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Timeline - The History of Isenhower Cellars |
| 1997 |
Brett Isenhower (already a pharmacist from Purdue University) graduates from University of Colorado with a MBA in Entrepreneurship and catches the “wine bug”. He talks his wife Denise, also a pharmacist, into moving to Washington to start a winery. |
| 1998 |
The Isenhower’s move to Walla Walla in April. “Walla Walla is the prettiest town in Eastern Washington”. Both obtain pharmacist jobs and Brett works at a couple wineries on his days off. |
| 1999 |
 Denise and Brett crush 17 tons of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Syrah at Glen Fiona while still working as full time pharmacists. “It was like diving head first into shallow water”. |
| 2001 |
First release of Isenhower Cellars wines, on September 1. We crush grapes at a neighbor winery and purchases 5.7 acres on Pranger Road to build their winery. |
| 2002 |
 We build Isenhower Cellars and crush at our own winery. |
| 2003 |
Our first daughter is born. |
| 2004 |
First winter freeze in Walla Walla since 1996. Isenhower Cellars crushes 75 tons and sells wine in 18 states and British Columbia. |
| 2006 |
 Our second daughter is born and we start to pull back from distributing wine as family needs prevents extensive sales trips. |
| 2007 |
 Fed up with the bottling truck’s changing schedules, Isenhower Cellars purchases a bottling line. The line is nicked named the “Maserati” (they are both Italian, finicky, and equally expensive). |
| 2008 |
 Our third daughter is born. Following Brett’s dream, we plant 2 acres of Malbec on the winery property. Early fall frost damages the vines. |
| 2009 |
 The Great Recession forces us to make a big decision: grow the winery or once again be a “Mom and Pop” winery. We go small by cutting production by 50%. We cut ties with most of our distributors and open a Tasting Room in Woodinville, Washington on October 16. Doubling down, we plant another two acres of Malbec. An early freeze damages the vines again. |
| 2010 |
 A Thanksgiving sub-zero Fahrenheit freeze damages buds throughout Walla Walla. Denise Isenhower begins her winery government compliance business. |
| 2011 |
First Reserve wine release featuring art work by the Isenhower Children.
Estate Vineyard too damaged to harvest grapes this year. All red wines fermented with wild yeasts. |
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2012
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First harvest from our estate vineyard, the Indie Vineyard. Release of the 2010 Yakima Valley Wild Alfalfa Syrah that was fermented with wild yeasts. All red wines and rose were feremented with wild yeasts.
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