瓦拉华谷的新篇章：Va Piano Vineyards在山谷南侧扩张，计划2024年在53英亩土地上种植葡萄园
作为位于华拉瓦拉山谷的一家知名酿酒厂，Va Piano Vineyards recently made headlines with the announcement of their latest expansion. The winery has acquired 53 acres of untapped land in the valley's southern region, with plans to cultivate a vineyard by 2024.
Wylie, the visionary behind Va Piano, has been meticulously researching this new endeavor for nearly a year. The chosen site is nestled within SeVein Vineyard at an elevation of approximately 1,000 feet – significantly higher than many existing vineyards in the area. Currently, there are 33 acres under cultivation at SeVein; next year, Wylie aims to dedicate 20 more acres to planting.
The grape varieties slated for this ambitious project include five clones of Cabernet Sauvignon, two clones each of Merlot and Syrah, as well as one clone each of Malbec and Sangiovese. Wylie attributes his fondness for this location primarily to its elevated altitude: "We don't have to worry about deep winter freezes or needing shovels," he notes enthusiastically. "It's a consistently reliable site."
This new vineyard will be named Giovanoni in tribute to Wylie's Italian-born grandmother from Northern Italy. Due diligence dictates that these young vines will be grafted onto rootstock due to recent discoveries of rootworms in Walla Walla and Columbia Valley areas.
The primary objectives behind this expansion are twofold. Firstly, it will enable Va Piano Vineyards' Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon program by providing additional fruit sources alongside their existing estate properties – Octave Vineyard (22 acres) and Eritage (acquired grapes). The Giovanoni property will be situated near Octave.
Secondly – and just as importantly – Wylie hopes that this venture will strengthen his wine club offerings by focusing on estate-grown wines from various properties within Va Piano estates. These wines will predominantly feature blends based on Merlot/Malbec combinations while Octave remains dedicated exclusively to producing single-variety Cabernet Sauvignons.
As for future prospects beyond these endeavors? Expectations are high regarding high-altitude planting trends in Walla Walla Valley; according to industry insiders like Wylie himself: "In the future we'll see more growth happening at those higher elevations."
