K Vintners ‘The Boy’ Powerline Vineyard – Syrah; Walla Walla Valley, Washington 

Located at the base of the Blue Mountains in Walla Walla Washington, K Vintners opened its doors to the public on December 3rd, 2001. The property at 820 Mill Creek Road where the winery sits was homesteaded in 1853 with the adjacent farmhouse built in 1872. The winery grounds with Titus Creek flowing through the lawn and the old pioneer-planted trees is a little slice of heartland Americana. Charles Smith, proprietor, and winemaker comes to Walla Walla after 11 years in Scandanavia. Originally from northern California, he has been involved with wine personally and professionally his whole life. The Vineyards: K Vintners is producing wines from 2 distinctive viticultural zones: Wahluke Slope and Walla Walla Valley. Each of these areas is unique and awesome for Syrah and the Field Blends produced. In April 2002 two separate blocks of vineyards were planted to Syrah adjacent to the winery in the rocky dry creek beds that run through K Vintners property.

Charles planted the 38-acre estate vineyard in the heart of the Walla Walla Valley, located over 1200 feet in elevation. The soils are well-drained with cobblestone river rocks and underlying layers of sand and gravel deposits, allowing vines to develop very deep and strong roots. The deep sand and silt below the stones bring a great purity to the grapes, while high elevations keep acids high, producing very well-balanced wines with remarkable complex characters.

               This outstanding vintage began mild followed by a long and dry ripening season in the fall. This enabled the hang time of the fruit to reach optimal ripeness without losing acidity or increasing sugars.