Yesterday (Thursday, May 24) Lynn and I visited the Cadaretta Winery's Windsong Vineyard in the south part of the Walla Walla Valley. To get there, we drove down into Oregon on Highway 11 to Sunnyside Road, where we met Cadaretta's winemaker, Brian Rudin. From there, we drove to County Road and then up a gravel road to the top of the vineyard.

The Windsong vineyard comprises a unique terroir. The top sits high above the valley below, known as "The Rocks' for its cobblestone laden soil from the old Walla Walla riverbed before it changed to its present course. Windsong, therefore, is situated above the Missoula Floodlands. Here, on top, there are two to five foot deposits of loess silt loam which typifies the Walla Walla Valley in general, but below are basalt rock deposits, sometimes outcroping above the soil. During the course of 17 million years, some of this iron rich rock has decomposed into calcium oxide, along with silica and magnesium. Brian also took us to a trench cut on the side of the slope, showing the layers of soil and rock though which the vines will take root. Growing grape crops here is a costly proposition, as water has to be pumped up to the vineyard for irrigation (there is not enough rainfall for dry farming).

The south facing slope is planted with two French clones of Syrah. The purpose is to stress the vines by planting in poor soil, thereby reducing crop yields with small berries that produce high quality Syrah. The north facing slopes are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. Beause of the high elevation, exposure is optimal as the course of the sun sweeps in an arc for much of the daytime. Brian is very excited about the prospect of making wines from these new sites. The first crop from these vines will be harvested next year (2013). We, too, are looking forward to the results of this project.

The Windsong Vineyard, by the way, takes its name from the renamed Cadaretta, the Middleton Lumber company's shipping schooner, which was conscripted during World War II and rechristened Windsong.

 

See the Review of Washington Wines Facebook page for pictures taken at the Windsong Vineyard.