This is what Washington tastes like
With over 160 90-point scores, our award-winning winemaking team crafts outstanding wine with every vintage, ensuring quality and consistency from crush to bottle.
Meet Our Winemaker
John Freeman
Raised in Napa Valley, California, John Freeman began a lifelong wine career with seven years at Franciscan Vineyards and five years as cellar master at Miner Family. Intrigued by the growth of Washington state, John joined the Waterbrook winemaking team in 2003 and was promoted to lead winemaker in 2005, the second lead winemaker in Waterbrook's history.
From vine to bottle, John carefully manages every step of the winemaking process to ensure overall complexity, balance, and consistent quality. John’s passion is evident with his ever-present smile and optimism, and his winemaking philosophy is simple: Make the best wine possible. To that end, John has been deeply involved in designing and furnishing his “dream winery” since the construction of our new facility in 2008.
With his years of experience and natural talent, John masterfully approaches the unique qualities of each vineyard and vintage to produce highly acclaimed wines year after year.
With his years of experience and natural talent, John masterfully approaches the unique qualities of each vineyard and vintage to produce highly acclaimed wines year after year.
Inside the Winery
In 2008, Waterbrook constructed a brand new winery facility, and in the process, winemaker John Freeman was given the latitude to equip it with the best possible tools of the trade. Every luxury, from cross-flow filtration, a small lot basket press, to open-top fermenters, was afforded for long-term growth and continued high-quality, cellar-worthy wine.
Within the winery is an enviable barrel program. Our winemaker views oak as his “spice rack,” intended to enhance the fruit, but never overpower it. American oak is primarily used for the Columbia Valley tier, where extended time in French oak is the preferred complement to the Reserve tier.
Sustainability
Great wine starts with healthy soil and thriving vines. We're committed to farming practices that protect our land while crafting exceptional wines you can feel good about.
We've dramatically reduced herbicide use by over 90% through innovative cultivation techniques, including eliminating glyphosate entirely from our program. Our goal is 95% herbicide-free farming within the next few years. This approach not only protects the environment but also improves water efficiency—our cultivator flattens natural hills under vines, allowing irrigation to reach roots more effectively while reducing evaporation.
Led by Director of Vineyard Operations Dustin Tobin and Vineyard Manager Brittany Komm, our sustainability program prioritizes the health of our employees, customers, and the earth that provides our foundation. Every decision we make considers the long-term vitality of our 49-acre estate vineyard.
When you taste our estate wines, you're experiencing the result of farming practices designed to nurture both exceptional grapes and the land that grows them for generations to come.
