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Washington state native Kyle MacLachlan burst onto the big screen in 1984 in David Lynch’s version of sci-fi epic Dune and then cemented his status as a pop-culture icon in Lynch’s landmark early ’90s series Twin Peaks. Working steadily in Hollywood across the decades—including upcoming seasons of FX’s The Lowdown and Amazon hit Fallout, he has also toiled “backstage” as the owner and vintner of Walla Walla winery Pursued by Bear. Named in honor of a famed Shakespeare stage direction—”Exit, pursued by bear,”—MacLachlan’s collaboration with husband-and-wife winemaking team Dan Wampfler and Amy Alvarez-Wampfler yields some of his finest work, including small-lot Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, and Chardonnay. While his initial meeting with Lynch and introduction to the director’s favorite wine, Lynch-Bages, has been well documented, we had the opportunity to learn more about his serendipitous friendship with Napa vintner Ann Colgin, how Steve Martin blessed his choice of winery name, and where wine lovers and fans are likely to run into him.
After first being introduced to a bottle of Lynch-Bages by David Lynch, did learning about wine take time?
