Evergreen Vineyard
At 1200 acres, Evergreen Vineyard may well be Washington State’s largest vineyard. It’s certainly known to be one of the best for white wine varieties, due to the vineyard’s proximity to the cooling influence of the Columbia River, producing incredible quality in whites like Riesling and Chardonnay. In fact, Evergreen is famous for producing the Riesling grapes that had gone into Chateau Ste Michelle’s Eroica Riesling. Jerry and Butch Milbrandt began planting Evergreen Vineyard in 1997 near George, Washington in the Ancient Lakes AVA. Plantings here also include Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier and Albarino.
Coordinates 47°07'04.9"N, 119°56'48.0"W
The site sits above the Ancient Lake Coulee which was one of three 'drains' for water backed up in the Quincy Valley winding to the river. All of the topsoils were stripped clean off of the bedrock. These unique soils include caliche, whose high calcium carbonate content contributes minerality to the wines produced from this site, as well as silt loam and basalt. A hallmark of the fruit grown here is acidity and minerality. Long hangtime in the vineyard allows the fruit to be delivered with full ripeness, crisp acid, and beautiful purity of fruit. This truly is a special site from which exceptional white wines are produced.
Vineyard Information
- Soil Type
- Quincy Loam over Caliche stone
- Aspect to the sun
- North / South
- Year planted
- 2001
- Elevation
- 1,400ft above sea level
- Vine spacing
- 8ft x 6ft
- Average vine age
- 14 years
