A Visit to Domaine Magdalena
Walking the estate at Domaine Magdalena feels more like approaching a Loire Valley château than a property in the Red Mountain AVA of Washington State. Maggie and Christophe Hedges began the winery in 2004 just after they were married, choosing to forgo a honeymoon and instead allocating that money to buying land and planting a vineyard. The vineyard has been Certified Biodynamic since 2011, which was as much about keeping their family safe as it was about caring for the health of the ecosystem, since they also live on the property. The structure is influenced in part by Christophe’s French background. The tasting room is a descent into a warmly-lit bunker that reads French wine cave or intimate speakeasy. With just one wine, a single varietal Cabernet Sauvignon, they’ve been able to take the time to truly perfect it. A raw and wild interpretation of Cabernet Sauvignon that remains light on its feet, it’s a departure from its Washington State peers, as acknowledged by Hedges in the choice of Burgundy bottles over the traditional Bordeaux bottle.