Doubleback & Bledsoe Family Wines

For former NFL Quarterback Drew Bledsoe, his field of dreams extended beyond the stadium turf—the dream of founding an ultra-premium winery would eventually lead him to “double back” to the small town charm of Walla Walla, his hometown.

The first overall pick in 1993 NFL Draft, Bledsoe’s career spanned 14 years, where he served as the New England’s starting quarterback from 1993 to 2001 and was considered the face of the Patriots franchise during his eight seasons with the team. In 2007 he returned home with his wife Maura to set down roots. Their mutual love of wine led to the couple plant their first estate vineyard, McQueen. The following year they launched Doubleback as an estate-focused winery with the goal to produce world-class Cabernet Sauvignon.

Bledsoe sought the help of childhood friend Chris Figgins, who had taken the reigns from his father Gary to direct winemaking at Walla Walla’s most storied winery, Leonetti Cellar. Eventually Josh McDaniels would take his place—Drew hired McDaniels away from Figgins Family Wine Estates where he had trained for over a decade. Early critical acclaim included high marks from both the Spectator and Wine Enthusiast—impressively, the winery’s inaugural vintage of Doubleback Cabernet Sauvignon garnered 95 points from each publication.

Josh moved into the role of President & Director of Winemaking at Doubleback and Bledsoe Family Wines, was named a “Game Changer of Washington Wine” by Wine Enthusiast and has most recently earned Doubleback’s highest rating since the winery’s inception; a lofty 97 points from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. Since the very first release—the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon—Doubleback has received numerous accolades including a coveted spot on the Wine Spectator Top 100 List.

The vision for Doubleback remains focused on crafting premium, terroir-driven wines of world-class quality. Together, Drew and Josh have concentrated on developing vineyard sites representing a unique soil, elevation, or micro-climate within the Walla Walla Valley AVA. These sites now include four estate vineyards —McQueen, Bob Healy, Flying B, and Lefore, and each brings a unique characteristic to the wines in the Doubleback and Bledsoe Family Winery portfolios. For Drew, Maura, Josh, and the entire winemaking team, wine is not just about drinking enjoyment but also creating compelling, layered wines of distinction.