Upchurch Vineyard
Upchurch Vineyard frames Benton City wine through site and farming rather than spectacle. Established in 2007, it draws on Chris Upchurch’s long Bordeaux-style focus in Washington, Dick Boushey’s micro-vineyard work, and a newer Candy Mountain planting of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.
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- Address
- 32901 Vineyard View PR NE, Benton City, WA 99320
- Website
- upchurchvineyard.com
- Directions
- Get directions
Approaching Upchurch Vineyard centers what gives Washington wine its seriousness: open land, dry light, and disciplined farming where Bordeaux varieties can show ripeness and structure. Benton City sits near some of the state’s most watched vineyard ground, and the conversation here is less cellar theatrics than what small blocks, exposure, and farming choices make legible in the glass.
Red Mountain methods, Candy Mountain fruit, and a Bordeaux frame
Washington’s premium red-wine identity has long leaned on Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Bordeaux-style blends; the sharper question is how producers translate warm sites without letting scale flatten character. Upchurch Vineyard belongs to that site-led camp. Established in 2007, it reflects more than 30 years of wine experience behind the project, with Chris Upchurch associated with Bordeaux-style wines in Washington.
The farming credentials matter because this category rises or falls in the vineyard. Vineyard manager Dick Boushey, Auction of Washington Wines Grower of the Year in 2009, is tied to a micro-vineyard approach combining Red Mountain terroir, European small-vine methods, and low-impact sustainable farming. In 2022, Upchurch Vineyard added 5 acres of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon on Candy Mountain under vineyard manager Marshall Edwards, showing the estate’s identity is still being written through planted ground, not branding language.
Why the Benton City context matters
Benton City is not a backdrop. In Washington wine, place carries commercial weight because AVA identity, vineyard management, and variety selection often say more than tasting-room copy. The reference to fewer than 100 Masters of Wine worldwide when one was involved in Washington adds credential signal, but the editorial point is stronger: serious producers here compete through viticultural precision first.
Use Upchurch Vineyard as a lens on Benton City’s wine culture, then build the trip around the category rather than one stop. For broader planning, EP Club keeps separate city guides for Benton City wineries, Benton City restaurants, Benton City hotels, Benton City bars, and Benton City experiences.
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