After earning her masters degree in enology and viticulture at the University of Dijon, Marie-Eve Gilla received practical training at local Burgundian wineries and vineyards. In 1991, she came to the United States to further her winemaking experience. Intending to stay for just a few months, she realized the incredible opportunities available in the wine industry. Now after more than ten years of making premium wines in the Northwest, she has come to appreciate the incredible growing conditions we enjoy in Eastern Washington.
 

 “I spend a lot of time in the vineyard during pruning season, flowering and the ripening period for the grapes, ”Marie-Eve says, “in order to assess the quality, pinpoint difficult areas and address them before they become a problem. If you know what’s going on in the vineyard, you will know what to expect at harvest.”

 

 
We primarily craft varietals wines by blending grapes from different sites in order to achieve the unique and lasting flavors we have come to enjoy so much in Washington wines. Sometimes vineyards in single bottling will be featured. In these exceptional years, we will work to release the elegance and outstanding character of the vineyard. We will also produce a Bordeaux blend worthy of extensive aging by integrating complex layers with structure to maintain an exceptional balance.

 

 


Forgeron Cellars contracts with vineyards strategically located over the large Columbia Valley appellation and smaller appellations within. Our focus; reflect the quality of grapes from the best sites to reveal the full potential of Washington State vineyards.

Let us introduce you to a few of our vineyard partners.


Columbia Valley Vineyards
Alder Ridge

A warm site on the north side of the Columbia River, the vines grow on a south facing slope. The low vigor soil, remnants of the flood events and volcanic activity along the Columbia River basin, is great for vine balance and modest canopy.

Marie-Eve comments: Alder Ridge fruit requires an iron hand in a velvet glove. The lower yields allow very deep flavors yet an intense structure that can be overwhelming if not handled with care.

Stillwater Creek Vineyard

Stillwater is located in the Frenchman Hills on the Royal Slope. It is south-facing and one of the steepest sites in the Columbia Valley. It has a unique soil composition; a combination of sandy to silty loam mixed with large amounts of fractured basalt.

Marie-Eve says: Stillwater is farmed with great attention and care. It is cropped for low yields and concentrated flavors.  

Columbia Gorge Vineyards
  Underwood Mountain Vineyard
 

The vineyard is located in Underwood, WA; 3 miles north of Hood River, OR. The elevation is around 1100 feet with a southeast exposure. The soil is a deep, well drained, reddish volcanic sandy, clay loam. The climate is reminiscent of Alsace and yields great cooler climate grapes.

   
Red Mountain Vineyards
Klipsun Vineyard

Derived from the Chinook for "clipped sun", Klipsun Vineyard is located on the western edge of Red Mountain on southwestern facing slopes overlooking the Yakima River. It is one of the warmest and driest vineyard locations in Washington and produces grapes with intense concentration and depth.

Marie-Eve says: One of our oldest vineyards, Klipsun consistently yields Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot showing great power and intense fruit flavors.

Yakima Valley Vineyards
Boushey Vineyards

Dick Boushey produces some of the finest wine grapes in Washington and we source from three of his vineyards.

In 1993 Dick planted the Home Place Merlot Vineyard. The soil is Burke silt loam soil overlaying fractured basalt. The elevation is 1200ft with southerly exposure. Planted in 1980, Mohar Merlot vineyard soil is deep Warden Loam with a gradual southwesterly slope. Due to the deep soils and the age of the vines, it is dry farmed.

The Syrah, located at the base of Rattlesnake Hills at 1200 feet elevation on a south facing slope, was planted in 1997 in Burke silt loam over fractured basalt. The source of the Syrah wood is Mike Sauer's "Red Willow" vineyard and is the "Phelps" clone.

Marie-Eve comments: One of Forgeron's favorite vineyards, it produces very elegant fruit; the colder site allows lots and lots of cherry and black currant flavors

Walla Walla Valley Vineyards
Les Collines

Located in the foothills of the Blue Mountains at the 1200 foot level, Norm and Shane McKibben started planting in 2001. Technology is used throughout including a wireless controlled precision controlled irrigation system. The soils are very uniform and deep silt-loam producing some unique characteristics even in the young fruit.

Marie-Eve comments: We are leasing 10 acres of this new vineyard as it is one of the warmest, frost-free sites in the Walla Walla Valley. Grapes sourced from here are for big, bold wines with very concentrated and dark flavors.

Pepper Bridge

Pepper Bridge Vineyard combines cutting edge technology and sustainable agricultural to produce some of the most sought after grapes in Washington. The vineyard's soil is Walla Walla Silt Loam which is composed of wind-blown glacial loess (a young and nutrient rich soil). This vineyard produces supple, elegant fruit which melds perfectly with our winemaking style.

Marie-Eve comments: It's been great to watch the vines mature and yield richer, fuller fruit each new vintage. Pepperbridge is fast becoming one of our favorite vineyards. 


Our Tasting-Room is open daily from 11am to 4pm
(Closed Major Holidays)


Forgeron Cellars

33 W. Birch St. - Walla Walla, Washington   99362
Tel. 509-522-9463 ~ Fax. 509-522-0037

www.forgeroncellars.com

Copyright © 2006 Forgeron Cellars ~ All Rights Reserved
 

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