2010 Corvus Cellars Syrah/Petite Sirah

Corvus Cellars was started by Randall and Jennifer Hopkins and Steve Lessard. Randall graduated from Washington State University’s Viticulture Program and Lessard was previously winemaker at Hedges. In 2004 the trio founded Corvus, naming their winery after the raven, who in some mythological tales suffers from eternal thirst. Corvus’ estate vineyard is in the Red Mountain AVA and it is planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot and a small amount of Mourvedre. Corvus produces Cabernet Sauvignon and red blends.

Yakima Valley AVA was the first AVA created in Washington State. The valley, a 600,000-acre area in south central Washington, was granted AVA status in 1983. In 1984 Columbia Valley was given AVA status, and Yakima Valley was enclosed within the Columbia Valley AVA. Nevertheless, Yakima Valley remains home to the largest concentration of vineyards and wineries in the state. There are more than 60 wineries and some 16,000 vineyard acres, and nearly 40% of Washington wines are made with Yakima Valley grapes. The most frequently planted grape is Chardonnay, followed by Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Winemaking here dates to 1869, when a winemaker from Alsace planted grape vines. Vineyard planting and wine production plodded along slowly until the early 1980s when numerous modern pioneers started making well-reviewed Yakima Valley wines. Some of the state’s newest, most closely watched appellations, including Red Mountain AVA and Horse Heaven Hills AVA, are contained within Yakima Valley.