Force Majeure began in 2004 when Paul McBride and Ryan Johnson launched the project under the Grand Reve name, sourcing early fruit from Ciel du Cheval before developing their own steep Red Mountain estate beginning in 2006. The site rises from roughly 950 to 1230 feet and is divided into numerous micro blocks shaped by Missoula Flood soils, including Warden and rocky Kiona types. Farming is intensive and largely by hand due to the terrain. The winery later expanded into the Walla Walla Valley with vineyards planted in the late 1990s and a production facility in Milton Freewater. Varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Grenache, Merlot, and others across Bordeaux and Rhone families.