SUMMER'S VINEYARD
Modeled on the vineyards of the Alpine Arc
The Site
Not your typical vineyard
Summer's Vineyard is just east of Walla Walla, Washington. Overlooking the Blue Mountains, the site ranges from 2,500 to 3,000 feet in elevation, placing it outside the Walla Walla AVA. Steeply-sloped and south-facing, it is about ten degrees cooler than the valley and gets more moisture, along with some fierce wind.
Vineyards in Valais, Switzerland (left)
and Alto Adige, Italy
The Idea
Looking for inspiration
What do you plant at a higher-elevation site in Washington State? We looked to Europe's Alpine Arc - places like Jura in France, Valais in Switzerland, and Italy's Alto Adige - for ideas. What we came up with is a mix of well-known and uncommon varietals that we hope will produce unique Washington wines.
Summer guarding her flock at the vineyard (left). Luke and Quail.
The Name
Woof woof woof
Yes, the vineyard is named for a dog. Summer is a Maremma Sheepdog, a livestock guardian you might expect to encounter in the Alps. At the age of five she was rescued and made her way from Florida to Wisconsin. As happy as that made her, it only got better when I bought the land and she began to spend time here. It is her favorite place, and as a very old dog she enjoys nothing more than laying on the deck and surveying her realm.