Special Events
Small
Plates
Shaded
perennial gardens
Kitchen garden
Lazy S Arrow Market
Picnic Tables
Gift Certificates
Seasonal Features
Lunch at The Reserve House
Open Seasonally:
11:30 am to 3:00 pm, Friday - Sunday
Revolving menu of small plates; inspired by
fresh-from-the-garden
ingredients and other
locally sourced
products.
Lazy S Arrow Market
Early Spring through Fall
Selling locally grown produce, specialty
foods and items for wine-country picnics.
I n t e n s i t y i s t h e K e y...
S u s t a i n a b i l i t y t h e v e h i c l e
Woodward
Canyon Winery was one of the first two wineries to help put the Walla Walla Valley on
Washington State's wine map. From its first powerful 1981 cabernet sauvignon to its current
releases, Woodward Canyon wines, as well as its winemakers Rick Small and
Kevin Mott, invariably are
described as intense. That intensity also drives the winery's commitment to
sustainability,
and the "Woody" brand of sustainability aims at
all
aspects of the overall operation and a "triple
bottom line" – the environmental
(minimal and safe chemical use), the social (being a good
neighbor and employer) and
the economics (making a profit).
"Fundamentally, we’re harvesting an agricultural product,"
reasons co-owner and winemaker Rick Small, "and
with that comes a certain responsibility to the land from which
the fruit comes and to the community in which it is grown. It
means we are actively interested in the well-being of our
employees and our community -- both locally and within the larger wine
community at large; and we
participate year-round in discussions of how to better manage
our natural resources."
The Woodward Canyon commitment to intensity and sustainability
also plays out in the relationship between the terroir of the
vineyard and the character of finished fine wines. Wine intensity
begins with terroir, notes Rick Small. Characteristics of climate and soil indigenous
to particular sites are brought out and enhanced in Woodward Canyon wines. From
barrel-fermented, mouth-filling chardonnays to ripe, fruity merlots and focused
cabernet
sauvignons, Woodward Canyon wines have always benefited at the hands of winemakers intent on producing the
best of super-premium wines using fruit from specific
quality vineyards.
Terroir
diversity in Woodward Canyon wines brings out a variety of flavors, texture, structure and character: old-block vineyards of Champoux Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills provide mature vines from ancient soils for big,
well-structured wines; the silty loam soil of the newer
Pepper Bridge vineyard in the Walla Walla appellation produces rich flavors and supple
textures; Celilo Vineyard in the Columbia Gorge appellation and other vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley
are responsible for bringing complexity to
Woodward's award-winning chardonnays.
Woodward Canyon Estate Vineyard,
Lazy S Arrow Market
and Lunch at The Reserve House restaurant
Woodward
Canyon's own vineyard is located at nearly 900 feet of elevation three miles
north in Lowden, WA. The soils are
layered with wind-blown loess over Ritzville silt loam over
fractured basalt. The vineyard was first planted in 1977
on third-generation family land previously used for cattle and
wheat production. At the base of the vineyard, the Lazy S
Arrow produce garden was planted in 2005 and its products were
used for events at the winery and for sale to local restaurants.
Since those earlier years,
the vineyard has grown to the current 42 acres, predominantly planted to
cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and cabernet franc with various
northern Italian and Rhone varieties planted as well. The Lazy S Arrow
produce garden has become the major
contributor to the Lazy S Arrow Market opened at the winery in 2012, and its
products, along with those of a kitchen garden, are the inspiration for the
small plates now served seasonally in The Reserve House restaurant at
Woodward Canyon winery.
Be sure to slow your drive on Hwy 12 as you approach "Downtown" Lowden,
just 12 miles west of Walla Walla. Stop in
at Woodward Canyon's tasting room in the historic, onsite farm house and
taste the distinctive wines everyone is talking about. Enjoy a tasty
and locally grown lunch with a glass of wine, or call ahead
and join one of the Private Tastings in the Reserve
House.
In 2009 as with past vintages, we saw beautiful
ripening with full physiological maturity. Rigorous cultural
practices such as leaf stripping, shoot thinning and green
harvesting are the standard here. Several blocks were thinned to one
cluster per shoot to insure evenly ripened fruit; the average yield
was around two tons per acre. Our efforts toward sustainable wine
growing over the last six years are clearly beginning to pay off;
this is truly exciting stuff!
All grapes were harvested by hand and sorted prior to crushing. This
cabernet was fermented in very small 2000 liter stainless steel
tanks and was gently punched down two times per day. After pressing
and settling, this red wine went directly to French chateau barrels
for additional aging and maturation.
General Characteristics:
This wine has enticingly high toned aromas of tobacco, fennel, Asian
spices and sweet oak notes that integrate beautifully with generous
black cherry fruit. A rich mouth feel begins with black fruits
leading towards a chocolate/mocha finish that is exotic, generous
and long. The wine shows great proportion and while slightly leaner
than 2008 is beautifully integrated and seamless for a wine so
young. While this wine may be enjoyed now, it will benefit from
additional cellaring and should continue to develop for six years or
more with proper storage.
