Tim DeCook joined Badger Mountain Vineyard as a partner in 1983. With a background in engineering and anesthesiology, Tim jokes he had great experience with “pipes and valves” and that joining a winery seemed a natural transition, given the use of “pipes and valves” in winemaking and his deep seeded passion for wine. Over the past 30+ years, Tim has helped the vineyard evolve from selling its grape production, to pioneering organic viticulture, to making world class organic wines.

Enjoying retirement, Tim and his wife Carolyn live happily aboard their boat dividing their time between the San Juan Islands and Mexico and coming to the winery to visit and for special events.

Mickey experienced his first wine grape harvest in 1987 and has been hooked on the Washington state wine industry ever since. Serving as Assistant Winemaker and then Winemaker for the Snoqualmie/Saddle Mountain property, Mickey was responsible for approximately 100,000 cases of production until the property was sold in 1991. He then formed Wineworks, Inc., a consulting and sales and marketing company working with numerous Washington wineries. After joining Badger Mountain as Sales Manager in 1998, the brand has grown from 17,000 cases per year to a current production level of 70,000 cases per year. Mickey was made a partner in 2005.

Passionately committed to the success of Washington state wines and the environmental sustainability vision embodied by Badger Mountain Vineyard and Powers Winery, Mickey is active in the Washington Wine Commission and sits on the Steering Committee of WineWise, an organization working to develop a Sustainability Guidebook for vineyards and wineries. 

Mickey is a graduate of the University of Minnesota. He enjoys playing ice hockey, fishing, and cooking. He and his wife live in Richland, in the heart of Washington state wine country.

EUDORO LUCATERO was brought on and trained by founder, Bill Powers in late 1993. Originally from Michoacan, Mexico, he had never worked in a vineyard before, but soon became adept in his role, not only learning how to drive and fix the tractors and harvester, but also helping to develop new strategies for sustainable and organic viticulture. When asked about his favorite part of his job, Eudoro’s eyes light up, he smiles and says, “Me encanta todo. I love everything.” After some pressing, he described the feeling he gets while driving through the vineyard on the harvester, watching the fruit fall from the vine into the harvester. During the Fall each year, he insists on being the driver, specifically to witness that moment - to be able to see "el culminacion de t odo el ano de trabajo - the culmination of the whole year’s work - start to finish”. As a long-time friend and employee of Bill Powers, Eudoro is honored to be able to continue his legacy and that of Badger Mountain Vineyard and Powers Winery.

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Growing up in California with a father who managed vineyards, Badger Mountain winemaker, Jose Mendoza’s life in wine began earlier than most. In 1985 at 17 years old his cousin and vineyard manager, Eudoro Lucatero, hired him to come up and work alongside him and founder Bill Powers.  Jose has worn nearly every hat there is to wear at Badger Mountain, from working in the vineyard, moving to cellar master, and eventually to head winemaker for one of the largest wineries in Washington State. Alongside Bill, Eudoro, and eventually Mickey Dunne, Jose absorbed everything they had to offer, especially from Bill Powers. “For him, it was about doing the right thing and respecting the land.  He had a passion for nature and always believed in me and the other employees” Jose recalls.

Jose highly values the terroir in Washington State and especially at Badger Mountain Vineyard.  In this growing region that is known to be windy and dry, Jose feels that organic fruit is better in quality than conventional fruit.  Jose says, “We have an advantage with the growing conditions and terroir in WA that eliminates a lot of the challenges that you see in other growing areas.  It is close to ideal conditions for growing fruit organically”.  The biggest challenge in growing and making wine from organic fruit is centered around timing.  Organic fruit is delicate and requires very close monitoring, especially around harvest time.  With extra care and attentiveness, Jose likes bringing in the fruit when the acid is high, and the PH is a bit lower.  We then are able to craft wines with a great depth of fruit and character along with being a true representation of this great growing region, without any added additives, or sulfites.

Along with having high values on the terroir in WA State, Jose has traveled extensively, learning from other winemakers in some of the most famous growing regions around the world.  With recent visits to Argentina, Italy, and France a few times, Jose has learned about what makes these wines special and how he can apply these techniques to the wines at Badger Mountain Vineyard.  Jose continually strives to educate himself and looks forward to learning from the challenges that each vintage provides. Natural Passion, Responsible Farming, PURE WINE!