For more than two decades, Brian Carter has been recognized as one of the top winemakers in Washington state. Brian has held leadership positions in numerous professional organizations, including:
• Past chairman, American Society of Enology and Viticulture,
• Pacific Northwest Chapter
• Past chairman, Central Washington Wine Technical Group
• Member, Washington Wine Advisory Committee
• Member, Northwest Foundation Block Advisory Group
2007 – Brian was chosen as Honorary Vintner for the Auction of Washington Wines.
2004 – Brian launched Brian Carter Cellars, featuring European-style blended wines. He received the Industry Service award.
1998 - The Wine News observed, "Perhaps more than anyone else, Carter, both as consultant and as winemaker for his own Washington Hills Cellars [now Apex Cellars], is responsible for the tremendous recognition Washington has received for its wines and for the current status the region holds in the international wine community."
1997 - Brian created a small production of his own wine, “Solesce”.
1996 - Brian was named winner of the prestigious Alec Bayless Award "in recognition of the many contributions he has made to the growth and development of the state's wine industry."
1990 – Brian became full-time winemaker and a partner in Apex Cellars.
1988 - Brian left Paul Thomas and became a consulting winemaker. His client list included many wineries that would become the region's most successful and respected: McCrea Cellars, Hedges, Randall Harris, Silver Lake, and Worden.
While a full-time consultant, Brian forged a friendship and business relationship with Harry Alhadeff, who was launching Washington Hills Cellars, now Apex Cellars.
1983 – Brian’s Paul Thomas Cabernet Sauvignon was chosen to compete with classic Bordeaux and US wines at a tasting held at New York's Windows of the World restaurant. The judges were stunned when it outscored most of the wines entered, including a Chateau Lafite-Rothschild.
While at Paul Thomas, Brian became the only two-time winner of Washington magazine's "Winemaker of the Year" award.
1980 – Brian arrived in Washington. At that time there were only 16 wineries in the state. He began working with Paul Thomas, who was starting Paul Thomas Winery. It soon became one of the state's most successful wineries.
At age 14, he started making blackberry, rose hip, and dandelion wines. After graduating from OSU with a microbiology degree, Brian studied at UC Davis' School of Enology, then honed his winemaking skills at two high-quality California wineries: Mount Eden Vineyard in the Santa Cruz Mountains and Chateau Montelena in Calistoga, where he worked with the legendary winemaker Jerry Luper.
Brian lives with his two sons in Bellevue, Washington. He enjoys skiing, camping, and hiking with them in his spare time, and is a gourmet cook.