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| Spring Valley Vineyard |
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| As you travel from downtown Walla Walla to the area known as Spring Valley the view is so beautiful with wheat fields growing on rolling hills you scarcely feel like your destination is a winery. The backdrop of the Blue Mountains makes your trip there seem surreal. The crop destroying frost of 2004 in Walla Walla hampered many wineries from producing Walla Walla designated wines that year and forced most producers to source their grapes from outside the area. As we gazed out from atop the valley it is easy to see how this secluded and sheltered area was spared enabling Spring Valley Vineyard to produce excellent estate vineyard wines that year. The farm has been in the hands of the Corkrum and more recently the Corkrum, Derby and Elvin families for over a hundred years. Here they still grow livestock crops and of course their famed estate grapes. It was a busy day at the winery when we arrived. An acquisition of Ste Michelle Wine Estates in 2005 Spring Valley Vineyard was in full swing. The Derby family was meeting with representatives of Ste Michelle and we felt lucky to have the opportunity to meet with winemaker Serge Laville. Serge came to the winery in 2002 after a chance meeting with founding winemaker Devin Corkrum Derby. Serge started as an assistant winemaker but with Devin's passing in 2004 he took on the mantle of helping to carry on Devin's and Spring Valley Vineyard's legacy. Serge grew up in the North of the Cote-du-Rhone in France and was trained in his grandfather's wine cellar as well as studying with famed wine consultant Marie Laure Sylvestre. His attention to detail and care in both the vineyard and the winery are classic trademarks of a great winemaker.. After some discussion of the winemaking facilities and production, Serge, Carolyn and I jumped in our Durango and headed up to the estate vineyard. OK! After regaling you all with the gentle rolling hills comment above I must say they are were not quite so gentle and rolling as we were driving (sideways at times) up to the top. The view though was breathtaking! We walked and discussed the estate vineyard and then down we came and across the property to the two new vineyards being brought online on the other side of the valley. I have to say that Serge is a man of the land. He had very strong feelings and convictions as to the new vineyards including slope, sun exposure and soil makeup and the proper grape varietals and clones that were being planted. If our meeting is any indication, Spring Valley Vineyard has many new surprises for us all in the years to come. Our vineyard excursion complete we headed back to the winery where we sampled through the 2006 vintage with Serge. While we were tasting, elder statesman Dean Derby in his classic jeans and cowboy hat came by on his ATV to say hello. We tasted the Derby Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah together which we thought were wonderful. Dean thought they needed time to flesh themselves out. Guess when you have been there since the beginning you really have a feel for the wine. Here is some recent critical praise of Spring Valley Vineyard's wines: 2005 Uriah (Red Blend) Firm in texture with its black cherry and tar flavors, picking up pretty raspberry and vanilla notes as the finish lingers impressively. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.. 91 Points Wine Spectator. $50 2005 Frederick (Red Blend) A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc and a splash of Petit Verdot - is entirely estate grown, as are all of the Spring Valley wines. Located north of Walla Walla in rolling wheat country, the vines attain a different set of flavors than anywhere else in the valley. It's an unusual combination of power and breed. Supple, sleek, mixing its black fruits with streaks of gun metal, iron and pencil lead, this is a wine that wants to tackle a prime rib, mano a mano. 90 Points Wine Enthusiast. $50 2005 Nina Lee Syrah Silky, round and gentle, with hints of green olive adding interest to the blackberry, currant and tar flavors, which linger on the open-textured finish. 91 Points Wine Spectator. $50 Spring Valley also produces a Cabernet Sauvignon called Derby (91 Points Wine Enthusiast) and a Merlot named Mule Skinner. Because the production levels on these wines are so small they tend to released only at the Tasting Room or by direct order from the winery. Be sure to visit their tasting room in downtown Walla Walla. It is right across the street from the Marcus Whitman Hotel and next to Sleight of Hand Cellars. We encourage you to visit the Spring Valley Vineyard link on this page to find out more about this fabulous winery and the people responsible for these great wines. Northwest Wine Fan has very limited quantities of these and other Spring Valley Vineyard wines available for purchase. Inquire by email or by telephone. |
| Spring Valley Vineyard Tasting Room 18 N. 2nd Avenue Walla Walla, WA 99362 509-525-1506 Thursday - Monday 10:00 - 4:00 (Sundays) 11:00 - 4:00 Spring Valley Vineyard Winery By Appointment Only 1663 Corkrum Road Walla Walla, WA 99362 Winemaker: Serge Laville |
| Spring Valley Vineyard Links: |
| Talk to the Cellarmaster: |
| Name: |
| Tim Sinniger |
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