Meet Robert Goodfriend

Robert Goodfriend spent years as a professional chef, restaurateur and world traveler before entering the career he says was meant for him:  winemaking.

He is a real cool dude and everyone digs him.  Those shades were once worn by Jerry Garcia.  No lie.  Oakland Colliseum, December 30, 1971.  

The Detroit-born Goodfriend grew up in a family where cooking was an art and dinner was always an event. Although wine was always part of the meal, Goodfriend said it wasn't until he spent a few years in Europe, then ran two successful restaurants in Santa Fe, New Mexico and Paso Robles, CA, that he discovered his destiny.

"While running the restaurants, I learned much more about wine," said the 45-year-old winemaker. "One day I woke up with 30 employees and I wasn't cooking anymore, just managing people. It wasn't fun. It was then I realized that the only part about the job I loved was working with winemakers, and learning more about wine." ~ R. Goodfriend

In 2007, Robert purchased 14 acres on Naches Heights, just west of Wilridge Vineyard.  Robert has planted three white varieties on the property to date -- including one of Washington's first plantings of the Austrian grape Gruner Veltliner.  But everyone keeps asking if Robert will be the first to plant Pinot Noir on Naches Heights.  For the moment, he is keeping quiet.

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