Echolands Winery is expanding in Washington state this summer. First founded in 2018 by two Kansas City wine experts, Doug Frost, a master of wine and master sommelier, and conservationist Brad Bergman, the co-venture is set to open a new winemaking facility in Mill Creek, a high-elevation area within Walla Walla.
Biodiversity and sustainability remain top priorities for Echolands, and Frost and Bergman plan to continue proven sustainability initiatives first practiced at their Taggart Vineyard, such as preserving acreage for biodiversity growth and a living biome, which included owl boxes, beehives, and native plants. The high rainfall also allows for dry farming without irrigation.
Bergman and Frost knew Mill Creek was special from the beginning. “The southeast exposure of the property is perfectly situated with sweeping views of the Blue Mountains and rolling wheat fields. It reminds me of Tuscany meets the Sound of Music,” Bergman says. And as with everything from this pair, the taste is sure to match.