Reininger Winery

Prior to making high-quality wines in the Walla Walla Valley, Chuck Reininger could be found high atop mountains as a senior climbing guide for a Tacoma based company.  When Chuck met and married Tracy Tucker, a Walla Walla native, he hung up his ice axe and moved to the valley to begin a new chapter in his life.  Prior to moving to Walla Walla, Chuck helped long-time friends with crush at Waterbrook winery.  He began experimenting with home winemaking in 1993 and officially caught the “wine bug.”  His weekend hobby quickly turned into a dream to produce super-premium wines of his own: “I became obsessed with starting my own winery,” he admits.  In 1997, Chuck and Tracy Reininger launched their dream – owning a premiere winery in the Walla Walla Valley. In 1999, the Reiningers, along with several partners, purchased 280 acres at the west end of the Walla Walla Valley with fine southern exposure and panoramic views which they christened Ash Hollow Vineyard. The vineyard receives 6-8 inches of rainfall per year. To date, they have planted 39 acres of certified cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and syrah vines with cuttings from the renowned Red Mountain appellation. Reininger Winery will begin to feature wines made from Ash Hollow Vineyard in their 2001 vintage.