Ridgefield vineyard wins gold medals in Seattle Wine Awards

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Ridgefield vineyard and winery, Stavalaura, received multiple gold medals in the 2021 Washington State Wine Awards.

Joe and Beverly Leadingham planted their first grapevines to assist their daughter Laura’s high school horticulture project in 2003. The project then turned into a successful business for the family.

“When she got to high school and had to dissect a frog, she just could not do it and took up horticulture instead,” Beverly Leadingham said. “My husband flew for Delta (Airlines) and his co-pilot, Bob Morris, who owned Phelps Creek Vineyard in Hood River, said ‘I got some baby pinot plants. Why don’t you come to Hood River and grab some?’”

The family used the plants for the project and the rest was history. Once the vines were fully grown, Joe Leadingham wanted to grow the grapes professionally, so he took a two year viticulture course and then a two-year enology course through Washington State University. The instructors told him that “everybody’s going pinot,” pointing him to winemaker Tom Thornton at Cloud Mountain Farm Center in Everson, Washington. Thornton told Joe Leadingham to plant the Zweigelt-Rebe grape which is native to Austria, and the Golubok grape from Ukraine and southern Russia, in addition to the pinot. While typical red grapes have clear flesh, Beverly Leadingham says the Golubok and Zweigelt-Rebe have deep-colored flesh. 

When trying the Golubok wine, Beverly Leadingham said it was unlike any she had previously tasted. She noted it goes well with steaks and cheese. The choice of Golubok and Zweigelt wines work in the family’s favor, because the climate of Washington is similar to their Russian, Ukrainian and Austrian native roots, Beverly Leadingham said. They also ripen earlier than the pinot, so they don’t need as many hot and dry days.

Although she was intimidated at first, Beverly Leadingham is glad they took the risk to open the vineyard.



“I was scared to death that it all worked out, because I was a teacher by trade and he was a pilot, so we had no business experience,” she said.

This year, Stavalaura was named part of the “Fabulous Four” during the Washington State Wine Awards, alongside three other wineries and winemakers who were recognized as 2021’s state champions.

“I couldn’t believe it at first. I thought it was a joke,” Beverly Leadingham said. “I was thinking, ‘this can’t be. We’re such babies in the winemaking business.’”

Stavalaura received one gold award for the Golubok with 93 points, double gold medals for the Pinot Noir with 94 points, and double gold for the Zweigelt-Rebe with 94 points.

Because of the increase in recognition, she added the vineyard could use more help, as her husband does much of the work as he fixes farming equipment, makes the wine, and handles the plants.

The winery tasting room is open from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Anyone interested in ordering a bottle can call 360-887-1476. Stavalaura is located at 29503 NW 41st Ave. in Ridgefield.