Distinctly Washington
OUR WINES BEGIN THEIR LIVES IN THE BEST AREAS OF WASHINGTON.
In 2007, EFESTĒ planted three estate vineyards in two separate appellations in Washington State. Each of the three sites were planted with varietals and employ techniques uniquely suited to maximizing the potential for the particular vineyard site. EFESTE’s winemaking team works closely with our Vineyard Manager at all three sites, Washington grape-growing legend, Dick Boushey.
With our Estates recently reaching the age of 10 years, we have noticed a significant leap in quality, concentration and character of our fruit from the EFESTĒ’s Estate vineyards, and are very excited to share the results of our work with our guests.
OUR ESTATE VINEYARDS
Red Mountain
Angela's Estate Vineyard
Planted on a slope reaching from 650 to 600 feet elevation of Red Mountain’s Northeastern tip, Angela’s Vineyard showcases remarkable texture, purity of fruit and concentration. In addition to sourcing small parcels of fruit to some of Washington’s finest winemaking programs, we have primarily featured Angela’s Syrah in our Ceidleigh Syrah, our extremely-limited Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and upcoming release of Estate Cabernet Franc.
Red Mountian AVA
Planted Acres: 18.9
Planted Varietals: Syrah, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon,
Cabernet Franc
Wines: Cabernet Franc, Grenache, Ceidleigh Syrah
Red Mountain
Taylor Mag Estate Vineyard
Planted on flatter terrain, Taylor Mag is situated across Sunset Road from Angela’s Vineyard on Red Mountain. Taylor Mag is ideally situated for Bordeaux varietals and is primarily planted with three different clones of Cabernet Sauvignon. Its densely-planted vines and ideal sun exposure produce a dark, robust Cab Sauv with Red Mountain’s signature complexity and minerality. Our Taylor Mag Cabernet Sauvignon series is exclusively made from this vineyard, along with our Estate Petit Verdot.
Red Mountain AVA
Planted Acres: 17.1
Planted Varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot
Wines: Taylor Mag Cabernet, Upright Merlot, Petit Verdot
Yakima Valley AVA
Oldfield Estate Vineyard
Oldfield Vineyard might be the most unique of all our estates. Situated at an extremely high elevation for the AVA, 1,400 feet, Oldfield’s soils lay above the Missoula Flood Plane, meaning that these soils are 100% indigenous and ancient. This rocky terrain and warm, even climate produce a wine that’s equal parts pretty and powerful. The soft, feminine fruit profile is classic Washington, while its gravely mineral tones bring complexity and balance to our fruit. Planted almost exclusively with Rhone varietals, we use Oldfield for our Oldfield Estate Rose, Estate Syrah, and future bottlings of some of our more significant production ‘Core’ series of wines, such as Jolie Bouche and Upright Merlot.
Yakima Valley with its sunny slopes in the foothills provides the perfect growing conditions for producing intensely flavored, balanced, and complex wines such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Riesling, and Syrah. Long sun-drenched days and cool evenings in this desert climate yield bold, hearty, and luscious world-class wines.
Yakima Valley AVA
Planted Acres: 21.9
Planted Varietals: Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Merlot
Wines: Oldfield Estate Rosé, Jolie Bouche Syrah
Additional Vineyard Sources
The best of Washington
The Columbia Valley
is Washington’s all-encompassing region with some 11 million acres of land in all. Caliche deposits and basalt along with ginkgo petrified forest make up the ancient soils. The new Ancient Lakes AVA is part of this region. This higher, cooler site at over 1,300 feet in elevation allows grapes to hold onto their acidity and produces fruit true to its character.
Red Mountain
is home to some of Washington’s most prestigious vineyards such as Ceil du Cheval and Klipsun. A moderately steep slope rising above the Yakima River, Red Mountain’s loamy soil is high in calcium and ripens Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Rhone grapes such as Syrah exceptionally well. Red Mountain is also home to two of our estate vineyards. The Taylor Mag Vineyard utilizes a system of high-density planting and single cordon trellising, which work to create fruit with a higher flavor concentration including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. Angela’s Vineyard is planted on the southwestern slope of Red Mountain next to Chris Upchurch’s vines with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Syrah.
The Wahluke Slope
along with Red Mountain, is among Washington’s warmest sites with heat units exceeding 3,000 year in and year out. The desert heat and abundance of water create the right conditions for large-scale production of fine wine grapes.
BACCHUS VINEYARD
Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah
Boushey Vineyard
sits on the North side of the Yakima Valley, owned by Richard and Luanne Boushey, are about five miles north of the town of Grandview on the southern slopes of the Rattlesnake Mountains. Just next to our Oldfield Estate vineyard, Boushey is our current source for Jolie Bouche Syrah, 2 slightly separate blocks on a south-facing slope at about 1200 feet of elevation, planted in 1996.
CEIL DU CHEVAL
Syrah
END OF THE ROAD RANCH
Syrah
situated in one of Washington State’s newest AVA’s, Ancient Lakes, is our source for Evergreen Reisling and Feral Sauvignon Blanc. Positioned between George and Quincy Washington, adjacent to the Gorge Amphitheater, a landscape in this region was carved by ancient floods from 12,000 years ago. The AVA takes its name from the numerous small lakes in the area. Our Sauvignon Blanc, planted in 2002 sits on a nice southeast-facing cliff, providing ripe fruit while protecting the lively acidity crucial to a crisp, refreshing white wine.
Ancient soil compositions are a large part of what makes this a great site for EFESTĒ.
KIONA VINEYARD
Cabernet Sauvignon
KLIPSUN VINEYARD
Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon
RED WILLOW
Red Willow is one of Washington's most iconic vineyards. Situated as the very western-most vineyard in the Yakima Valley, Red willow offers us another unique climate and soil for us to showcase some great wines. We source both the 1986 planting and 1991 planting of Syrah, both are on severe slopes with the ’86 facing directly south, and the ’91 facing southeast on the same hill. Soils here 6 to 12 million years old composed of volcanic pumus, sandstone, gravel, and ancient clay. Also coming from Red Willow is Nana, composed of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon.
SAGEMOOR VINEYARD
Cabernet Sauvignon
STONETREE VINEYARD
part of the Wahluke Slope AVA is now home to one of the wines I am most excited about. We’ve recently acquired the northwesternmost section of this vineyard. With the most severe south-facing slope on the vineyard, situated together is about an acre each of Mourvèdre, Grenache, and Syrah. The grapes will be co-fermented and should not only be a great showcase for our winemaking style but will also allow the beautiful fruit characteristics from the vineyard to shine through.