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VINEYARD NORTHWEST WATCH EARLY ADOPTERS The economic downturn explains why there has been no real market- ing push for the project until this past spring. Figgins noted that if someone were serious about find- ing vineyard ground in the Pacific Northwest during the grind of the recession, they would certainly find SeVein. Indeed, some did. One of the first was John Big- Ad 8/01_V&WM WV/WL Ad 8/01 7/16/12 1:00 PM Page 1 elow of JM Cellars in Woodinville, Wash. He came onboard in 2006, when early work was still in prog- ress. "Seven Hills is my favorite site in Walla Walla," Bieglow explained. "So when I learned about the chance to buy property right next to that vineyard, I jumped on it." Bigelow signed up for 40 acres, and planted 12 of them to red Bor- deaux varieties in spring 2007. He hired Red Mountain AVA pioneer Jim Holmes to guide the layout of his rows, as well as Washing- ton State University soil scientist Joan Davenport to recommend initial amendments. Bigelow also employed North Slope Manage- ment – the same company that tends Seven Hills Vineyard – to maintain his land for him, since he is based 280 miles away in Seattle. Bieglow has since moved on to another management company. With initial results now in bottle, Bigelow is very happy with the deci- sion to buy. "Our first vintage was 2009, and it's now going out for critical review," he said. "It's every- thing and more than I was expect- ing. I think it's the best wine I've ever made." Another very early buyer is simi- larly happy with initial results. "I'm very pleased with what we've seen thus far," said Drew Bledsoe, the former NFL quarterback who now owns Doubleback winery and two SeVein parcels. As with most of the project, they are planted to red Bordeaux varieties; the first fruit to make it into the Doubleback blend comes from the 2010 vintage. "The depth and complexity of the juice we are getting from that property will really elevate the quality of the wine we are making," he said. SeVein soil is fine loess of vary- Trellis & Fence Wire Anchor WIREVISE® Embossed jaws grip the wire as it is inserted and prevent it from being pulled out. The wire is retensionable with a pair of pliers or a claw hammer. ing depths over ancient floodwater silts and fractured basalt, and vines clearly thrive in it. "But it's not just a uniform slab of land," said Fig- gins. "There are many distinctive sections. For example, there are 30-degree slopes that are terraced, and there are parts that have just 18 inches of soil over that base rock." Another feature is the elevation. WIRELINK™ For easy splicing of 8-16 gauge wire. No tools required. Simply insert the wire into each end of the WireLink and you have a splice. A release tool is available from AgFast for 12-16 gauge wire. For your nearest dealer, contact: Toll-Free: 877.552-4828 909.451.2299 • Fax: 909.593-8309 32 VINEYARD & WINERY MANAGEMENT SEPT - OCT 2012 Most of the development is situat- ed above 1,000 feet, and therefore well clear of the frosts that plague Washington viticulture – Walla Walla in particular – every few years. "I know the freezes up here scare people in California," said Figgins. "But this hill is almost bomb-proof in terms of winter damage. It's just beautifully sited. That's exactly why Seven Hills has achieved what it has over the years, and why we can expect even better from the sur- rounding properties at SeVein." One more appealing aspect is the low cost of development and operations relative to prime loca- tions in California's most famous winegrowing counties. This was part of the sales pitch employed by the managing partners during their trip to Napa and Sonoma. Clubb offered an illustration: "If you bought a 40-acre lot at SeV- ein, you would pay $25,000 per farmable acre. That might be 30 of the 40 acres, so that equates to $750,000. In addition, you might pay $100,000 for the remaining 10 acres. "To get it up and running to third leaf, you'll pay another $25,000 per acre. Then water and electricity are just about $450 per farmed acre per year. Actually, as an ongoing expense, we farm for somewhere between $5,000 and $6,000 per acre per year. That's a great price for the high-caliber fruit we culti- vate here." LONG HAUL It's worth noting that the part- ners represent some of the best wineries in Washington, and they are cultivating parcels here for their own use. "This isn't about building a house and selling it," Clubb said. "My business is high-quality wine, and my goal is to develop a vineyard that produces spectacular fruit that I can harvest every year." But Clubb and the other partners see SeVein in terms broader than their own businesses. "I'd like to see other high-end wineries join us in getting this whole thing planted out," said Figgins. "I want to see this land become known as one of the top spots in the region – even the country – to grow grapes. And I'm confident that it will be." The demands of the growing sea- son and then harvest mean that the principals of SeVein are not planning a California trip again this year. But as word gets out about what this project represents, they may not have any land left to sell. Comments? Please e-mail us at feedback@vwm-online.com. WWW.VWM-ONLINE.COM