Gravel Mine Vineyards

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	Fort Vancouver/Columbia Plaines
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		Chief Factor's House in 2007.
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Gravel Mine Vineyards gets its name from its gravelly soils and the gravel mines that are its neighbors. Gravel has long been recognized as the best soil for growing grapes, and the gravelly stream beds along rivers and creeks are the native habitat of grapevines. In areas where grapes grow wild, such as in New England, you will see grape vines climbing to the tops of trees along the many rivers and streams. Whole areas in the Bordeaux region of France are named after gravel, as in "Graves", and in Burgundy numerous wine labels will include references to gravel, as in "La Graviere". One of the best known vineyards in Burgundy, Aloxe Corton, is located on the site of an old quarry.

Grapes love gravel. This porous soil forces the vines' roots deeper to find water and nutrients, enhancing the flavor and character of the fruit. We planted our vineyard on a gravelly ridge at the Mouth of the Columbia River Gorge. This ancient flood plain, called Mill Plain by the founders of Fort Vancouver, was laid down by the Columbia River over 15,000 years ago at the end of the last Ice Age. Mill Plain was originally the Third Plain of the Five Plains, or terraces, identified by the early explorers, but it came to be known as Mill Plain because the road to the sawmill meandered through this naturally flat, open area where they also grew grain. This 44-square mile sandy, gravelly, rocky ridge is probably a sand and gravel bar formed by a big eddy in the Columbia River behind Prune Hill which overlooks Camas, Washington. Our Lauren Gravelly Loam soils can be up to 75 feet deep. The Columbia River Gorge winds keep us sunnier and drier than areas to the north and south. In the fall when the East Wind blows out of the Columbia Gorge, our grapes can ripen rapidly. This unique microclimate and soil combine to give our grapes a character all their own. If you study carefully the characteristics that make great vineyards, you will soon conclude that our soils and climate are equal to, and better than, many of the fine wine regions of the world. If we do not make fine wines in Clark County it is not because we cannot do it, rather it will be because we choose not to do it.

Our Cabernet Sauvignon vines were planted in 1980, when we learned that our gravelly soils were virtually identical to the gravelly soils that have made Bordeaux's wines famous worldwide. In 1983 we planted our Pommard clone Pinot Noir and they have been consistent producers of fruity, flavorful wines with a distinctly cherrywood character. We intentionally did not irrigate after the 3rd year in order to force the vines' roots to explore our 75-foot deep alluvial soils for water and nutrients. Amazingly, the crop remains amazingly consistent regardless of summer rainfall. In 2001 we had some rain every 2 weeks all summer. In 2002 we had no rain for 5 months, until we received some rain in September. Yet the crop yield was virtually identical to 2001. Unlike the deserts of Eastern Washington, we do not require irrigation, because our winter rains recharge our soils with plenty of water for the summer growing season. Yet, our summer rainfall patterns are virtually identical to Walla Walla, WA, but without the intense heat of their summer. We get a very long, dry, cool growing season, which is ideal for many wine grape varieties. Our low humidity in the summer growing/ripening season means we do not need to spray nasty chemicals to control powdery and downy mildew. With just a light sulfur spray every 2 weeks we bring in spotlessly clean fruit with great varietal character. We are very lucky indeed to have nearly perfect winegrape growing conditions.