Mike Sauer grew up on a farm in Washington’s Yakima Valley and went on to graduate from Washington State University with a degree in Agricultural Economics. While at WSU, he was a member of Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity and served in the National Guard. 

In 1969, Mike married Karen Stephenson. After finishing college, the couple returned to her family’s century-old farm, where Mike learned to grow wine grapes. In the early 1970s, Red Willow Vineyard was established as a division of the Stephenson farm—laying the foundation for what would become one of Washington’s most iconic vineyards. 

Mike was fortunate to collaborate early on with Dr. Walter Clore, widely recognized as the “Father of Washington Wine.” Dr. Clore led a groundbreaking research project that placed weather stations and test vineyard blocks throughout the state to determine the best areas for cultivating vinifera grapes. This collaboration sparked a friendship and annual vineyard visits that lasted over three decades. 

In 1968, Mike began a nearly 40-year partnership with Columbia Winery winemaker and Master of Wine, David Lake. Together, they introduced a number of now-celebrated grape varieties to Washington State, including Syrah, Viognier, Sangiovese, Mourvèdre, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc. Red Willow Vineyard also became one of the first vineyards to be featured on wine labels, helping to establish the link between wine quality and terroir. 

Early on, Mike played a leadership role in Washington’s emerging wine industry. He served on the Washington Wine Grape Growers board, which was instrumental in the creation of the Washington Wine Commission. He later served as chairman of the Growers organization and also held a seat on the Wine Commission itself. 

Over the years, Mike has been honored with numerous industry accolades, including the Alex Bayless Award, the Eric Hansen Grower of the Year Award, the Walter Clore Award, and the Washington State Winegrape Growers Lifetime Achievement Award. Most recently, he was nominated for the prestigious James Beard Award in the Wine and Spirits Producer category. 

Today, Mike’s legacy—spanning more than 55 years in Washington’s wine industry—continues through the next generation at Red Willow: Jonathan, Dan, Rachel, Rick, Kelly, and grandson Trent.