Winemaker Casey McClellan is the fourth generation in his family to work in agriculture in the Walla Walla region. The family began growing grapes about 20 years ago, planting 24 acres. At the time, it was the largest vineyard in Walla Walla. The family also produced wheat and apples.
The families sold Seven Hills Vineyards in 1995, but the winery is thriving under McClellan, his wife Vicky and their business partners. However, McClellan still purchases many of his grapes from the old block of Seven Hills Vineyard, harvesting the same vines since 1988.
"We're working with some of the oldest Cabernet and Merlot vines in the Northwest," McClellan said. "With those old vines, we're trying to make wines that express the vineyards-with low yields and hand-picked fruit."
Although the fruit has always come from the Walla Walla region, the winery was located just across the Columbia River, about 10 miles away, in Oregon until 18 months ago. McClellan produced Cabernets, Merlots and Syrahs-wines more typical of a Washington winery. Yet, being in Oregon, he also produced Pinot Gris and a Riesling.
"Spending time in both states gives me a good perspective of the industry in the Northwest," McClellan said. "I don't know of any other winery that has that unique experience."
In fact, most winemakers in Washington and Oregon only see their counterparts at conventions and seminars. Being part of both Oregon's and Washington's wine industry, McClellan says he is excited about new directions in both states.
For example, he said some Eastern Washington winemakers are producing Italian grapes for wine; a few Oregon wineries are producing the Spanish grape, Tempranillo (and McClellan himself is experimenting with Tempranillo); and the explosion of Syrah in Washington is also exciting, he says.
Although raised in a farming family in Eastern Washington, McClellan received his undergraduate degree in pharmaceutical studies at the University of Washington. It's where he met his wife and winery partner Vicky, who was majoring in art history and economics.
"Right after we were married, we moved to Davis (CA.) where Casey worked on his graduate degree in enology and viticulture," said Vicky, who was raised in Puyallup, WA. "When it came time to raising a family, we wanted to be in a rural community."
