Vineyard Article

Larry Pearson’s Tapteil Vineyard sits on the upper slopes of Red Mountain, Washington’s most famous appellation. The name refers to the lower portion of the Yakima River and means narrow. The term Tapteilmin or “narrow river people” was used to identify those living along this portion of the river. Tapteil enjoys a constant southwest facing slope and excellent air drainage to protect against the inevitable freezes. Red Mountain is a very warm area, often accumulating over 3000 degree days of yearly heat. The vineyard is trained to a bilateral cordon on relatively close spacing. Meticulous vineyard management and low yields ensure perfectly healthy fruit of great color and flavor intensity.