Year in Review at Red Willow Vineyard

2009, Bitter sweet. Like the prior year we got off to a late start with bud break nearly two weeks behind the average. Once again the Eastern Washington summer made up the difference with warmer than average heat and finally a heat spike during harvest that sent everyone scrambling to get everything picked. In all we condensed a normal 5 week harvest into about 4 weeks. Somewhat dazed and numb by the end, when all of the dust finally settled, we were able to look back with satisfaction to a job well done. I think that 09 will be looked upon as a good vintage, and as with any given year certain varietals will rise up as shinning stars. For us we have never seen Cab Franc look and taste so good (homerun). Syrah looked quite good as well. The ultimate test is in the wines, and unfortunately this calls for a bit of patience.

“If I have seen further it is because I was standing on the shoulder of giants” Sir Isaac Newton.

This year was marked by the passing of a giant in the Washington wine industry. David Lake MW, passed away October 5th. David was many things, a living legend, pioneer, visionary, master motivator, mentor, gentleman, and to us a dear friend. “We owe everything to him.” Mike Sauer states and rightly so. David discovered something unique about this small isolated vineyard on the western fringes of the Yakima Valley. It was he that first vineyard designated wines of the state (1981 Cab. Sauvignon Red Willow Vineyard). It was David that suggested Mike try Syrah and made the calls to Joseph Phelps securing the Rhone cuttings. He and Mike went on to pioneer many new varieties and wines for the state. Each year David would bring a group from the winery over so that they might better understand the vineyard and in turn we were invited to the winery to go over each and every lot of wine produced from the vineyard for that year. He greatly valued a partnership between the winery and Red Willow vineyard. What developed was a partnership and friendship that spanned over thirty years between David and Mike. He will be greatly missed and has left a lasting legacy for all in the Washington wine industry.

In 2009, we were pleased to welcome Nota Bene Cellars located in the South Seattle wine district, Stella Fino Winery in Walla Walla who has an emphasis on Sangiovese, Eight Bells winery in Seattle as well as Fausse Piste winery in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. We are absolutely thrilled with all of the wineries that we are now working with and are looking forward to many great things ahead.

In a picture below you will see Boomer. He is our latest addition to the vineyard. Living at the shop with his friend Clean-up. At first taking awhile to transition from big city life to wide open country and coyotes, he is now I believe the happiest dog alive. When Mike arrives each morning Boomer is always there to say hello hopping up with front paws on the chest looking practically eye to eye with a good morning greeting.

For wineries seeking information on fruit availability please contact Jonathan at syrah1986@aol.com