"Arguably Washington's most famous vines are at Klipsun Vineyards on Red Mountain"
– The Seattle Times, September 2017
Klipsun Vineyard
Interactive Map
Klipsun Vineyard currently partners with esteemed wineries: Duckhorn, Mark Ryan, DeLille, Bayernmore, Passing Time, Valdema.
Klipsun
Vineyard
What makes Klipsun unique as a vineyard is not one single aspect of geography or geology—it’s everything. Location and elevation. Soil and water. Vision and action. All held in tension and in balance to provide our Winemaker with the perfect canvas upon which to master their craft.
This is a land of extreme conditions held in delicate balance. Our high desert climate brings long growing season days of sunshine, warming heat but tempered with rapidly cooling nights and consistent winds. Layers of sandy loam—deposited by cataclysmic ice age floods—encourage deep root growth and mineral uptake. But high soil alkalinity and scarce rainfall limit vine vigor and produce low yields of concentrated fruit.
The wines that emerge from this interplay are both elegant and rugged, much like the land itself. Powerful but refined. Intense but structured. Beautifully balanced but undeniably distinct.
“Klipsun Vineyard is the source of some of the most coveted fruit in the state. We intend on being a steward of this property for many generations.”
Innovative
Farming
Vine Balance
Vine balance is about creating a natural harmony between the leaves and the roots of the grapevine. When the balance is just right, the vine knows when to stop growing, so there's no need for extra trimming or leaf removal. This self-regulation is a hallmark of the world's greatest vineyards, where the vines thrive on their own, producing exceptional grapes. Klipsun is a leader in Red Mountain and Washington with practicing vine balance.
Vineyard Replating on American Rootstock
For over 150 years, vineyards around the world have relied on American rootstock to grow their grapes. While this is a newer practice in Eastern Washington, Klipsun is at the forefront of modernizing Red Mountain vineyards. We’re not only using proven rootstocks successful in Europe but also innovative ones developed at the University California Davis. These rootstocks improve wine quality and make our vineyards more sustainable by resisting new local soil pests.
Vineyard Replating in 45 from North Orientation
Our vineyard’s northernly latitude location means we get up to 17 hours of sunlight each day during the summer—much more than many other wine regions. To take full advantage of this, we used specialized software, typically used by filmmakers to capture the perfect lighting, to calculate the sun’s angle at different times of the day. This helped us replant our vineyard rows in a way that optimizes sun exposure evenly on the grape clusters from mid-July to early September, ensuring the best possible, “balanced” ripening conditions.
Precise Irrigation Regimen
In Washington’s extremely dry climate, with only 5 inches of rain a year, irrigation is essential for growing wine grapes. At Klipsun, we take a meticulous approach to irrigation, treating it as both an art and a science. Along with ensuring 'Vine Balance,' we closely monitor the plant's water stress index (PWSI), which tells us how much water the vines need. By carefully managing this, we keep the vines producing sugar at the right pace without increasing the size of the grapes, which is key to crafting exceptional wine.
Clean Plant Material
As with many top vineyards in Washington that are around 40 years old, we need to replant some vines to remove those affected by disease or viruses, which can lead to a decline in fruit quality over time. It’s crucial to use healthy, disease-free plants for replanting. Just like people, grapevines perform better when they’re free of infections, leading to better fruit character and, ultimately, better wine.
Acclaim & Press
Somm Journal / June 2024 / Jessie Birschbach
Contextual Texture
The Seattle Times / September 2017
Washington's Best Grapes
Wine & Spirits / May 2017
Terlato Buys Klipsun
