In pursuit of the Columbia Valley
At Tenor, we believe the Columbia Valley is the perfect region for ripening Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Grenache, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Noir.
The love we have for our region drives us to create both single-vineyard and AVA-specific wines. As a team, we have identified the ideal clones in the finest parcels within the healthiest vineyards.
Each vintage, we harvest each vineyard at the optimal moment, ferment with extraordinary care, and cellar each wine in carefully selected barrels. Through meticulous teamwork, our mission is to craft harmonious wines that showcase each vineyard or AVA’s unique combination of aromatic complexity and textural range.
Our joy can be found in managing the small details in each step so the resulting wines are ones we are proud to share as a true reflection what the vineyards in our region are truly capable of.
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Tenor is part of a larger story inside Avallé. Each Avallé winery is focused on bringing you closer into the Columbia Valley… and all the dynamic vineyards inside of it.
Click to learn more about our passion for this incredible wine region. www.avalle.us
Our Team
Alex Stewart
Head Winemaker
Alex believes great wine is born at the intersection of adventure and obsession. His journey started in Washington, where a love of science led him from biochemistry studies to a degree in Enology at Cal State Fresno. That passion carried him across the vineyards of Burgundy, Tuscany, and Switzerland, where he immersed himself in the traditions that have shaped wine for centuries.
Back home, Alex spent nearly 17 years at Quilceda Creek, climbing from harvest intern to winemaker before taking the helm at Matthews, Tenor, and Single Barrel under the Avallé portfolio in 2021. His winemaking style is hands-on and minimalistic, treating fruit with patience and precision while constantly chasing new inspiration from the world’s greatest bottles. For Alex, every vintage is a chance to push Washington wines further while honoring the legacy of a region he’s proud to call home.
When he’s not in the cellar, Alex can usually be found trekking through the Cascades, catching some live music, or digging around the yard with his wife and high school sweetheart, Kate, and their three kids. Whether on a mountain or around the dinner table, he’s always seeking the same thing he does in winemaking: moments that stay with you.
Hal Iverson
Winemaker
Hal Iverson didn’t set out to become a winemaker. In his twenties, searching for direction, he took a seasonal harvest job at a local winery and never looked back. What started as a hands-on way to make a living quickly revealed itself as a perfect intersection of science, art, physical work, and deep sensory pleasure.
Today, Hal is the Winemaker for Matthews, Tenor, and Single Barrel under the Avallé portfolio, where he’s been crafting wines since 2021. Before that, he spent over a decade at Quilceda Creek, working his way up to Assistant Winemaker. His style reflects both rigorous training in world-class Bordeaux varietals and a spirit of exploration – especially when it comes to Burgundy and Rhône varieties, where trial and error have been his greatest teachers.
Hal’s approach to winemaking is grounded in curiosity and humility. He sees wine not as a product, but as a way to mark time: each vintage a reflection of the people, places, and moments that shaped it. His wines are made with care, critical thought, and the belief that they’re meant to be shared.
A Washington State University alum, Hal has lived and traveled throughout South America, Europe, and Asia. He now lives in Snohomish with his wife and kids, where they run a certified organic U-pick blueberry farm. Outside the winery, you’ll usually find him listening to a philosophy podcast, weed whacking, chopping wood, or wrestling with his three wild kiddos.
Owners, The Otis Family
Born and raised in Washington State, the Otis family is grateful to live in such a dynamic wine region. In 2008, the Otis family rescued Matthews Winery from financial difficulties and since then, has worked alongside remarkable winemakers to empower them in the mission to produce the purest expressions of Washington State wines.
In their journey to elevate Matthews, the Otis family has launched new wineries that focus on the delectable wines that can only come from Washington State. These are Tenor, Jaine, Blackboard, and Single Barrel.
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