Desmodus Vena
At Desmodus Vena we believe that any worthwhile friendship needs to be cultivated. The foundation of our friendship began in 1993 as fourth graders. Our winemaking began in 2004 when we combined our personal experiences and creativity to produce our first Cabernet Sauvignon. Since then, we have worked diligently to improve and refine our techniques and knowledge while strengthening our relationships, uniting our families, and continuously improving our wines.
In October of 2004, two best friends led by Mohammad Kalhor, set out to Mattawa, WA in search of some grapes to make wine. The goal then was to bond with one another, but the outcome was far greater. 250 pounds of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes later they had their first 20 gallons of juice. What they later produced turned out to be bottled a little bit early, but still maintained the characteristics of a damn good wine. At that time these two friends, Michael Margoshes and Pasha Kalhor had no idea that they would someday dream to create a winery of their own. Mohammad, Pasha’s father, continued to lead them in their journey and help them work toward their dream.
In April of 2008, Desmodus Vena took the next step and began licensing as a winery in the State of Washington. As of September 29, 2008, Desmodus Vena has been licensed and bonded by the Federal and State Governments as a Winery in Washington State.
Author: Caroline Porsiel
Caroline Porsiel is a master distiller and liqueurist based in East Ellijay, Georgia. She founded House of Applejay, a fine spirits and liqueur distillery, in 2022 with her mother, Sabine, crafting award-winning products like Applejay from Ellijay, Mt. Frozen Knob Vodka, and Winter Cherry Mountain Liqueur. The distillery won a 2024 Best of Georgia Award and a 2025 Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition for its Winter Cherry Mountain Liqueur. As a founding member of the AMBRU Campaign, launched in 2020, Porsiel advocates for the global recognition of American Brandy and Rum. She continues to drive innovation in the craft spirits industry from her active distillery in the heart of Georgia’s apple country.
