TAPTEIL WineMaker



	An Interveiw with Tapteil's WineMaker and Owner, Larry Pearson • Why did you plant ? The brief answer is that I enjoyed wine (cabernet sauvignon, particularly) and had wonderful experiences when touring and experiencing vineyards and wineries. Then, it took a while until I felt comfortable enough to actually consider planting a vineyard but, in the spring of 1985 it happened! The possibility of planting a vineyard in the mid 1970's (when I initially began thinking about vineyard involvement) seemed remote until the spring of 1984. During that spring of 1984, I visited the Yakima Valley numerous times (I was then living and working in Seattle ) to identify a possible vineyard site. Having a sense of desired soil type, rainfall, heat units and slope, as well as the grape I wished to grow (cabernet sauvignon), I asked vineyard managers and winemakers their thoughts on where the best areas for growing cabernet sauvignon might be. After narrowing the search, I was fortunate to identify some available parcels at the end of Sunset Road on Red Mountain. Then, the details of preparing the vineyard site had to be addressed. Now, that was a new experience! However, with the help of family and friends (yes, they still are) we planted the initial 3-1/2 acres in April 1985. Tapteil Vineyard now encompasses 25 acres.

An Interveiw with Tapteil's WineMaker
and Owner, Larry Pearson

• Why did you plant ?

The brief answer is that I enjoyed wine (cabernet sauvignon, particularly) and had wonderful experiences when touring and experiencing vineyards and wineries. Then, it took a while until I felt comfortable enough to actually consider planting a vineyard but, in the spring of 1985 it happened!

The possibility of planting a vineyard in the mid 1970's (when I initially began thinking about vineyard involvement) seemed remote until the spring of 1984. During that spring of 1984, I visited the Yakima Valley numerous times (I was then living and working in Seattle ) to identify a possible vineyard site. Having a sense of desired soil type, rainfall, heat units and slope, as well as the grape I wished to grow (cabernet sauvignon), I asked vineyard managers and winemakers their thoughts on where the best areas for growing cabernet sauvignon might be. After narrowing the search, I was fortunate to identify some available parcels at the end of Sunset Road on Red Mountain. Then, the details of preparing the vineyard site had to be addressed. Now, that was a new experience! However, with the help of family and friends (yes, they still are) we planted the initial 3-1/2 acres in April 1985. Tapteil Vineyard now encompasses 25 acres.