A true titan in the world of wine, Allen led Chateau Ste. Michelle and its affiliate wineries for 20 years as they developed into international brands with sales of more than 7 million cases a year.  He followed that success by founding Long Shadows Vintners which was named Food & Wine Magazine’s Winery of the Year, along with countless other awards, including regular recognition as one of the nation’s best tasting rooms.

He also founded the heralded Benches vineyard in Wallula Gap at Horse Heaven Hills, which, for nearly 20 years, has supplied fruit to many of the top wineries in the state, including Quilceda Creek, Long Shadows, JM, Passing Time, and many others.

Allen’s consistent goal was to elevate Washington wine to world-class status. His passion for V75 was to establish one of the very best vineyards in not just the State of Washington, but in the world. We are proud to be delivering on Allen’s vision.

In 1881, William Imrie arrived in the Pacific Northwest from Scotland by way of Canada.  Upon meeting and marrying a local beauty, Miss Arvilla Beeks, the couple homesteaded some of the first land parcels in Goodnoe Hills that, today, make up the 10,000-acre 101 Bar Ranch. 

The next generation of Imries, Wilford and Margaret, continued to farm and expand the ranch while experiencing a real estate boom in the early 1900s when many small parcels were sold for orchard and vineyard plots. This boom occurred because Goodnoe Hill’s Sicilian-like terroir was perfect for tree fruit, nuts, and grapes. Some of the apricot and walnut trees are still standing today.

Today, the fourth generation (Kenneth McKee, Peggy Callan and Michelle McKee), fifth generation (Ellie Robinson, Katelin Rosenkranz, Taylor Callan, Zachary Callan and Alex McKee) and even the sixth generation of Imrie grandchildren (Jackson Rosenkranz, Audrey Rosenkranz, Adeline Rozenkranz, Theodore Robinson, Grady Robinson, Beaux Phillips, Max Phillips, Knox Phillips and Marianna Callan) are proud to honor their ancestors as we unveil our new winery brand:  Imrie Cellars.

A retired WSU Cooperative Extension Field Professor, Howard served Klickitat County from 1960 through 1974. The son of a Montana State College (now MSU) research professor, he grew up on an agricultural experiment station near Havre, Montana. Howard spent his professional life working on questions of how to improve orchard, farming and ranching practices. As the Klickitat County Cooperative Extension Agent, Howard was on Dr. Walter Clore’s (the acknowledged Father of Washington Wine) initial Washington State University research team in the mid-1960s, charged with setting up vineyard test plots to answer the question of whether the Columbia River Gorge could produce high quality wine grapes.

Over the next several decades, this region became known worldwide for its wine grapes and Washington State is now the second largest grower of wine grapes in the US.

Still active in his mid-90s, Howard can be found at the V75 Vineyard harvesting grapes with his adult children that include Ralph Willson who is the V75 COO, his grandchildren, great-grandchildren and now his great-great-grandchildren! And yes, Howard can still tell you the original varietals planted in those 1960s test plots.