Our Vineyards
Umiker Estate Vineyard
Initial Plantings: 2003
Varieties Sourced: Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Cabernet franc, Chardonnay, Viognier, Riesling, Muscat Canelli, Orange Muscat
Soils: Deep, silt loam. Oliphant series.
Location: Lewis-Clark Valley AVA. East of Lewiston and perched at the edge of a large sweeping bench overlooking the Clearwater River. A gentle north-facing slope allows cool air to drain away from the vineyard and down to the river.
Elevation: 1350ft
Amusing Facts: Umiker Estate Vineyard surrounds the winery and is meticulously managed by Karl. Karl and Coco established the initial planting of Merlot in 2003 with the help of Coco’s grandfather Ralph Nichols (then 89). Grandpa Ralph drove the family’s 1952 9N Ford tractor to prep the land and dig the holes for the vines and posts. This planting marked the beginning of the fourth generation perusing their passions on the family farm!
Arnett Vineyard
Initial Plantings: 1999
Varieties Sourced: Cabernet Sauvignon
Soils: Deep fine sandy loam. Chard series.
Location: Lewis-Clark Valley AVA. Located within Clarkston, WA. Steep East facing slope overlooking the Snake River.
Elevation: 1000ft
Amusing Facts: Jim and Dana Arnett work their vines with their family. This 5-acre vineyard is one of the oldest post prohibition-era plantings in the Lewis-Clark Valley. We have been working with Arnett fruit since 2006. We always look forward to the aromatic Cabernet Sauvignon that their site produces. It has been a wonderful journey growing the Lewis-Clark Valley wine industry with the Arnett family.
Roosevelt Ridge Vineyard
Initial Plantings: 2009
Primary Varieties Sourced: Petite Sirah
Soils: Sandy Loam
Location: Columbia Valley AVA. Occupies a terrace on the banks of the Columbia River. South-facing slope. Roosevelt, WA.
Elevation: 400ft
Amusing Facts: The wind howls through the vines on Roosevelt Ridge Vineyard. Petite Sirah growing with this constant onslaught from the wind forms thick skins that create dark tannic wines. Dave Verhey, of Verhey Vineyard, also owns and operates Roosevelt Ridge Vineyard. This extreme vineyard site is truly breath taking.
Phinny Hill Vineyard
Initial Plantings: 1997
Primary Varieties Sourced: Carmenère, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petit Verdot
Soils: Famous Phinny Hill gravels. Glacial outwash gravels and sands in combination with river rock.
Location: Horse Heaven Hills AVA. Occupies a summit location. Alderdale, WA.
Elevation: 750ft
Amusing Facts: We’ve been producing wine from Phinny Hill since our first vintage in 2004. Phinny Hill Vineyard is textbook, there is not a leaf out of place. The Beightol Family and their crew grow grapes with passion and precision. No matter how challenging the year, Phinny Hill fruit always shines! The Beightol family have also been trusted friends and mentors as we’ve developed our Estate Umiker Vineyard.
Verhey Vineyard
Initial Plantings: 2001
Primary Varieties Sourced: Malbec
Soils: Deep fine sandy loam, lacustrine influence.
Location: Rattlesnake Hills AVA. Occupies a south-facing drainage overlooking the Yakima River, southeast of Union Gap, WA.
Elevation: 1050ft
Amusing Facts: Verhey Vineyard is located just southeast of Union Gap. Coco first discovered Verhey Vineyard while working harvest in Walla Walla at Whitman Cellars during the harvest of 2004. Yes, that same year she was running home to the Lewis-Clark Valley on the weekends to work our first vintage! Of all the grapes brought into Whitman Cellars that year, Verhey Malbec was her absolute favorite! In 2005 Dave Verhey had Malbec available and we produced our first Malbec. Dave can often be seen at our wine club events as he loves to watch people enjoy the fruits of his labor.
Rock n’ J Vineyard
Initial Plantings: 2009
Primary Varieties Sourced: Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet franc, Cabernet Sauvignon
Soils: Deep fine sandy loam. Chard series
Location: Lewis-Clark Valley AVA, Near Rogersburg, WA. Planted on a steep side slope on an oxbow bend of the Grande Ronde River.
Elevation: 1050ft
Amusing Facts: The Rock N’J Vineyard is the hottest vineyard site that we work with. In an average year, we pick ripe delicious Cabernet Sauvignon in August from this site while most vineyards east of the Cascades generally don’t harvest Cabernet Sauvignon until October! These warm growing conditions create fruit forward wines bursting with flavor and color. Shawnee Watenpaugh, the vineyard manager, is a meticulous farmer and semi-pro barrel racer!
Crawford Vineyard
Initial Plantings: 1979
Varieties Sourced: Albariño, Cabernet franc, Sagrantino, Sangiovese, Viognier
Soils: Deep, very fine sandy loam. Warden soils series.
Location: Yakima Valley AVA. Nestled on a gentle sloping terrace above the Yakima River and a couple miles North of Prosser.
Elevation: 1070ft
Amusing Facts: Charlie and Connie Crawford are the true expression of a family owned and operated vineyard. The Crawfords have developed their own unique trellis system for their white varietals, we call it the Crawford-Geneva-Double-Curtain (see picture). This customized trellis invites perfectly dappled sunlight into the vine canopy throughout the day allowing the grapes to develop intense flavors without fear of sunburn. This site tends to be cooler throughout the growing season thus the grapes retain brilliant acidity.