Member Biography:

Tim Hightower
Hightower Cellars

With his wife, Kelly, Tim Hightower operates Hightower Cellars, a Red Mountain vineyard they have owned since 2002. In April 2004, the Hightowers began planting 10 acres primarily with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with smaller portions of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec, leaving the remaining 3 acres for their home and retrofitted winery.
The couple began producing wine in 1997 in Woodinville a year after they met. But for both, the move from urban professionals to grape growing and wine making had commenced many years before.

Tim’s curiousity in the wine industry was piqued when he was given a bottle of Chateau Lafite as a high school graduation gift. It was to be opened upon his graduation from the University of Washington. His interest broadened during two semesters spent abroad in Paris and studying at University of Puget Sound's Law School. His fascination coalesced at a 'meeting of the minds' of the Washington Wine industry.

Tim was practicing alcoholic beverage law at the time, and was attending the meeting as a consultant to the Washington Wine Institute. He decided that although the meeting was noteworthy, he much preferred the perspective of the winery owner than that of an attorney. He convinced Associated Vintners (at that time owners of Columbia Winery) that they needed in-house counsel. In addition to Tim's talents with contracts, it was discovered that he had a remarkable palate. Associated Vintners chose him to blend the wine for a product that eventually grew to be their largest and most successful brand.