After growing grapes for other winemakers in the Yakima Valley for more than a decade, David Minick realized a long-time dream of producing his own wine with the opening of Willow Crest Winery in 1995. Minick oversees the family vineyard estate, with 185 acres of grapes, most of which are sold to other winemakers.
But Minick now retains a small amount of his annual harvest to craft nearly 3,000 cases of premium wines at his state-of-the-art winery facility, set in a prime section of the vineyard, over looking the Yakima Valley.

Focusing on Pinot Gris and Syrah, David uses estate grown fruit that he personally plants, cultivates, and harvests to produce Willow Crest's premium wines. By having control from "vine to wine," he can monitor crop load, canopy size, sun exposure, as well as the balance of fruit and sugar at harvest time.

This copious attention to the grapes results in exceptionally bold Syrah and crisp Pinot Gris wines that have caught the attention of international wine judges and critics. Says David with understandable pride, "Our last three vintages of Syrah have all won medals - several golds for the 1999 and 2000 vintages, and a Best of Show in each vintage." David also produces Mourvedre, Cabernet Franc, Syrah Port, and assorted late harvest and sparkling wines.

As Dave's involvement in wines has grown in size over the years, he began producing a second label called "Piety Flats". As the Winemaker, Dave explains that the Piety Flats wines are made in different styles than the Willow Crest label, but still carry the same elegance, quality and value that Willow Crest has been known for. Visit their website and be sure to stop at Piety Flats Winery on your next visit to the Yakima Valley. The winery is housed in a turn of the century Mercantile Store where you can enjoy the feel of yesteryear while tasting premium Piety Flats wines.