Airfield Estates Flygirl White
WHY WE LOVE IT
- 100% Estate Grown.
- Vegan friendly.
- This wine pays homage to the female pilots of World War II, and it is made in a style that is just as vibrant as the women that soared through the sky.
Varietal: 44% Pinot Gris, 30% Chardonnay, 26% Viognier
Elaboration: Harvested at optimal maturity and gently pressed before fermentation. To preserve freshness and varietal character, each variety was fermented and aged in stainless steel at cool temperatures between 60-62°F over approximately 25 days. This cool fermentation enhances exotic fruit aromas and delivers a clean, crisp finish. Post-fermentation, the wine’s lees were stirred biweekly for three months, naturally softening the wine and creating a rounder, more textured mouthfeel. When blending Flygirl, we ensured each varietal brought its own distinct character, adding some complexity to this approachable, easy-drinking wine.
Tasting Notes: Flygirl is a light-bodied blend of Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, and Viognier, offering vibrant aromatics and a refreshing, expressive palate. Aromas of lime, white peach, pineapple, and floral notes give way to crisp flavors of grapefruit, dried pear, lemon curd, and honeydew. The wine finishes with lingering stone fruit and a touch of banana, balanced by bright acidity for a clean, crisp mouthfeel.
PRESS
n/a
PRODUCER BACKGROUND
Airfield Estates is a fourth-generation family vineyard based in the Yakima Valley, Washington. Today the winery is overseen by brother-sister duo Marcus Miller and Lori Stevens. The siblings prepared themselves for this endeavor. Marcus pursued an MBA in Finance and a degree in Viticulture and Enology, interning at Canoe Ridge in Walla Walla, he also worked as winemaker at Tsilan Cellars in Chelan and harvester at Montana Brancott Winery in Marlborough, New Zealand. Laurie obtained a Master’s in Wine Business from the University of Adelaide in Adelaide, South Australia, with a background in retail distribution management..
Prior to its farming days, Airfield Estates operated as a training base for hundreds of Army Air Corps pilots during World War II. The airbase closed in 1944, and the airplane hangars and other buildings were auctioned off to the Miller family for $1. The ranch produced alfalfa, asparagus, potatoes, onions, and oats, as well as cattle and hogs. Founder H. Lloyd Miller’s entrepreneurial spirit brought him in contact with President Roosevelt to find the funding for the Rosa Canal Project in the Yakima Valley, enabling irrigation water access from the high mountains to the soon-to-be established 830-acre winery. In 1967, Don Miller, the current owner’s grandfather, planted three “test” varietals, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and Cabernet Sauvignon, which would lead to more than 20 different varietals being greenhouse-propagated and commercially planted by 1971 as the oldest established AVA in Washington State.