Thane Hawkins of Hawkins Cellars
November 2022
Thane Hawkins discovered his love for wine while biking in the Napa Valley on his days off from work. He was a pioneer in the field of animation, working on films such as Shrek, Ants, and Monsters Inc. Long days in the dark staring at a computer screen led him to ask for a leave of absence to pursue outdoor activities in the Pacific Northwest. One of those activities was helping out with winegrowing in the Willamette Valley where he fell in love with Pinot Noir and the vigneron lifestyle. He eventually studied winemaking, became an assistant winemaker, and started the Hawkins Cellars label in the Willamette Valley in 2007. In 2009, he met Deb Michelson who owned some property on Underwood Mt. on the Washington side of the Gorge. The area was perfect for the outdoor activities they both loved to pursue, and for the cool climate grape varieties they liked. Thane planted a vineyard on the property in 2013, and in 2017 they moved their tasting room to Underwood Mt.
Hawkins Cellars is a destination winery with a spacious rental unit, stunning views of Mt. Hood, and many nearby outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, wind surfing, white water rafting, canoeing, and more. The wines are outstanding and diverse, as Thane makes both cool climate wines with Underwood Mt. fruit, as well as Rhone style wines from much warmer Yakima Valley vineyards. He is partial to low alcohol, higher acid wines that are food friendly, and has been influenced in his winemaking by such European wine regions as Chablis, Bandol, and Alsace. For example, his Caldera red is a Rhone style blend dominated by Mourvèdre, the main grape in Bandol. The Tru North Hawkins white blend reminds one of Alsace, with its delightful combination of Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris. Learn about these wines and much more from a winemaker who says, “Every wine I make has a story and a sense of place.”
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