Grandpa Wallace’s Obituary
Jerry Wallace, who launched Hinzerling Winery in Prosser, Washington, in 1976, passed away Jan. 6. He was 90.
Wallace was a Seattle police officer beginning in 1944. At one time, he was the Seattle mayor’s personal security office and driver. He retired in 1968 and took over security for the Federal Way School District.
In 1972, he and his family moved east of the Cascades to Prosser, where they planted one of the earliest commercial wine grape vineyards in the region. Hinzerling Vineyard was the first in the state to use drip irrigation. Wallace and his wife, Dee, also founded the Roza chapter of the Enological Society of the Pacific Northwest.
In 1976, Wallace and his son Mike launched Hinzerling Winery, making it one of the state’s oldest wineries. The winery is especially well known for producing some of the state’s top Port-style wines.
In 2008, Jerry Wallace was nominated as a Legend of Washington Wine by the state wine industry.
He also was an avid organist and keyboard player. He is survived by his three children, Mike, Pam and Steve, as well as eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
There will be a memorial service celebrating Jerry’s life at a later date at Hinzerling Winery, Prosser. Remembrances or inquiries about the service may be sent to JCW@Hinzerling.com.
