Walla Walla Valley

Merlot

This 2019 Walla Walla Valley Estate Merlot was produced from grapes grown at Woodward Canyon Estate Vineyard (Salmon Safe certified) at the western edge of the Walla Walla Valley. This mature south-facing “old vine” vineyard block (Clone 3) is now 24 years of age. The newer Merlot block (Clone 181) is younger but very impressive. 2019 was a warm/dry vintage with Estate Merlot blocks yielding higher than normal ranging from 3.7 - 4.4 tons per acre. 

Estate Merlot

United States

Washington

Woodward Canyon Winery

Estate Reserve

"Old Vines" Cabernet Sauvignon

40th Anniversary Cabernet Sauvignon

Estate Reserve Red Wine

Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

Non-Vintage Red Wine

Estate Chardonnay

"Artist Series" Cabernet Sauvignon

Washington State Chardonnay

Nelms Road Cabernet Sauvignon

Estate Sauvignon Blanc

WWV Estate Cabernet Franc

Estate Barbera

Woodward Canyon Winery was established in 1981 by Rick Small and his wife, Darcey Fugman-Small. The winery was named for the canyon where Rick's family farmed for multiple generations and where the Woodward Canyon Estate Vineyard is now located. Woodward Canyon was the second winery in the Walla Walla Valley, and the Smalls were instrumental in the process of obtaining federal approval of the Walla Walla Valley Appellation in 1984. The winery has consistently produced premium, age-worthy cabernet sauvignons, Bordeaux-style blends and merlots as well as chardonnays. From the outset, it was determined that quality would take precedence over quantity. 

The family’s roots run deep in the land that they have farmed for four generations. Rick and Darcey’s children, Jordan and Sager, share in the ownership of Woodward Canyon and are transitioning into leadership roles in the winery and vineyard as their parents step back from the day to day operations. Winemaker Kevin Mott was made a partner in 2011 as well. 

Rick planted the first of forty-one acres of the Woodward Canyon Estate Vineyard in 1976 on his family’s dryland wheat ranch. The hillside vineyard now includes cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, sauvignon blanc and chardonnay as well as several experimental Italian and Rhone varieties. The Estate Vineyard is Certified Salmon Safe. The Smalls are also experimenting with organic and bio-dynamic farming practice. The winery purchases grapes from select growers and is a partner in Champoux Vineyard which lies above the Columbia River in the Horse Heaven Hills appellation. Woodward Canyon has a strong belief that the quality of the wine starts in the vineyards; grape-growing and winemaking after all, are still agriculture.

Barbera

Cabernet Franc

Cabernet Sauvignon

Chardonnay

Dolcetto

Grenache

Malbec

Mourvèdre

Petit Verdot

Sauvignon Blanc

Syrah

Kevin Mott graduated from The College of Idaho with a degree in Chemistry. He began his career in the wine industry in 1986 at Ste. Chapelle Winery in Caldwell, Idaho, progressing from Cellar Worker and Laboratory Technician to Winemaker. In 1999 he was responsible for the development of Chalone Wine Group's Sagelands Vineyard in Washington's Yakima Valley and acted as General Manager and Winemaker until moving to Canoe Ridge Vineyard in 2002. Mott served as Winemaker there, overseeing both winery and vineyard operations. He came to Woodward Canyon in the summer of 2003 as Winemaker. In 2011, Kevin became a shareholder in Woodward Canyon.

Kevin Mott

Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

The Woodward Canyon Estate Reserve is always produced from our finest Estate Vineyard lots.  It is very satisfying to produce such a classic Walla Walla Valley red wine. It is gratifying to see such amazing quality from our vineyard given the warmth of the vintage.

In honor of our 40th Anniversary, founder Rick Small was inspired to create this one-of-a-kind wine to showcase two different yet equally excellent vineyard sites. This very special wine is a 50/50 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon from Champoux Vineyard and Woodward Canyon Estate Vineyard. The Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced from the oldest Cabernet blocks at both vineyards, with an average vine age of 35+ years. The average yield between these two vineyards was less than one and a half tons per acre, creating a dark dense wine with amazing texture and balance.

Red Blend

The Woodward Canyon Estate Reserve is always produced from our finest Estate Vineyard lots.  It is very satisfying to produce such a classic Walla Walla Valley red wine. The Estate Vineyard has nearly always been a rather low yielding property and 2014 was no different with an average yield of around 2.9 tons per acre.  It is gratifying to see such amazing quality from our vineyard given the warmth of the vintage.

This Non-Vintage Red Wine is a great everyday drinking red wine. Perfect for holiday party's, BBQ's, pasta and pizza dishes, and more. 

White

Our 100% Estate Chardonnay; a leaner-style chardonnay, no new oak, and minimal malolactic fermentation, thus preserving the natural acidity.

This “Artist Series” Cabernet Sauvignon is produced from grapes selected from some of the finest and most highly regarded vineyards in Washington State and the Walla Walla Valley. Each produces fantastic wine in their own right; when blended they produce extraordinary wine.

Inspired by the Grand Cru’s of Burgundy, chardonnay was the first wine founder Rick Small made as a home winemaker. It was also the first varietal planted on the Woodward Canyon Estate Vineyard in 1977 which now could easily qualify as “old vines” at over 40 years of age. Since 1992, we have also sourced from the 1980 blocks of Celilo Vineyard that we combine with our estate fruit to produce our Washington State Chardonnay. 

In 1998, Woodward Canyon Winery began producing wines under its second label, Nelms Road. Nelms Road offers a Cabernet Sauvignon produced from Walla Walla Valley and Washington State grapes. It was developed to produce delicious and affordable red wine from younger vineyards and surplus lots of Woodward Canyon production. While this wine was produced to be enjoyed now, it will improve with additional time in bottle. With proper storage this wine should easily age five years or longer. 

There is varietal purity in this Sauvignon Blanc yet still it expresses a very distinct sense of place.

This is the second release of our Walla Walla Valley Estate Cabernet Franc. This wine was produced from grapes grown at Woodward Canyon Estate Vineyard (Salmon Safe certified) at the western edge of the Walla Walla Valley. Our Estate Cabernet Franc block was planted in 1997.

Woodward Canyon has been growing and producing Barbera for twenty years, making the vines among the oldest in Washington State. This Woodward Canyon Estate Vineyard Barbera was produced from blending two very distinct clones. 

Walla Walla Valley

Woodward Canyon Winery

Washington

2019

2018

Estate Merlot

Walla Walla Valley

Release Price

Drink Window

ABV

pH

TA

RS

Nose

Palate

Harvest

Bottling

Winemaking

Aging

Food Pairing

More from this Producer