ABOUT US
THE PEOPLE, THE LABELS, THE TASTING ROOM
ALSO SEE
THE PEOPLE
KERRY SHIELS
Kerry is the winemaker for Côte Bonneville. She began making wine in middle and high school in a series of science projects. After earning her engineering degree from Northwestern University in Chicago, she worked in Torino, Italy in Fiat's management development program. She was then transferred to Case New Holland (CNH) world headquarters in Chicago before deciding to enter the world of wine.
Kerry received her master's degree in Viticulture and Enology from UC Davis, and then assumed the winemaker title in August 2009. She has been immersed in DuBrul Vineyard and Côte Bonneville since the inception, but especially since 2005, when she left engineering.
Kerry gained experience in Napa, California, Argentina, and Australia. She has worked in all aspects of winemaking at Joseph Phelps Vineyards, Folio Fine Wine Partners, Robert Mondavi Winery, Tahbilk, and Tapiz, before returning to Côte Bonneville full time.
HUGH SHIELS
Hugh has been dubbed the Vineyard Master. He and Kathy Shiels purchased the property for the vineyard in 1991, and they tore out the original apple orchard that winter. Their goal was to improve the vineyard every year, and they have continued to keep this pace decades later.
Hugh and Kathy settled in Sunnyside after Hugh completed his orthopedic surgery training in Memphis. He continues to practice orthopedics part-time, but primarily works with the variables that winegrowing presents each year.
KATHY SHIELS
The foundation of our enterprise, Kathy planted the DuBrul Vineyard with Hugh in 1992. After realizing the unique nature of DuBrul, Kathy determined to establish Côte Bonneville when their last child went to college. Now, her mission is to showcase the spectacular fruit of the vineyard in world-class wines.
Kathy and Hugh settled in Sunnyside after Hugh completed his orthopedic residency. Kathy practiced physical therapy, raised three beautiful children on the family farm, and now wears many hats at the winery, vineyard, and medical practice.
THE LABELS
Côte Bonneville
When's Hugh's great grandfather Napoleon DuBrul built Côte Bonneville, the Carriage House was in place. This stout structure was then converted into a chapel, in which Hugh and Kathy were married. Now beautifully restored, it links our family's generations.
Each different label depicts a unique aspect of the Côte Bonneville estate. Click through the images to see the inspiration for the bottles.
THE TASTING ROOM
THE TRAIN STATION
The Grandview Train Depot was inaugurated in 1911, on a line that connected Yakima to Walla Walla. In addition to being a transportation center, the depot hosted many social gatherings.
The line remained a vital part of the community until 1943, after which time it was abandoned. However, the building is rich with the stories of the life and times of this past era.
In 1982, the Shiels saved the building from destruction by moving it to its current location. From 1982 to 2014, it served as the private orthopedic practice of Dr. Shiels. Finally, in 2015, it was converted to our tasting room. In 2016, the depot was remodeled to modernize the space while maintaining the historic character of the building.
