WHY THE COLUMBIA RIVER CREATES IDEAL GROWING CONDITIONS: Mark Ryan’s NEWEST CUSTOM PLANTING AT DISCOVERY VINEYARD
Beneath the mid-June sun, the steep south-facing slopes of Discovery Vineyard was hand planted with new vines. Here, where the Columbia River meets the arid desert soil, our vineyard partners are set to create something truly exceptional with our new custom planting.
Where the vines see the water
Winemaking in Washington State is unique; the desert landscape that provides ideal grape-growing conditions on the east side of the Cascade mountains contrasts with the rainy western side of the state where most of the population lives. Unlike much of the old world, irrigation is a must for most Washington growers. Thankfully, water is plentiful due to runoff from both the Cascade and Rocky Mountains. This irrigated farming style provides the opportunity to create just the right amount of stress for the vines as the grapes develop; the best growers use this to their advantage to cultivate fruit of remarkable quality and depth of flavor. Mark Ryan Winery prefers to source our grapes from small and sustainable family run operations like Discovery Vineyard because the attention to detail – from hand-training the vines to deep knowledge of the soil conditions – is unmatched.
Discovery Vineyard was first planted by Milo and Kay May in 2005, and is being passed onto the second generation of care as their son Oliver, an expert in soil science and viticulture, continues to grow some of the best grapes in Washington. The site of our new custom planting is on especially difficult terrain, making it especially rewarding to watch the shared vision come together. The loess soil over fractured basalt on steep slopes running down to the Columbia River require planting, training the vines to trellis, and harvesting by hand. The site also benefits from proximity to the river, which creates a temperature mitigating effect that improves air flow and protects the grapes from frost in the winter, and from extreme heat in the summer. The long sun exposure balanced by significant temperature drops at night help the grapes develop and retain acid.
A budding promise
After three years of planning, it is exciting to see the vines take root and the first leaves unfurling – a delightful preview of what's to come. While predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon, our new custom planting also includes Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. These grapes are the components for Bordeaux style red wines, such as our Dead Horse, The Dissident, and Water Witch. While Red Mountain AVA to the north is known for its bold, full bodied red wines, the Horse Heaven Hills AVA, and especially Discovery Vineyard, lends to a more plush, aromatic style with great acid development and structure.
Our winemaking style is based on minimal intervention, which means that the most important work is done picking vineyard sites, planting varietals and clones that complement the site, and collaborating with vineyards to produce exceptional quality grapes. In the cellar, our task is much more simple: intervene as little as possible. Over the years we have found the higher the quality of our fruit and the more attention put into the grapes in the vineyard, the less work needs to be done in cellar to make outstanding wine. This planting in particular – with its proximity to the river, ideal soil conditions, and attentive stewardship by the May family – promises future harvests that will produce extraordinary wines.
more About Discovery Vineyard…
Planted in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA and sitting above the Columbia River, Discovery Vineyard produces exceptional fruit. The vines are planted on a south-facing slope in soils that are a combination of wind-blown loess and fractured basalt. The river acts to moderate extreme temperatures. This combination of location, slope, and soil produce the ideal conditions for growing Cabernet Sauvignon. The wines produced from this site have an intense aromatic profile that shows layers of dark fruit (blackberry, blueberry, and currant) and savory non-fruit elements of tobacco leaf and black pepper.
EXPLORE mark ryan WINES SOURCED FROM DISCOVERY VINEYARD
