TERROIR & VINEYARDS
Terroir is the influence of soil, climate, vine, and topography on the wine. It is the notion of letting the sense of place (the "somewhereness”) speak through the wine.
This implies a strict minimal-interventionist approach to viticulture and winemaking and it implies that high quality and unique terroir are inextricably linked.
Eastern Washington and parts of Northeast Oregon are favored with having unique and expressive terroirs. We work with our own estate fruit and other high-quality vineyards to highlight these terroirs and make wines of distinction.
Naravane Estate Vineyard
This is our estate vineyard and our namesake vines. We own 25 acres of vineyard land in what we consider the best AVA in the country: The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater.
The climate is Continental - cold, wet winters; warm dry summers; 25-30 °F diurnal fluctuations with average 14.5 inches annual precipitation. The Rocks District AVA comprises a single soil series, the Freewater series. This series is basalt based, cobblestone-rich gravels. The coarse-grain alluvial sediments found in our soil go to a depth of 60-100 feet. This is unique in the world of wine. We planted our first three acres to Syrah in 2016. The fruit goes into our Veritas Sequitur and Human[e] wines. The wines from the Rocks are distinctive, evocative, and world class.
Ciel du Cheval Vineyard
We just started working with this excellent vineyard and 2021 and we are very excited with the quality we are seeing.
Ciel du Cheval was established in 1975 on Red Mountain. It now has 36 blocks planted in 102 acres. While fourteen different varieties are planted, we are focused on their Cabernet Sauvignon and experimenting with their Cabernet Franc. Like the best of Red Mountain, the grapes offer high fruit concentration and high fruit intensity with a depth of tannins not experienced in most of the growing regions of the world.
Bacchus Vineyard
Bacchus Vineyards is in the new White Bluffs AVA and 180 acres are planted to grapes.
The Continental climate offers cold, wet winters; warm dry summers; wide diurnal fluctuations; average six inches annual precipitation. The elevation ranges from 550-900 feet and the site has excellent air drainage. The vineyard has four different soil series containing sandy loam. We’ve been working with this stellar vineyard since 2009 and the grapes have gone into some of our best wines: The Composer, The Lyricist, The Maestro, in Order to form a more perfect Union, Doctrina Perpetua, and QED Convergence. The Riesling for our Occam's Razor Riesling also comes from this wonderful site.
Eclectic Vineyard
This relatively young vineyard, planted in 2012 and 2014, sits primarily on southern facing slopes at an elevation between 870-930 feet in eastern Yakima Valley.
We get traditional Portuguese grape varieties from this fantastic vineyard owned and managed by Cameron Fox. We use Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Cao, and Souzao to make Courageous Convictions – our homage to vintage Port and the Douro Valley.
DuBrul Vineyard
Planted in 1992 by Hugh and Kathy Sheils, the grapes from this vineyard are often considered the most sought-after in Washington.
We are one of handful wineries fortunate enough to source from this Yakima Valley vineyard, and those who have had our Creative Impulse understand the high quality of fruit coming from this vineyard.
Firethorn Vineyard
Planted in 2006, this 89-acre, Columbia Valley vineyard is owned and operated by Jay and Kim Bales, and it is certified LIVE and Salmon Safe.
We source many different grapes from this vineyard; however, our loyal customers seem happiest with this vineyard's contribution to our in Order to form a more perfect Union.
Frenchman Hills
The Chardonnay grapes for our Dream Deferred label come from this exceptional site.
The soil is a combination of loam to sandy loam soil on top of a layer of broken caliche over basalt. The broken caliche gives the soil calcium carbonate, in which Chardonnay thrives.
Kiona Vineyards
Planted in 1975, this Red Mountain vineyard is the inspiration for our Plus One, made of 100% Cabernet.
We love Cabernet Sauvignon from Red Mountain. We are lucky to have access to the oldest block planted on Red Mountain. The fruit always delivers high fruit concentration, high acidity, and high tannins. It's classic Cabernet Sauvignon.
Gamache Vineyard
We source Pinot Gris for our Occam’s Razor label from this vineyard located in the White Bluffs AVA.
First planted in 1982, Gamache Vineyard is one of the older vineyards in Washington state. Its elevation is between 840 to 960 feet above sea level. The caliche imparts calcium carbonate to the soil.
Seven Hills Vineyard
First planted in 1980, Seven Hills Vineyard has become an iconic vineyard providing fruit to some of the best WA and OR wineries.
The vineyard sits above The Rocks District AVA, which is on the valley floor. The elevation at Seven Hills ranges from 850-1050 feet. The Block 11 Syrah (Joseph Phelps clone) is used for our Principia and QED Convergence labels.