Our estate vineyards are located in the Puget Sound Appellation. This is a federally designated grape growing area, characterized by its cool maritime climate. Our six-acre vineyard is contiguous with our winery. The summers are very dry (some years we must irrigate) and are tempered by the cooling influence of the waters, which surround our island. Please see the page on the Puget Sound Climate.

We planted our vineyards in 1987 on sparse soils associated with the Vashon Glaciations which covered our area 10,000 years ago: we are on a moderately deep sandy, gravelly loam soil. This allows for early growth as this soil is well drained. With moderate fertility, our low vigor vines grow an open canopy, allowing the summer sun to penetrate and shine on the developing fruit. This gives our grapes wonderful fruit flavors with a favorable acid balance.

We have selected grapes that are matched to our growing climate. These come from similar regions of northern Europe. These grapes are only grown here in the northwest corner of North America and would not be suited to hotter regions. We feel they have found perfect growing conditions here on Lopez Island. Our vineyards have been grown using organic practices since 1987, and have been certified by Wash. State Dept. of Agriculture since 1989.

This white wine grape comes from the Anjou region of the Loire Valley in northern France. We produce our Madeleine Angevine completely dry and 100% barrel fermented, so as to complement the flavors of grapefruit, tropical fruit and herbal qualities that are the characteristics of this grape. This wine will compliment the fine seafood and shellfish of our region, and also goes well with vegetarian dishes, poultry or salads. Organically Grown on Lopez Island.

Siegerrebe is a newer grape variety which was bred in Germany by crossing Madeleine Angevine with Gewurztraminer. This wine has wonderful flavors of grapefruit, lychee nuts, flowers and spices that come from this extra early ripening grape. We finish this white wine medium dry (about 0.75% residual sugar) which makes this wine great with appetizers, Asian foods or light curries. Organically Grown on Lopez Island.

The Yakima Valley Appellation was the second viticulture (grape) region to be recognized in this state by the federal government. This region is hot and dry: a desert irrigated from the snowmelt of the Cascade Mountains. These mountains influence the climate by separating it from the influence of the Pacific Ocean. Here the heat of the interior of the continent warms the valley during the short hot summer. This heat allows the better-known grape varieties to be grown and ripened. Due to the valley’s northern latitude, the evenings in the fall during ripening are cool, which help preserve a better acid balance than other hot region growing areas.

We purchase our Yakima Valley grapes from Charlie and Connie Crawford, whose vineyards are on gentle south facing slopes above the town of Prosser. The Crawfords are a third generation farming family that began growing wine grapes around 25 years ago on part of the family’s homestead. They farm about 70 acres of wine grapes with meticulous care. The soils here are deep and well drained, giving a wonderful balance of fruit flavor to their grapes.

This most famous grape of Burgundy France, finds ideal climates the world over. Our Crawford Vineyard Chardonnay is wonderfully crisp and dry, showing the fine acidity of this northern latitude location. We use 100% Barrel fermentation, and 12 months of barrel aging to bring out the flavors of Pineapple, butter, oak and apple that are the mark of this fine vineyard and region. Sur lees aged for 5 months.

This grape variety comes from the famous St. Emillon region of Bordeaux, France. This rich red wine was aged for 24 months in small oak barrels to help mellow the wine and emphasize the soft tannins and berry flavors of 100% Yakima Valley Merlot. The Crawford Vineyard Merlot has flavors of Bing cherry, blackberry, mint, smoke, oak and chocolate, which allow it to be enjoyed with hearty meals. It also can be further aged to bring the wine to its fullest potential.

Malbec

We saved a little of this wonderful wine from our barrel aging program; this wine brought the tobacco, cedar, and a subtle berry component to the above Cabernet blend.  Here it is as on its own!  Yum.   Pick this up for your favorite wine aficionado (maybe yourself?).  Of our 2005 vintage, we only bottled 30 cases, so it is available from the winery only. Price $20.00

Sangiovese- Coming May 2008

We produce fruit wines from locally grown fruits here in the Puget Sound Basin. We use organically grown fruit when ever possible. We feel these wines are a nice change from the usual, and we rotate which wine we are currently making and selling. Not all are available; check our order page to see which wines we have currently.

Made from organically grown raspberries from the Broer’s farm in the Snohomish valley, this wine tastes like a handful of fresh berries. This wine is finished with enough sweetness to be delicious served with chocolate or berry tarts, but yet it still has a nice crisp acidity so that it finishes clean on the palate. Available in the half bottle only.

This rich desert wine was produced from 100% organic Wild Himalayan blackberries gathered on Lopez Island. This wine is summer revisited, flavors of ripe wile blackberries, with a gentle sweet and tart finish. Delicious served with chocolate. Available in the half bottle only.  Note: Sold out until Nov 2008