Walker River Estates bottles its last vintage

After several years as the only producing vintner in Douglas County, Greg Ross says the Walker River Estates vines will go dormant at the end of January.

“It’s been a milestone for us, but the real take of the biscuit in what we have done here came about four months ago when we went into the Douglas County planning department,” said Ross.

Having spent years as a wine maker and receiving several awards since 1985, Ross was ready to go pro in 2022 and start selling the wine he produces. Those plans changed, after being turned away by the county.

“They told us it would take at least two years and we would have to pony up a little over $14,000 to get the zoning changed,” said Ross. “I put in half a million dollars into this place and that was what broke the horse’s back.”

Ross’ 5-acre parcel is zoned rural agriculture, which permits limited agricultural uses, like growing the grapes, but doesn’t permit processing and storage of the grapes into wine.

Ross said he was never allowed to sell the wine and everything he did came out of his own pocket. A submission for competitions cost him more than $200 and that was just to ship the wine.

“We invested a lot with the expectation that people would be nice and accepting of something like this, but I know that I gave it my best,” he said. “The wall I have behind me is peppered with the best competition awards.”

Five of Ross’ medals are from the U.S. National Amateur Wine Competition, including a gold medal for a 2020 Frontenac Blanc name best in class. Also in 2020 he received gold medals for his 2020 vintage 50 shades of Green Gruner Veltliner and his Bulldog White Ribolla Gialla and a silver medal for his 2020 Frontenac Noir Bulldog Red and a bronze for a 2-19 Zweigelt Bulldog Red. Ross said 2022 brought many awards too, including best in the state.

He said the news was disheartening, but it is time to move on.

“It’s really a shame that these grapes are going to waste,” he said, “around 4,000 pounds of grapes were crushed alone this year.”

Ross said the property has been sold and he and his wife are moving to Southern California.

“The couple who bought our property have no intention of producing wine, I don’t know what their plans are,” said Ross.