Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/155925
NORTHWEST WATCH SEAN P. SULLIVAN Washington's 43,000-plus planted wine grape acres are located in Yakima Valley. In the 30 years since the Yakima Valley appellation was approved, three sub-appellations – Red Mountain, Snipes Mountain and Rattlesnake Hills – have been established within Yakima Valley, with Red Mountain helping to define the state's reputation for quality. Still, broader awareness of Yakima Valley has lagged. "The growers here were selling to a lot of the larger producers, which they still do," explained Barbara Glover, executive director of Wine Yakima Valley, "but the Yakima Valley fruit was really being blended into these big wines. So the attributes of the fruit were lost." As a result, while Yakima Valley churned out quality grapes, it often failed to receive the proper recognition. "You'd never see Yakima Valley on the label at all," Boushey said. "It was all Columbia Valley. Your name was never promoted or your vineyard." Sales and marketing also played a role. "A lot of wineries would stick Columbia Valley on the label just to avoid the hassles of labeling," Sauer added. Things began to change around the turn of the millennium, as an explosion of small producers began to proliferate across the state, which is now home to more than 750 wineries. Many growers in Yakima Valley began to work with these producers, designating specific rows and blocks. While the number of bottles with a Yakima Valley label is still nowhere near the amount of fruit being grown in the valley, increasingly vineyard designates from top sites, including Red Willow, Boushey and DuBrul, have received critical acclaim, helping to promote the valley name. Wolfe believes that this trend will continue. "I think more and more there is going to be recognition of individual vineyards here in IF YOU NEED IT... WE LEASE IT! 415.209.9463 the valley that are premier vineyards, first growths if you want to use that term," he said. "I think that is going to help give credibility to the broader Yakima Valley." DIVERSITY IS A DRAW While vineyard designates from top sites have helped Yakima Valley differentiate itself, the area's diversity has also lured an increasing number of winemakers. "There are not a lot of places in the world that you can grow worldclass riesling and world-class cabernet right next to each other, like you can in our vineyards," said Côte Bonneville's Kerry Shiels, whose family farms DuBrul Vineyard. "It's a marketing challenge, but at the same time it's a viticultural and enological blessing to be able to grow so many things at such high quality." Indeed, the diversity of climate, soil and aspect in the valley allows for a wide variety of grapes to ripen www.TurrentineBrokerage.com Leasing is the smart alternative to buying. Keep your working capital in your business and lease the things you really need at Hansel Leasing! Since 1962, we have created leasing solutions for hundreds of Wine Country businesses. We can help you too! MATCHING THE RIGHT BUYER AND SELLER FOR LONG-TERM SUCCESS. NEW FORD F-150 SUPER CREW WE LEASE EVERYTHING! CALL JIM TAYLOR AT HANSEL LEASING TODAY! 707.544.2822 "Turrentine folks always seem to listen carefully to both sides - availability and needs and thus are good at bringing about fair and helpful transactions." - Jerry Lohr, J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines TURRENTINE GRAPES & WINE Grapes • Wines in Bulk • sTraTeGiC planninG GlOBal sOurCinG • prOCessinG • CaseGOODs LEASING w w w. v w m media.com S e p t - O c t 2 0 13 | V I N E YA R D & W I N E RY M A N A G E M E N T 27