Chuck and Donna Jackson invited me into their custom-designed home that sits perched atop an acclivity right next door to the winery and overlooking their vineyard. Their tale is one of youthful perseverance in attaining retirement goals — not without ingredients necessary for happiness: overcoming barriers.
At 25 years old, the “ah-ha” moment (as we say in the oenology field) came for Chuck at a dinner with their best friends in 1975 when his buddy cracked a 1969 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. It paired so perfectly with the barbecue they were eating, he said it was ethereal. He promised himself, “I am going to make a wine this good.” At age 28 he made his first vintage and has not missed a year since.
Chuck, already a 47-year home winemaker, admittedly was knee deep in a mid-life crisis when his own estate winery dream sprouted. Upon unveiling the prospect of moving to Yakima (ideal growing climate for myriad varietals), Donna (and their two daughters) ended up teary-eyed over dinner and ultimately proclaimed, “Enjoy making wine with your new wife.”
With any good partnership in the business of living, a compromise was met: It had to be on the west side. So, their adventure began. They scoured the coast from Vancouver to Blaine, settling in 2008 on 6 south-facing acres in prolific Sedro-Woolley, full of fir trees and blackberry bushes. First plantings were in 2011.
In addition to land clearing, their tribulations included creating a new ingress (extending Cully Road to appease the county), and being told at first “no house can be built” to later finding out, thankfully, the property was grandfathered in. Alas, having a tasting room on the property was not in the cards and it was a devastating blow as the special use permit was not viable with its price tag, and our subjects are admirably rule followers.
La Conner tasting room? Therein lay the solution. The first vintage was released despite it all, in 2016.
Currently, they operate the vineyards with multiple annual gatherings for wine club members, and the La Conner tasting room has regular hours for the public to visit, swirl and savor. They have tamed-in the vineyard, from 6 to 3 acres for the sake of a healthy work-life balance.
Under vine they grow pinot noir (four different clones), chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, pinot blanc, and pinot gris.Their red blend, named Railroad Red, is an homage to the railroad that runs next to the vineyard (tasting notes below.) They earned a double Platinum Award in 2017 (the only Washington winner alongside four Oregon winners) and in 2024 earned Seattle Wine Awards Fabulous 4, among other accolades.
Check out their wine club options at skagitcrest.com.
In leaving I asked Chuck if I could quote him, and he said, “We are just a northern extension of Willamette Valley.” This kind of harmonizes with what Larry Harris said in the April column, and I agree, once again.
Skagit Crest Vineyard & Winery 2023 Pinot Blanc — Puget Sound AVA
Tasting notes: Scents of dried hay precede pineapple rind, beeswax and heavy chamomile and the mouth offers Honey Nut Cheerios, Asian pear, citrusy mid-palate with a bright finish of underripe starfruit. Medium-high acidity with an enduring finish.
Pairing suggestions: Butter-seared scallops, cold melon soup, baked ham, mint Milano cookies, roasted balsamic brussels sprouts.
Song pair: “#41” — Dave Matthews Band
Skagit Crest Vineyard & Winery 2023 Estate Bottled Sauvignon Blanc — Puget Sound AVA
Tasting notes: Wisteria, navel orange grove, candied ginger and white peach nectar on the nose. Watermelon heart, pink grapefruit and apricot preserves on the palate with a zippy finish.
Pairing suggestions: Oysters on the half shell, fennel-boiled crab legs, caprese salad, pink vanilla cotton candy, corn on the cob.
Song pair: “It Don’t Mean A Thing” — Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington
Skagit Crest Vineyard & Winery 2021 Estate Bottled Pinot Noir — Puget Sound AVA
Tasting notes: The nose offers rose oil perfume, macerated plums, red licorice and vanilla tobacco. The ensuing flavors of dried Red Delicious apples, pine essence and toasted hazelnuts are followed by a beautiful buttery finish.
Pairing suggestions: Lamb souvlaki, English Breakfast trifle, French onion soup, roasted sunchokes.
Song pair: “Tiny Dancer” by Elton John
Skagit Crest Vineyard & Winery 2022 Railroad Red — cabernet sauvignon, syrah, pinot noir
Tasting notes: Burnt espresso wafts from the rim dancing with eucalyptus, cherry cola, dessicated black fruits and boiling cinnamon stick. A complex palate offers bing cherries, rosemary, black olives and a finish of red plum flesh.
Pairing suggestions: Barbecue smoked pulled pork, trail mix, blueberry scones, havarti cheese
Song pair: “Lux Aeterna” by Clint Mansell, Kronos Quartet
Amberleigh Brownson is the assistant winemaker for GLM Winery in Blaine off of Boblett Street. She is also a 10-year wine judge and four-time Wine Spectator Award of Excellence recipient.
