1978 was the beginning of a long lasting relationship
between Red Willow and Associated Vintners, later to be called
Columbia Winery. A contract was signed by Lloyd Woodburne,
one of the key founders of Associated Vintners. A year later
the youthful Master of Wine, David Lake, was hired as wine
maker. His hiring would have 
a
profound effect on the development of Red Willow. In 1981 he
chose to vineyard designate the Cabernet Sauvignon from Red
Willow and that pattern has continued to the present date.
His world prospective of wine often brought suggestions concerning
the planting of different varieties. Perhaps the variety David
was most influential in jointly introducing with Red Willow
is Syrah. Other less known varieties experimented with and
made into wine are Cabernet Franc, Mataro, Tempranillio, Malbec,
Viognier, Sangiovese and Nebbiolo.
Since this is a new grape growing region, discovering which varieties
make the best wine and how to best grow them has been a trial and
error process. Likely experimentation will go on for at least another
generation.
1982 was the first sizable expansion of wine grapes for Red Willow,
20 acres each of White Riesling and Gewurztraminer were planted.
Shortly after this planting white wine grape prices plunged and it
would be years later before they would modestly recover. Further
planting took place every few years several acres at a time and always
red wine varieties. The vineyards developed were usually steep hillsides
that took weeks of bulldozing before they were suitable for planting.
Perhaps the most distinguishing hallmark of Red Willow is the diversity
and complexity of its soil found on these hillsides. Continued
