Planting a High Tech Green Sustainable Vineyard

With our 25th Anniversary underway, we are celebrating not only many years of success, but optimistically looking to the future for a higher plateau.

With today’s focus on quality, technological innovation and sustainable vineyard practices, it is our strong belief that such a bright future is starting to unfold. One important aspect of this story is embodied in our newest estate vineyard taking root this spring.

As part of the Seven Hills Properties vineyard development, L’Ecole has been working on a new 40 acre estate vineyard south of Seven Hills Vineyard at the 1,400 foot elevation. This prime piece of ground was strategically selected with an appreciation for the property’s natural strengths. Above the ice-age flood silts, this new vineyard site has a thin mantle of wind-blown loess directly on top of fractured basalt. Driven by our strong commitment to sustainable viticulture, the ground work in planting this vineyard actually began over two years ago. We know that soil health is a key factor in supporting vine health and long-term sustainability. With the help of our soil consultant Rick Trumbull, we completed an in-depth analysis of the biological and nutritional makeup of the soil, confirming the need to improve the tilth, organic matter and biological environment. The land had previously been planted to dry land wheat for more than 100 years. Lean in water and organic matter, the soil was nearly sterile with virtually no biological activity.

It became clear that we needed to break this grain cycle, cleanse and re-engineer the system and shift toward a diverse, fungal-dominant soil more favorable to a perennial crop such as grapevines. A plan evolved to amend the soil structure to begin the long-term process of rebuilding a diverse biological base.

After cross-ripping the entire acreage, we added five tons per acre of a complex engineered mix of organic compost, lime, soft rock phosphate, manure and other nutritional elements (zinc, manganese, boron, and magnesium). These additions were selected to help restore soil humus and add needed minerals. In the spring of 2007 we grew two back-to-back green crops of spring oats, each plowed back into the field to build biomass, followed by a planting of Sudan grass last fall to boost tilth and organic mater. A vermacompost tea was added to help rejuvenate a diverse mix of beneficial microorganisms and fungal populations in the soil. The end goal – a balanced and diverse food web essential to grow healthy, vital grapevines capable of withstanding disease and pest pressures.

In a few weeks, we will plant 10 acres of this new ground to several clones of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. We first completed a precise survey using GPS (global positioning satellites) technology to map the property to an accuracy of a few inches. An accurate contour map and topographic analysis was then done to take advanced slope and aspect detail into account in designing vineyard blocks, row orientation and varietal placement. An example of this contour mapping, topographic analysis and vineyard block design is shown above.

Aspect mapping, along with an understanding of sunlight cycles, wind patterns and soil characteristics, help insure that the vineyard design ultimately leads to more consistent growing conditions for each block. A digital map of the vineyard blocks was then utilized to design a drip and overhead row irrigation system suitable for long term development and vine sustainability. Designs in hand, in early March we used GPS technology on the tractor to transfer this vineyard plan to precise row orientations and plant spacing. We are hoping to have our L’Ecole team on site in a few weeks when the vines are planted.

Seven Hills Vineyard
First planted: 1981
Elevation: 900 – 1,100 feet
Aspect: Northwest slope
Soil: Wind blown glacial loess, geologically young and rich in minerals. Very freedraining.
Average rainfall: 8 – 9 inches
Temp: Slightly warmer site with harvest starting as many as 10 days earlier than other valley vineyard sites
Wind: High, predominantly southwest, adding to plant stress

Walla Walla Spring Release Weekend
L’Ecole No 41 Open House
May 2 – 4 • 10am – 5pm
Ring the bell, school’s in session! We look forward to this weekend to greet old friends and meet new ones. Be the first to enjoy L’Ecole N° 41’s spring wine releases – all paired with tantalizing cheeses and everyone’s favorite salmon torte made specially for us by Rafael’s in Pendleton, OR.

Private Wine Club Event ~ Spring Sock Hop!
Friday, May 2 • 4:30 – 6:30 pm ~ RSVP Required
"All the flat top cats and dungaree dolls are headed to the gym for the sock hop ball..."
We will be tasting our Spring Releases including the much anticipated 2006 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Cabernet Franc (119 cases - allocated only to Wine Club Members), along with library wines, barrel sample and light hors d’oeuvres. The April Wine Club Selection will be available for pick up for those attending the Sock Hop.

Space is limited. RSVP required to jaime@lecole.com or (509) 525-0940. Complimentary 2 people/membership. Additional guests: $30/person. Priority attendance given to Vins de L’Ecole Members. Due to limited space, we may not be able to confirm additional guests until April 25.
Come as you are or wear your poodle skirt & rolled up jeans.

Honor Roll Tour & Tasting
Friday afternoons, April – November (excluding 5/1) 2pm – 3pm
$25 per person/$10 wine club members ~ Limited to 15 people, reservations required
Begin with a tour of L’Ecole No 41’s production facilities and grounds, followed by a one-of-a-kind private tasting in the cellar of the Schoolhouse. Five wines (new releases, limited production, library and/or reserve wines) will be showcased exclusively for Honor Roll attendees.
RSVP to Brooke Williams, Tasting Room Manager or call 509.525.0940.