Vineyards: Woodward Canyon Estate - Walla
Walla Valley (93%), DuBrul Vineyard, Yakima Valley (7%)
Alcohol: 14.5% Release Date: May,
2011 Production: 588 cases 750ml
2009
Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon 750ml - $54.00
375ml - $28.50
1.5L - $120.00 Order Now
This wine has an enticing nose of earth, cedar,
tobacco and jonquil integrated with aromas of black fruits and
cassis. In the mouth the wine is firm but rich showing notes of
pepper, herb and berries. Integrated tannins enhance the texture and
give proportion; the finish is complex, generous, and long. While
this wine can be enjoyed now it will benefit greatly from additional
cellaring and, with proper storage, should develop for ten years or
more.
Vintage Specific Characteristics:
The 2009 vintage was fabulous for the “Artist Series” Cabernet
Sauvignon, producing a wine in some ways more like left bank
“Bordeaux”. We saw beautifully mature fruit from lower yields
through shoot thinning, leaf stripping and over all better
viticultural practices. All fruit was harvested by the end of
September.
Production Notes and General Characteristics:
This “Artist Series” Cabernet Sauvignon is produced from
some of the finest and most highly regarded vineyards in Washington
State. Each produces fantastic wine in their own right; when blended
they produce extraordinary wine
Alcohol: 15.8 % by volume Release Date: December,
2011 Production:
2421 cases 750 ml 239 cases 375ml
29 cases 1.5L
2009 Old
Vines Cabernet Sauvignon 750ml bottle - $89.00
1.5L Magnum - $197.00 Order Now
Varietal Composition: 93% Cabernet sauvignon,
7% Petit Verdot
This 2009 Washington State "Old Vines" Cabernet
Sauvignon is produced from grapes that were planted in the early
1970's. In October, cabernet sauvignon grapes were harvested
by hand from Champoux Vineyard (60%) and Sagemoor Vineyard (33%),
located on two very distinct benches above the Columbia River.
The petit verdot was harvested from our Woodward Canyon Estate
Vineyard (7%). The 2009 vintage was a superb one for cabernet
sauvignon.
Production Notes and General Characteristics:
The wine was fermented in 2000 liter stainless steel tanks and was
punched down two times per day. Average fermentation was between
seven and ten days. After pressing and racking, the various lots
were moved to new French chateau barrels for aging and maturation.
In late summer of 2011 the wine was racked from barrel, assembled
and bottled the end of August. I am extremely pleased that we
have been able to bottle over 650 cases of "Old Vines" Cabernet
Sauvignon; past recent vintages have not been so generous.
This "Old Vines" Cabernet Sauvignon is rich and complex yet shows
the sophistication and balance that comes from decades of making the
"old vines" from the same grapes. It expresses the purity of
fully mature cabernet sauvignon that, in my opinion, can only be
experienced from 35 or 40 year old vines. The color is dark
purple and the aromas are of earth, black fruits, dried juniper
berry, leather and mocha. Flavors of ripe black fruits and
cassis blend beautifully with the exotic spice of new oak to coat
the mouth. The texture is soft and silky yet there are mature
integrated tannins offering a rich, lingering finish. I love the
generous overall proportion of this wine and with proper storage; it
will age for ten years or more.
In 1998, Woodward Canyon Winery began producing
wines under its second label, Nelms Road. Nelms Road offers merlot
and cabernet sauvignon from Walla Walla Valley and Washington State
grapes. It was developed to produce delicious and affordable red
wine from young vineyards or declassified Woodward Canyon Winery
production. While these wines may be cellared for several years,
they are truly ready for enjoyment now.
Description:
This newest bottling of Nelms Road Cabernet Sauvignon reflects the
2009 vintage very well. The younger vines from Spring Creek and
Woodward Canyon continue to produce better grapes allowing us to
produce better wine nearly every year. Add to that some truly
phenomenal press wine from some of the oldest and most celebrated
vineyards in Washington State such as Woodward Canyon, Champoux and
Sagemoor, and we can produce an exceptional cabernet sauvignon at a
very attractive price.
The warm and moderate growing conditions of 2009 gave enticing
aromas of black fruits, exotic spices, tobacco, and graphite. The
wine is dark purple in color. In the mouth the wine offers sweet
blackberry fruit, ripe mature tannins and a long generous finish.
The wine is in beautiful proportion.
While this wine was produced for early consumption I do believe that
it will improve with additional time in bottle. With proper storage,
this wine should easily age five years. This red wine would be
fantastic with wood-fired pizza, roasted meats and any well-made raw
milk cheese.
This Woodward Canyon Estate Reserve is from the
finest Estate Vineyard lots produced in 2009. It is wonderful
to once again producing such a classic Walla Walla Valley red wine.
The Estate Vineyard has always been a rather low yielding property
and 2009 was no different. Average yield was less than two tons per
acre. This particular vintage is soft, generous and more
approachable.
