SELAH, Wash. — Colby and Kristen Rider didn’t know the first thing about farming grapes or making wine when they moved to Central Washington; they just knew they wanted to get out of the city.

It was a bit of a stretch for the couple to uproot their lives in Woodinville and buy a boutique vineyard in Selah. But now that they have been in business for eight years, they couldn’t be happier.

“Everything just lined up perfectly, and we feel like it was meant to be,” said Rider Cellars co-owner Colby Rider, who traded in his career as a commercial fisherman to become a viticulturist and winemaker.

“We didn’t think we would be able to afford this place, but we overcame every obstacle standing in our way,” he said. “Some way, somehow — through a series of miracles — God made it happen.”

Rider learned a few tricks from the vineyard’s previous owner, Paul Humphrey, who agreed to work alongside him for the first year. But for the most part, Rider is self-taught, having absorbed most of his knowledge from textbooks, documentaries and YouTube videos — anything he could get his hands on.

“I just immersed myself into all things viticulture,” he said. “Paul was also extremely gracious, and he worked closely with me during the 2016 and 2017 harvests. I combined what he showed me with my own research, and it’s been going really well.”

Rider’s commitment to his new craft has already paid enormous dividends, helping Rider Cellars take home multiple medals in the prestigious Savor Northwest Wine Awards. The winery has earned Double Gold honors a total of three times for its Pinot blanc and Zweigelt, an Austrian varietal that is comparable to Pinot noir.

Rider Cellars also won Best in Class for its Riesling at the 2021 Savor Northwest competition, and it continues to rack up accolades year after year.

“We set the bar really high from the start, but we have managed to remain pretty consistent,” said Rider, who also grows Pinot gris in the family’s 4½-acre estate vineyard. “We were fortunate to be able to achieve great wines right out of the gate, and our goal is to maintain those high standards.”

Rider explained that his vines — originally planted in 2000 — are now producing more complex, mature flavors. He often compares wine grapes to humans, noting: “When we’re kids and young adults, we tend to be a little crazy, but as we mature, we start to calm down.

“Similarly, young grapes tend to be more acidic and intense, but as they age, their flavors develop more character.”

Even with all of his initial winemaking success, Rider is quick to credit his wife for Rider Cellars’ ongoing success. Kristen Rider previously owned a dance company in the Puget Sound area, and she manages the finances, marketing and other essential functions for the business.

“Kristen keeps everything in order behind the scenes,” Rider said. “She is the true backbone of our business.”

As small-town entrepreneurs, the Riders believe they embody the value of hard work and ingenuity. They hope to one day pass along those virtues, and the business, to their two children, ages 7 and 1.

“We don’t have any employees; it’s just us,” Rider said. “We’re always on the go, but we have grown to love this lifestyle. Moving here was the best decision we’ve ever made.”