The region also includes Washington’s oldest Cabernet Sauvignon vines, Otis Vineyard, planted in 1957, and Harrison Hill Vineyard, planted in 1963. We didn’t come from deep pockets, so to be where we are now is incredible.”įind out more about our yearly contest and our past winners.As the first recognized wine-growing region in the Pacific Northwest, Yakima Valley is centrally located within Washington’s vast Columbia Valley. “I never thought I would be where I am today. To do that, we need to find a new location and distribution into some large markets.”īen sees a bright future ahead, but he has kept himself grounded by recognizing where they started. We want to offer a wide array of products that allows veterans to get their hands dirty and work in multiple ways. “Our vision is to produce multiple products and use our site for more than just winemaking. “We would like to employ more veterans as we grow,” Ben said. They plan to put the grant money to use right away with a larger campaign to expand their location and hire more veterans. The owners' experience rallying votes in the FedEx Small Business Grant Contest helped them see that Dauntless Wine has a loyal following. “I don’t want to lose that relationship because that’s what makes our wine great.” “I’ve heard from people that it tastes smooth and has great flavor depth,” he said, pointing out they have a personal relationship with every tank and barrel. I like being the underdog, and I have no problem putting our wine up against some of the biggest names in Oregon.”īen attributes the positive feedback their wine receives to the time he personally spends in the cellar. “I also want to strive for excellence in everything that I’m doing. “I’m a competitive person, and I don’t want to lose no matter what,” he said. They do as much direct-to-consumer selling as possible, and Ben has had to primarily distribute by himself. Right now, Dauntless Wine is carried in a few local wine shops in Bend, Oregon, but breaking into the distribution world has been an uphill climb. We are at a point where we would like to bottle the wine at our own facility with our own equipment, but we want to maintain a boutique level of quality and not lose sight of who we are.” “Our two-to three-year goal is to hit 5,000-case production and eventually max out at 10,000 cases. Hard work and attention to detail are the biggest skills that help me stay motivated on a daily basis.”Ģ018 was the first year they surpassed 1,000-case production. Don’t be afraid to take calculated risks. Don’t be scared of diving into the unknown. “We have a small and scrappy team with a large vision that resonates with a lot of people.” Ben said the name of their company says it all. “I learned how to be flexible and make things work, no matter what it takes,” he said. They walked away with eight tons, allowing them to start making their own wine.īen credits his work ethic to his time in the military where mantras like “adapt and overcome” and “do it better for less” were engrained into his daily habits. The following year, they received help from a family member with a vineyard who told the team they could pick as many grapes as they could handle. The organization provided Ben and the team with their initial grant to bottle their first vintage wine, purchased from another winemaker. In their first year, they partnered with nonprofit Farmer Veteran Coalition, which helps veterans become farmers. “The long-term goal is still to own a vineyard for veterans to come and decompress in an agricultural setting,” said Ben. Instead, they decided to start a winery, trading grapes for access to the needed equipment to launch their brand. Ben enrolled in a wine studies program with the goal of growing grapes and owning a vineyard, but they soon found that vineyards come with a high upfront cost. “Veterans know how to work long hours and have experience focusing on the details, both skills needed to become a good farmer.”īen shared the concept with his friends and fellow veterans Ryan Mills and Paul Warmbier, who loved the idea and became co-founders. “There is a need for farming and a need to find steady employment opportunities for veterans, so the ideas went hand-in-hand for us,” Ben said. The company was founded by three Iraq war combat veterans who felt that they could do more for their fellow veterans. Dauntless Wine Company aims to serve the veteran community through charitable contributions and helping veterans transition after their service with a unique professional alternative.
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