Justin and Liz Wylie planted Va Piano Vineyards in 1999 with the vision of making small lots of wellbalanced, full bodied reds that showcases Walla Walla's exceptional fruit along with creating a unique and familial atmosphere.
In 2004 they blended old-world charm with modern day efficiency by building their Tuscan style tasting room and wine studio ?offering work space to six boutique wineries. And in December of 2005, Va Piano celebrated their grand opening by releasing their first vintages, a 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2003 Syrah which have been given outstanding reviews.
Va Piano Vineyards, our 20-acre estate property located next to the winery, has been growing grapes in the Walla Walla Valley since 1999.
Our primary focus is red varietals; Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Cab Franc & Petit Verdot. Seventy percent of our grape production is used by our winery and the balance is sold to premium Walla Walla Valley wineries.
Knowing that exceptional wine begins with exceptional fruit we only utilize state of the art viticultural practices. The vineyard blocks are trellised on the vertical shoot positioning system (VSP), which is a canopy management technique that arranges the shoots in the trellis to allow for better sunlight penetration and increased airflow. Shoots are lifted and tucked vertically upwards using a series of two to three wires. The significant benefit of the VSP system is optimal sunlight infiltration, which will allow the grapes to ripen evenly and provide higher quality fruit.
During a growing season at Va Piano, our grapes go through intensive hand pruning, individual leaf thinning, shoot positioning and cluster thinning. Once the grapes have ripened to their peak, they are handpicked to guarantee the fruit is handled with care.
Our vineyard has been farmed with sensitivity to its soil and surroundings through the use of sustainable agricultural. We believe that our land is not only for us, but also for our children. By farming responsibly, we will ensure that Va Piano Vineyards will continue to be a premium vineyard for generations.
My winemaking philosophy is very simple, grow the best grapes we can and don’t screw it up in the cellar. Va Piano wines display intense flavors, fine tannin structure and intense aromas: ours are quintessential Walla Walla wines.
I strive for balance in everything, and that’s truly my approach to winemaking. The majority of grapes we use are estate grown, and we continue to source grapes from across the region from carefully chosen vineyards. I find fruit from different soil profiles create more complex wines and look for specific characteristics to compliment the flavor profile I’m striving to achieve for each wine.
Va Piano Vineyards closely follows guidelines from Vinea, the winegrowers sustainable trust, which provides guidance for environmental, social and economic sustainability.
This holistic approach employs environmentally-friendly and socially responsible viticulture practices that respects the land, conserves natural resources and supports biodiversity. Vinea also promotes responsible relationships with workers, neighbors and the community. By farming responsibly, we will ensure that Va Piano Vineyards will continue to be a premium vineyard for generations.
A fourth-generation Walla Wallan, Justin Wylie spent his senior year at Gonzaga University studying abroad in Florence, Italy. He was inspired by the Italian culture as well as what was happening in Walla Walla upon his return: a large and promising wine industry blossoming.
In 1999, Justin began to make wine with a few friends in his garage as a hobby. Before long, it turned into a passion. Justin’s meticulous attention to detail along with his passion for winemaking has proven to be a great combination in making outstanding wine. With the encouragement from friends and family, Justin began his first commercial crush in the fall of 2003. Justin firmly believes that exceptional wine comes from exceptional fruit and continues to carefully manage the vineyards as well as by following Vinea’s strict standards of sustainable agriculture.
Va Piano Cabernet Sauvignon
This wine is a classic example of what Washington State has to offer. The vineyard profiles reach a wide range of soils, grower personalities, management styles and unique fruit characteristics, which blended together produced a very special wine. It has the classic aromatics of cassis, fresh mixed berry fruit and ripe black cherry aromas. Layers of velvety tannins are balanced with natural acidity keep the palate lively. This is a very balanced, beautifully textured and elegant wine
Va Piano Syrah
The nose on Va Piano’s Syrah lure’s you in with pretty aromas of dark fruits such as blueberry and plum with a hint of smoldering graphite. The mouth-feel is structured with racy acidity, luscious gaminess, and a spicy finish
Bruno’s Blend Red
Bruno’s Blend is predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon. Vineyard sourcing for this Bruno came from some very old and established WA state vineyards. This wine is dark ruby in color with bright fruit, spice, smoke & earth aromas on the nose. Medium to full bodied mouth feel with silky round and balanced tannins
Bruno’s Blend White
Bruno’s Blend White has light straw in color with golden hints, the nose is flowery with whiffs of apricot, ripe and full of tropical flavors such as papaya and pineapple. Crisp and juicy with racy acidity, this is the perfect wine for summer porch sipping.
The Foz Group