"Oenophiles Wanted..." began the small classified ad in the La Grande, Oregon newspaper. Independently, Tim Sampson and Barbara Hetrick responded, joining with a dozen others to taste and learn about wine in each others' living rooms. Over the years, Tim and Barbara's association became a deep friendship that eventually led to marriage.

The couple's relocation to Walla Walla, Washington opened the door for Tim to pursue a career in wine. He worked his first harvest at Canoe Ridge Vineyard in 1995 under the tutelage of John Abbott and served Canoe Ridge in all phases of production until 2000 when he joined with Casey and Vicky McClellan at Seven Hills Winery, serving as cellarmaster until 2002.

Tim's previous work has included professional theatre technical design and construction, with over 100 shows in his portfolio and 20 years as a self-employed general contractor and carpenter. His background in theatre and experience in construction are ideal ingredients for a winemaker---efficiency, frugality, and ingenuity in the practical science of crafting wine.

While they appreciate the fine merlots, cabernets and syrahs for which the Walla Walla Valley is best-known, Sampson and Hetrick chose to concentrate on lesser-known varietals when they began Yellow Hawk Cellar in 1998, selecting sangiovese as their signature wine. Since then, the winery's production has expanded to include Italian varietals such as barbera, muscat canelli, orange muscat and a "super Tuscan" style vintage red blend.  A blush of lemberger and a port-style dessert wine round out the offerings.

The winery is housed in a turn-of-the-20th century horse barn on their property, next to the clear, cold waters of Yellow Hawk Creek which flows through their property from the nearby Blue Mountains.

The winery is very much a family endeavor, from wine production to bottling, marketing and sales. Barbara serves as consultant, chemist, and "right hand gal." General Manager Kayla Chitwood, who started volunteering with the winery in 2002, began managing the business in 2007.  Tim's son, Murray is a seasonal cellar helper.  Family and friends lend support during harvest and bottling activities and for special events. Mattie, the couple's 10 1/2 year old cocker-mix dog (yes, she's really fully-grown and not a puppy!) supervises the cheese table at tastings.

Q: What is the origin of the name Yellow Hawk Creek?
A: Our research indicates the legendary indian chief Peu-Peu Mox-Mox
was known as"Yellow Bird" and likely inspired the naming of the creek.

Q: Did Lewis and Clark or other settlers name it?
A: We know for a fact that Lewis & Clark did NOT name Yellow Hawk Creek
as they did not pass near the course of the creek during their journeys.
It is likely that early settlers of this area named the creek, rather than
Native Americans. Interestingly, the natives did not name rivers--rather,
they would describe a place based on its many geological/environmental
features rather than calling a river by a single name through its entire course.

Q: Do you have any yellow hawks in your barn?
A: No, but we do have a pair of Swainson's Hawks that have nested
nearby the creek for the last few years and raised their young there.
During winery events we may set up a spotting scope for our visitors to view the birds on the nest! At some time during their development juvenile hawks look tawny in coloration and definitely different from the Red Tail Hawks
that are common to the area.

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