This wine was fermented in small open top tanks with native yeast
and was punched down and/or pumped over two times per day. After
pressing, this wine went directly to new French chateau barrels for
maturation and development.
As might be expected with such low yields, the resulting wine is
concentrated with generous black fruit and cassis. A breadth
of spices and vanilla from new oak integrate beautifully with firm
cabernet franc and merlot dominated fruit. A nose of roasted game,
ripe fruit and shaved chocolate develops in the glass; the color is
reddish purple. A soft, generous texture transitions to a supple,
balanced mouth feel; the finish is rich, layered and long. In this
wine I am again able to perceive an "expression" or "sense of place"
from our Estate Vineyard and I love that! With proper cellaring,
this wine should age for ten years.
Vineyard:
Woodward Canyon Estate Vineyard. All grapes are sustainably
grown at our Walla Walla Valley Woodward Canyon Estate Vineyard.
The vineyard has been certified sustainable by the International
Organisation for Biological Control (IOBC) & LIVE. The IOBC was
established in 1955 to promote environmentally safe methods of pest
and disease control in plant protection. The vineyard is also
designated as Salmon Safe. This wine is 100% from the Estate
Vineyard making it a designated Salmon Safe wine
Release Date: Winter, 2012 Production:
168 cases 750 ml
2011 Estate
Sauvignon Blanc
Walla Walla Valley 100% Sauvignon Blanc $26.00 750ml bottleOrder Now
This is the eighth vintage of sauvignon blanc that
we have produced from our Estate Vineyard in Walla Walla. The 2011
vintage was an even cooler one than 2010 allowing for marginal but
welcome ripeness at around 22 brix. The yield was perfect for the
vintage at 2.7 tons per acre. 2011 has proven to be one of the
cooler vintages that I have experienced; a bit like 1984. This
sauvignon blanc correctly reflects the vintage from which it came.
Production Notes and General Characteristics:
Harvest of four different sauvignon blanc clones took place
September 14, 2011. Hand harvested grapes were sorted and whole
cluster pressed. Settled juice was chilled and cold fermented in
stainless steel; the wine did not go through malolactic
fermentation. After fermentation the wine was aged in neutral French
oak for four and a half months adding complexity and roundness.
There is a purity in our sauvignon blanc that I love; it expresses a
very distinct sense of place.
This wine is light straw in color and is brilliantly clear. The nose
is showing nuanced minerality and the crisp acidity of gooseberry.
There are lively flavors of melon and perceptible spice; the fruit
is in delightful balance with the bright acidity. The texture is
layered and rich and the finish is generous and long. This 2011
sauvignon blanc should benefit from additional time in bottle but
will be perfect with Pacific Northwest seafood any time.
Vineyard:
All grapes are sustainably grown at our Walla Walla Valley Woodward
Canyon Estate Vineyard which is Certified Sustainable by LIVE and by
the International Organization for Biological Control (IOBC). As a
part of that certification the Vineyard is also designated
Salmon-Safe as is this wine.
Alcohol: 13.2% by Volume Production: 139 cases
2011 Washington
State
Chardonnay 100% Chardonnay
$44.00750ml bottleOrder Now
This 2011 Washington State Chardonnay was produced
from grapes (Wente Clone) grown at Celilo Vineyard in the Columbia
River Gorge and Woodward Canyon Estate (Clone 108) in the
northwestern corner of the Walla Walla Valley. The grapes were
harvested by hand, sorted, and whole cluster pressed. The average
yield was 2.6 tons per acre, with all grapes harvested by the middle
of October. 2011 has proven to be one of the cooler vintages that we
have ever experienced; a bit like 1984. Flowering took weeks rather
than days and as a result physiological ripeness took longer to
achieve. This chardonnay reflects the cooler vintage from which it
came.
Production Notes and General Characteristics:
This wine was fermented in 100% French burgundy barrels; roughly 20%
new. Beautiful flavors of Asian pear and crisp apple are evident.
Whole cluster pressing has given delineated elegant fruit which
integrates beautifully with aromatic notes of vanilla, spice and
hazelnut. The texture is smooth and rich and the finish is complex
and long. Finally, the oak is understated by our choice and is in
wonderful proportion with the fruit and acidity. This wine will
benefit substantially with a year in bottle and should continue to
improve for another four or five years with proper cellaring.
Vineyards:
Celilo Vineyard (67%), Columbia Gorge Appellation and Woodward
Canyon Estate Vineyard (33%), Walla Walla Valley Appellation.
Certified Sustainable by LIVE and Salmon-Safe.
Alcohol: 13.3% by volume
Release Date: May, 2012 Production:
733 cases 750 ml
MasterCard
sustainability,
and the "Woody" brand of sustainability aims at
all
aspects of the overall operation and a "triple
bottom line" – the environmental
(minimal and safe chemical use), the social (being a good
neighbor and employer) and
the economics (making a profit).
contributor to the Lazy S Arrow Market opened at the winery in 2012, and its
products, along with those of a kitchen garden, are the inspiration for the
small plates now served seasonally in The Reserve House restaurant at
Woodward Canyon winery.