Vintage Walla Walla
Friday & Saturday • June 6 – 7
Vintage Walla Walla® is the premier library wine tasting and culinary event of the Northwest. This newly expanded two-day program, held on Whitman College campus, places visitors one-on-one with leading valley winemakers, growers, educators, chefs and wine critics. For more information please visit www.wallawallawine.com.

New Wine Releases
2007 “Walla Voila” Chenin Blanc
100% Chenin Blanc
This fresh and delightfully fruity Chenin Blanc shows brightly perfumed peach, honey and orange blossom aromas with flavors of fresh apricot and pear on a floral lightly sweet finish.

2006 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Merlot
81% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc
Our Estate Seven Hills Vineyard Merlot shows its characteristic cedary, silky black cherry fruit with cool mint and baking spice aromas and a gripping mix of blueberry, blackberry and cocoa on an elegant, earthy mineral finish.

2006 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Syrah
100% Syrah
This Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Syrah is loaded with dark, spicy complex aromas of leather, tobacco, anise and cola. The rich mid-palate shows flavors of ripe plum and dense blackberry that give way to a concentrated and unrelenting earthy mineral finish.

2006 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Cabernet Franc
100% Cabernet Franc
119 cases produced
Availability : Wine Club Exclusive • $36
Just released, our 2006 vintage of Block 8 Cabernet Franc (planted 1997) from our Estate Seven Hills Vineyard distinguished itself from the beginning. Beautifully balanced, this wine showed such a rich concentration of amazingly complex flavors that we just couldn’t bring ourselves to blend it all away. Rather, we decided to bottle this wine as 100% varietal and offer it exclusively to our Vins de L’Ecole Members.
Press time availability update: We have a small number of cases remaining and expect to be sold out very soon.

Library Tasting

Vins de L’Ecole Wine Club

We are excited to announce our Spring 2008 Wine Club Selections!
Vin Rouge
2005 Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
2006 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Merlot – Walla Walla Valley

Vin Select
2005 Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
2006 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Merlot – Walla Walla Valley
2007 “Walla Voila” Chenin Blanc

New Wine Club Programs

Vin Select:
2 red & 1 white wine selections per shipment
3 shipments/year (Apr, Sept, & Nov)
Argent (Silver) ~ One bottle of each selection per shipment $75-110/shipment + tax & shipping
Or (Gold) ~ One case split equally among selections per shipment $300-400/shipment + tax & shipping
Platine (Platinum) ~ One case of each selection per shipment $775-1125/shipment + tax & shipping

Vin Rouge:
2 red wine selections per shipment
3 shipments/year (Apr, Sept, & Nov)
Argent (Silver) ~ One bottle of each selection per shipment $54-90/shipment + tax & shipping
Or (Gold) ~ One case split equally among selections per shipment $300-500/shipment + tax & shipping
Platine (Platinum) ~ One case of each selection per shipment $600-950/shipment + tax & shipping

Vin Blanc:
2-3 white wine selections per shipment
2 shipments/year (Apr & Sept)
Argent (Silver) ~ One bottle of each selection per shipment $30-50/shipment + tax & shipping
Or (Gold) ~ One case split equally among selections per shipment $160-170/shipment + tax & shipping
Platine (Platinum) ~ One case of each selection per shipment $320-510/shipment + tax & shipping

Calendar of Events

2008

May 2	Wine Club Member Event: Sock Hop at L’Ecole No 41 RSVP required. Email Jaime or call (509) 525-0940
May 2-4	Walla Walla Valley Spring Release Weekend, Walla Walla, WA
May 9-11	Walla Walla Balloon Stampede, Walla Walla, WA
May 20-22	London International Wine Fair
June 6-7	Vintage Walla Walla, Walla Walla, WA
June 8	Taste Washington Spokane, Spokane, WA
June 13-15	Aspen Food and Wine Classic, Aspen, CO
July 11-12	Washington Wines Festival – Carnation Farm, Carnation, WA Call (206) 236-6167 or email for more information.
July 18-19	Marcus Whitman Winemaker Dinner Series featuring L’Ecole No 41, Walla Walla, WA
July 24-26	Sun Valley Center for the Arts Wine Auction, Sun Valley, ID
August 14-16	Auction of Washington Wines, Woodinville, WA
October 10	Entwine 2008 – A Walla Walla Community Partnership of Wine, Education and Art Marcus Whitman Hotel and Conference Center ~ Call (509) 527-4253 for more information
November 7	27th Annual Planned Parenthood Wine Tasting and Auction, Walla Walla, WA call (509) 540-4706
December 5-7	Walla Walla Valley Holiday Barrel Tasting, Walla Walla, WA