The Wine Knows

A group led by Allen Shoup, founder of Long Shadows Vintners and former CEO of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, has purchased famed Wallula Vineyards. The 650-acre vineyard is on the eastern edge of the Horse Heaven Hills appellation in Washington.

No purchase price was disclosed, but it is believed to be the highest price ever paid for a contiguous vineyard in Washington.

Shoup put together an investor group to purchase the vineyard. The group, called Premier Vineyard Estates, includes Agustin Huneeus of Quintessa Winery in the Napa Valley, Yakima businessman Al DeAtley, Seattle entrepreneur Arnie Prentice and Long Shadows CEO Mike Williamson. Huneeus also makes Pirouette, a Cab-based blend under the Long Shadows umbrella.

Wallula was planted in 1997 by the Den Hoed family, which is a longtime farming family in the Yakima Valley. It is a dramatic vineyard that is perched several hundred feet above the Columbia River a few miles south of the Wallula Gap, where the Snake and Columbia rivers converge. Parts of the vineyards are on terraces, some of which are on slopes up 30 degrees steep.

Shoup's history of the vineyard goes back to when it was planted and he ran Chateau Ste. Michelle and its suite of wineries. He was so excited about the site, he signed long-term contracts for the grapes. Long Shadows has purchased Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from Wallula since its first vintage. Ste. Michelle and several smaller wineries purchase the rest of fruit.

Wallula made headlines last year when the Randall Grahm-headed Pacific Rim Winemakers moved from Santa Cruz, Calif., to Washington's Columbia Valley. The Den Hoeds built and financed Pacific Rim's $5.7 million, 25,700-square-foot facility behind Red Mountain on the outskirts of West Richland and planted 145 acres of biodynamically farmed acres of Riesling vines. This is Pacific Rim's primary source of Riesling grapes in Washington.

The sale should not affect any of the contracts with wineries.

The lower levels of Wallula Vineyard are very warm, receiving 3,200 heat units per year, while the upper sections average 2,800 heat units. Nearly 75% of the vineyard is dedicated to red wine grapes.

"Washington's Horse Heaven Hills is growing some of the world's most exciting wines," Huneeus said. "I have visited vineyards around the globe, and Wallula is one of the most varied and extraordinarily beautiful sites I have ever seen."

The Den Hoeds will remain minority partners in the vineyard and will manage the property for Shoup's group.

"The sale of the vinyeard will provide additional capital to develop some of the steeper, more challenging sections of the vineyard and other areas of the site with limited access, said Andy Den Hoed Jr., who started the vineyard with his brother Bill.