A grand DREAM: Ryan Johnson is taking Red Mountain terroir to the extreme

摘要

As if planting on a steep slope wasn't challenging enough, add rock, caliche, and widely varying soil types. Developing Grand Reve Estate Vineyard on Red Mountain is not for the weak, requiring a strong heart and soul. In pioneering the first mountainside planting on Washington State's Red Mountain near Benton City, Ryan Johnson and partner Paul McBride are taking vineyard planting to the extreme. From the bottom of the estate vineyard to the steep top, the elevation changes from 960 feet above sea level to 1,230 feet, with slopes ranging from 22 to 30 degrees. Though only 13 acres of their 20-acre parcel are plantable, they found nine different soil types, varying from silty loams to caliche to sand.