When John Williams and Jim Holmes invested in 80 acres near Benton City, Washington, it was a gamble. Friends from the stock trading industry, the two men purchased separate lots in what is now the Red Mountain area in 1972. At the time they joked that since they had lost money in the stock market, maybe they would be good at losing money in the real estate market, too.

The region was desert, located east of Prosser and west of the Tri-Cities area of eastern Washington State, in the proverbial "middle of nowhere." But, in nearby Prosser, Dr. Walter Clore (now famous for his work with clones in Washington State) was busy with an "experimental station," growing wine grapes. Holmes and Williams got wind and thought that since their land was 10 miles away, maybe they could grow grapes there, too; they thought they might sell them to home winemakers in Seattle. In 1975, Williams planted 10 acres of grapevines on what is now Kiona Vineyards.

Through a chance meeting, they were able to sell their grapes to Bill Preston of fledgling Preston Vineyards. The three had a good fit for a while, giving the vines a chance to reveal the quality they were capable of. Red Mountain has become one of Washington State's premier grape growing regions today, with plantings in Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Lemberger, and others. Williams and Holmes placed a good bet, and still live and farm on Red Mountain today.