Historical Overview

In 1968, Thomas A. Alberg, Sr., purchased 235 acres of land now known as Stillwater Creek Vineyard in the Frenchman Hills on the Royal Slope of the Columbia Valley. Though Mr. Alberg and his family long suspected the land would make an excellent vineyard, it wasn’t until the Albergs gathered historical weather data from the property in the late 1990s that the site’s suitability for wine grapes was confirmed.

In 2000, the Alberg family began planting a wide selection of premium vinifera grapes to develop a vineyard known for its quality and unique selection of clones. Mr. Alberg’s son, Tom, served as managing director of the family entity through 2022. His daughter, Katherine Anderson, is now managing director.

The same year planting commenced at Stillwater Creek, Tom and his wife, Judi Beck, also founded Novelty Hill winery. Under the direction of acclaimed winemaker Mike Januik, Novelty Hill focuses on estate-grown wines. The remaining two-thirds of the vineyard’s grapes are sold to other top vintners in Washington State.

The vineyard is centrally located within the boundaries of the Royal Slope AVA, a sub-appellation of the Columbia Valley, designated Washington State’s 15th AVA in September 2020. The growing region is classified as warm but not excessively hot. The area’s climate, elevation, 1,300 feet on average, and steep, south-facing slopes define it.