Washington producer Va Piano Vineyards extends holding in Walla Walla

Boutique Washington producer Va Piano Vineyards has bought a 21 hectare (52 acre) plot in the Walla Walla Valley on the Washington/Oregon border from SeVein Ownership Group, which it intends to use to boost its Italian and Bordeaux varieties. 

The new plot, which will be renamed Giovanoni Estate after owner Justin Wylie’s Italian grandmother, is situated in the middle of the SeVein vineyard, on a north-facing, gentle sloped at around 900 to 1,100 feet above sea level. It lies adjacent to the Seven Hills Vineyard ridge and shares similar loam soils.

The team will redevelop the vineyard later this year, planting clonal selections of Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc and one clone each of Merlot and Sangiovese.

‘These vineyards have proven themselves year after year and have become the backbone of quality for our programme,” Wylie said. “Purchasing, developing, and planting Giovanoni Estate is the fulfilment of a long-time dream. I really feel like we are getting the best spot in all of SeVein for top quality Bordeaux and Italian varietals. We are thrilled to make this commitment.”

The expansion  and investment in the estate’s vineyard programme comes on the back of the growth of the company’s direct-to-consumer business, Wylie said. “Our wine club customers love hearing about the vineyards each wine comes from and always show particular interest in our estate vineyards.”

“I want to show my dedication to them and continue investing in our estate vineyard program,” he said.

The company was established in 1999 on an 8 hectare (20 acre) estate in Walla Walla’s Southside wine district, but expanded with the addition of Octave Estate, a 9 hectare (22-acre) joint-venture with Pepper Bridge, Gramercy, Caprio and Hanatoro (originally planted in SeVein in 2007), and Eritage Estate Vineyard, a 60 hectare (150 acre) vineyard on the north side of the Walla Walla Valley which was planted in 2014.