?
It is fun to hear stories from other winemakers about how they got into the industry. I often hear “winemaking chose me, I did not choose winemaking”. That is how my story goes too. I graduated from the University of Washington with an Earth and Space Sciences degree. My first job out of college was for a Geotechnical Engineering firm in Bellingham, Washington. However since I grew up with 300+ days of sun in the Tri-Cities, I started to miss the sun after 6 years living on the west side of Washington. When I decided to move home, I was searching for a career change, and it led me to a temporary lab job at Columbia Crest Winery. I fell in love. It was an industry that was always in my backyard, but I never knew existed. I liked the finished product, but being able to see how everything was made opened my eyes.