Stephanie Cohen’s Precision Winemaking Pushes Col Solare Into a New Era on Red Mountain

Inside the rising winemaker’s quest to unlock the full potential of Washington’s hottest AVA.

On Red Mountain, where the landscape can feel more like a lunar outpost than a vineyard, winemaker Stephanie Cohen has learned to trust both science and instinct.

At Col Solare, she works in one of Washington’s most high-profile cellars, a facility that can intimidate even seasoned visitors, yet her approach is rooted in humility, precision and a deep respect for the land.

The 2022 vintage was her baptism by fire.

“Paralyzing anxiety for a few months,” she admits with a laugh, but she pushed herself to “go extreme with it,” embracing the challenge of crafting her first solo vintage.

That pressure came with payoff: she discovered how much fun true control can be, and how deeply she thrives on fine-tuning every last detail.

Cohen came to Col Solare after working at Columbia Crest. There, she saw a lesson every year; across vineyards, weather patterns and growing regions statewide. But Red Mountain, she quickly realized, was different.