Settled into new digs a couple storefronts away from their old location in downtown Walla Walla, Spring Valley’s storied past goes back decades. Uriah Corkrum made his way west from Illinois in the mid-1800s, making a new life amongst the fertile lands in the Walla Walla Valley. Five generations later, with years of wheat farming tied to the family’s history, Shari Corkrum Derby and her husband Dean planted the Spring Valley Vineyard in 1993. Since then, it has become one of the most highly regarded vineyards in the state.
Assistant winemaker Kate Derby Raymond and winemaker Serge Laville give kudos to the intimate vineyard and winery team members that have been on board for over a decade. “I get to work in my family business doing something I love while learning from great teachers,” says Kate. “We have a wonderful team, all who all have been here for 10-plus years. Carlos, Ricardo and Ramiro have been tending the vines since the very beginning and Serge has been making wine here since 2002. The fact that the five of us have been here as long as we have plays a massive role in the quality of our vineyard and wines. It shows we believe in our vineyard and vineyard crew, we believe in our traditional hands-on style of winemaking, and most of all, we believe in each other.”
Serge Laville has been perfecting the craft since taking over in the cellar 18 years ago. “What I like the most about the Spring Valley Estate Vineyard is that the fruit always ripens, even in cooler summers. The elevation of the vineyard, 1200-1700 ft., conserves the bright fruit and it can be vinified with 100 percent natural acidity,” comments Serge. “To echo Kate, the vineyard/winery team is extremely important. Working with people who have been loyal to the brand for so long is irreplaceable. The combination of all these factors give terroir-driven wines with consistent quality.”
Having outgrown the previous space, the tasting room is across the street from The Marcus Whitman Hotel, boasting twice the former space across three levels that feature a ground floor tasting bar, mezzanine and second floor. The decor includes sepia print wall photos that pay tribute to past members of the Corkrum-Derby family.
“The new tasting room has the same dedication to telling our family’s story, which is very important to us,” shares Kate Derby Raymond. She is the sixth generation of the family to farm in the Walla Walla Valley.
The new location is at 2 E. Rose St., Walla Walla. Call for hours (509) 525-1506 or check the web at www.springvalleyvineyard.com.
Spring Valley Vineyard 2016 Nina Lee Syrah, $50
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding, 94 pts.
Strikingly complex and expressive, with coiled energy uplifting the finely tuned structure artfully layered with bits of tar, slate, mineral, black fruit, pink peppercorn, tangerine peel and plump red currant. Ends with elegance and finesse. The Nina Lee Syrah is a beautiful red wine in every sense that will never go out of style.