Keith Kenison, 14 Hands Winemaker

14 Hands winemaker Keith Kenison has been making wines in Washington state for over 15 years. His interest in winemaking brought him to Washington, and in 1992 he joined the Ste. Michelle Wine Estates facility in Grandview as a cellar worker. There, he had the opportunity to learn and observe firsthand the art of winemaking. In 1997, Keith moved to Columbia Crest Winery, and was promoted first as a quality assurance technician, and then to an enologist. His talents were quickly recognized, and he was promoted to assistant winemaker in 2002. In addition to working on the Columbia Crest portfolio, Keith "took the reins" of 14 Hands starting with the 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot — these wines were the first releases of the program.

Born and raised in a small farming community in Oregon, Keith attended Eastern Oregon University and graduated in 1990 with a degree in Psychology. Now, he laughingly uses this education to keep himself sane during the long hours of harvest.

Continually walking the vineyards and tasting fruit, Keith hand crafts soft reds and fresh, crisp whites that capture the essence of the Horse Heaven Hills.'I take a practical approach to winemaking and let the fruit express itself,' Keith says. "I guide it to its final destination with as few manipulations as possible, making every decision by taste because, ultimately, that's what matters to the person buying a bottle. I love making a style of wine that I enjoy and experience "