Betting on Red Mountain: An Evening with Shae Frichette

Monday, August 3 | 6pm

In 1972, John Williams and Jim Holmes looked across a barren, sagebrush-covered hillside and saw something no one else did: the potential to grow grapes in a place whose promise had yet to be proven. Three years later, they planted the first vines on Red Mountain, betting on what it could become.

Nearly forty years later, Shae Frichette and her husband Greg found themselves making a leap of faith of their own. Torn between moving closer to Shae's family in South Carolina or Greg's in Washington, they settled the question with a flip of a coin. Once they landed in Eastern Washington, they fell in love with Red Mountain and couldn't shake the feeling that their future belonged there. After months of knocking on doors, they found the property they had been dreaming about and planted the first vines for what would become Frichette Winery.

Today, Shae is widely recognized as Washington's first Black woman winemaker and remains Red Mountain's only Black woman winemaker. Alongside Greg, she's built a winery known not only for beautifully expressive wines, but for creating genuine, memorable experiences for everyone who visits.

Join us as Shae shares the story of building a winery, betting on Red Mountain, and what it means to take a chance on something yet to be seen. Through six wines, we’ll explore the moments that shaped Frichette and Red Mountain — each one offering a window into a place, a decision, or a turning point along the way — from the vineyards that helped define the AVA to the wines that reflect Shae and Greg’s vision for the future.

Whether you're fascinated by Red Mountain, passionate about Washington wine, or simply love hearing the stories behind the bottle, this promises to be an evening filled with genuine connection, great conversation, and even better wine.

$45 per person | includes a guided flight of six Frichette wines and light snacks from the Upwell kitchen team