Viñedos de Roza Hills
Creemos que un vino de alta calidad solo puede elaborarse con uvas de alta calidad. La calidad de la uva está determinada por una combinación de diversos factores, como el microclima, el suelo, la cosecha y el rendimiento de la vid, el manejo del follaje y la manipulación de la fruta recolectada. El enólogo debe mantener una comunicación constante con el personal del viñedo para garantizar la máxima calidad.
Nuestra estrategia de suministro de uvas consiste en utilizar fruta de viñedos donde existe esta relación. Creemos, además, que debemos ofrecer productos elaborados con uvas de diversas procedencias para compensar las variaciones anuales en las características de la uva causadas por las fluctuaciones climáticas y para complementar las características de las uvas obtenidas de una sola fuente. Principalmente, adquirimos uvas del viñedo Roza Hills.
Roza Hills Vineyard currently produces the following varietals.
Cabernet Sauvignon: 71 acres
Riesling: 57 acres
Merlot: 36 acres
Chardonnay: 32 acres
Sauvignon Blanc: 14 acres
Syrah: 8 acres
Chenin Blanc: 4 acres
Gewürztraminer: 3 acres
Zinfandel: 2 acres
Cabernet Franc: 2 acres
Pinot Gris 5 acres
Muscato 5 acres
Petite Verdot 1 acre
At an elevation of 1100 – 1300 feet above sea level the vineyard is in a natural southern sloping bowl that sits on the southern slope of the Rattlesnake Hills. In 2006 Rattlesnake Hills was given its own American Viticultural Area (AVA) designation. The Rattlesnake Hills AVA lies within the current Yakima Valley and Columbia Valley AVAs and consists of 68,500 total acres, with just about 1,500 bearing acres (those currently being used for growing grapes).
Beginning at an elevation of 850 feet and rising up to 3,085 feet, the area sits higher in elevation than the surrounding Yakima Valley region and is located approximately four miles southeast of Yakima, which makes for a quick and fun day trip from Seattle. The AVA has 17 wineries and 29 vineyards. Key grape varietals grown in Rattlesnake Hills include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Riesling, Chardonnay, and Malbec.
The following are characteristics of the region:
Topography, which consists of the hills’ ridgeline sitting up to 2,000 feet above the north flank of the Yakima River Valley. The ridgeline contains north and south-facing slopes which create a diverse landscape of dissected canyons, ridges and terraces running south to the Yakima River. Elevation ranges from a low of 850 feet and up to 3,085 feet along the south slope.
Temperatures, which are among the most moderate in the state, provide consistent ripening, thanks to its geographical location. To the west, the Cascade Range shields eastern Washington from the Pacific Ocean’s climactic influence while the Rattlesnake Hills diverts polar air from Canada, which can often damage grape vines. The Rattlesnake Hills AVA it is not as hot as Red Mountain and not as cold as Prosser. It is right in the middle getting the best climate possible.
Soils, which are characterized by their fine texture, in contrast to the sandy soils found in nearby AVA regions. Consistent pH and neutral alkaline levels control vine growth and help to create balanced grapes.
Roza Hills Vineyard has several soil profiles throughout. The majority of the vineyard is planted in a loamy silt to clay with broken basalt chunks interspersed. This soil is called the Moxee Series and consists of shallow, well drained soils that formed in loess over a lime silica cemented duripan mantling old alluvium or basalt. It is slightly alkaline. Soil depth ranges from 1′ to 2′ before hitting the hard cemented duripan. These soils lie above the flood plane of the Missoula flood and are therefore older than those located at lower elevations in the valley.
Roza Hills is the largest vineyard in the AVA that produces outstanding fruit with intense varietal character. Not only is Roza Hills the largest vineyard within the AVA, but Silver Lake is the largest brand produced within the region. As the reputation of the AVA grows so will the reputation of the brand and its grape source.