DuBrul Vineyard

Spectacular Site

Experienced Team

Unique Flavors

Vineyard Customers

Experienced Team

Hugh Shiels has been dubbed the Vineyard Master. Hugh and Kathy Shiels planted the DuBrul Vineyard in 1992. They purchased the property in 1991 then tore out the original apple orchard that winter. Their focus is to improve the vineyard every year, nurturing this spectacular site.

Hugh and Kathy settled in Sunnyside after Hugh completed his Orthopedic Surgery training in Memphis. They raised three beautiful children on their farm in Sunnyside. Hugh continues to practice orthopedics part-time.

Hugh works with vineyard manager Larry Dolan and the crew as they deal with the variables that winegrowing presents each year. In addition to his involvement in orthopedics and the DuBrul Vineyard, Hugh is intimately involved in the cellar work of Côte Bonneville. He loves to cycle.

Larry Dolan has managed our vineyard from the beginning, learning the nuances of a very difficult site. He is now able to micro-adjust water, nutrition, canopy management, and pest control within individual blocks. He served as a U.S. Air Force pilot after graduation from Eastern Washington University.

Rick Hamman is our viticultural consultant for the DuBrul Vineyard.  He is the director of viticulture for Hogue Ranches and Mercer Estate Winery, and he serves as a commissioner on the Washington State Commission on Pesticide Registration.  Rick arrived in Washington in 1999, brought by Wade Wolfe to lead the viticulture team at Hogue Cellars.  Prior to that, he was the first viticulture specialist for Colorado State University who guided the developing Colorado wine industry for over a decade.  Rick worked in Cornell University’s Long Island research lab as a viticulture extension specialist, spent four years in the Peace Corps in Guatemala, and earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in horticulture from Colorado State University.

Wade Wolfe laid out our vineyard initially, and then monitored our struggles through the early drought years. His directives proved accurate, enabling vine placement to bring forth the best aspects of our site. Wade is currently focused on the expansion of his family winery, Thurston Wolfe. He served as past president of the Yakima Valley appellation group Wine Yakima Valley. Wade earned B.S. and Ph.D. degrees from U.C. Davis.

Stan Clarke directed the development of our DuBrul Vineyard from 1996 until his untimely death in November 2007. At the time of his death Stan was the Viticulture Coordinator at the Walla Walla Institute of Enology and Viticulture. During his 30 years in the Washington wine industry, Stan had performed every job imaginable, including viticulturist, winemaker, winery general manager, wine competition judge, and wine writer. After graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy, he earned a second Baccalaureate degree from U.C. Davis in viticulture, then a Master’s degree in teaching from Washington State University.

Stan’s legacy is that of a truly great educator though one would not surmise so when first meeting him. This high energy man had no ego, usually wore shorts, and had the Grateful Dead playing in the background.

An avid learner, he was a sublime teacher. His students were drawn by his kindness, enthusiasm, depth of knowledge, and remarkable ability to transmit the lessons of each new day.

For 12 years he walked us through the vineyard, sharing his encyclopedic knowledge of Washington vintages. From the beginning he taught sustainable winegrowing. He was able to transform the newest concepts into simple adjustments for the ladies of our vineyard crew.