Today we present my exclusive interview with Kate Derby, new head winemaker at Spring Valley Vineyards. She has been studying under former winemaker Serge Laville who made amazing wines for many years. Kate is from an incredible legacy, as her great-great-great grandparents homesteaded in Walla Walla in the late 1800’s as wheat farmers. The farm was kept in the family for four generations before being sold to Chateau Ste. Michelle. I can’t wait to share her story in wine and here is my interview with winemaker Kate Derby.
OB: How did you decide to get into winemaking?
KD: It was an evolution of learning the whole business. Working in the tasting room and representing the brand across the country, I would talk about our winemaking process and grape growing philosophy but had never “gotten my hands dirty. The opportunity came up in 2011 when our winemaker, Serge Laville, needed help at the winery and I jumped right in and have loved it ever since! One of my favorite things about winemaking is that every vintage is different. You are thrown a new curve ball every year and we get to work together with our team and create wines that capture the year and the place!
OB: Can you share a bit about your family history in Walla Walla? What is it like being the granddaughter of Dean and Shari Corkrum Derby?
KD: My great-great-great grandparents homesteaded in Walla Walla in the late 1800’s as wheat farmers, which we still grow a bit of. My family had managed to keep the farm in the family for 4 generations when my grandparents asked themselves what else can they add to the farm to keep it in the family for future generations. There were a few vineyards around the Walla Walla Valley so Papa said, “let’s try to grow grapes!” We installed a well in 1990, acquired water rights, and in 1993 planted our first 2 acres.
Today, we primarily grow grapes on 112 acres, but my family member’s legacy are still represented on our wine labels. I love going through our portfolio and telling people not only about the wine, but the person on the label. It’s really interesting how the wine that person’s label is on, in one way or another, really reflect their personalities. I love this connection. It feels like a sign that we are doing the right thing and being good stewards of the land.
OB: What have you learned from Washington legendary winemaker Serge Laville?
KD: Serge would always say he learned “Washington winemaking” from my Uncle Devin, who really tied our wines back to the land – and I feel that is what helps keep Spring Valley special.
My first vintage was 2011, the coldest one we have seen. My 5th vintage was 2015, the warmest we have seen! In working alongside Serge during those very challenging vintages, I was able to learn very quickly how a winemaker adapts and pivots. At the end of the day, our goal is to take amazing grapes, provide limited intervention, get them in a bottle, and share the story of the land and the harvest.
OB: What are some of your favorite Spring Valley Vineyards wines and vintages?
KD: Katherine Corkrum Cabernet Franc – 2007, 2016, 2017. I have a lot to say about the Cabernet Franc we grow at our estate vineyards. This bottle of wine is the epitome of what Spring Valley is. It shows the tenacity, the strength, the heartiness, and the earth of our land, while giving the perfect balance of structure and elegance.
I also have a special place in my heart for our 2004 vintage, especially for the Derby Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is beautiful and it is a wonderful connection to some of the last fruit that my Uncle Devin brought in!
OB: Can you talk about the style of wine that you want to create at Spring Valley Vineyards?
KD: The style of Spring Valley wines are determined by what we have in our estate vineyards. We respect the land, preserving what it gives us each vintage. I plan to continue working with the natural strengths of our estate vineyards to showcase Spring Valley’s distinct terroir.
I would love to explore ways to, without losing any structure or depth, alter the mid pallet for a seamless transition to the finish. There is an underlying characteristic in Spring Valley wines that leaves you with a dusty, straw, earthy undertone, which comes from wheat fields that were planted before the grapes. Another element I have noticed is a consistent characteristic of velvety, creamy, almost rose pedal flavor and texture, which I believe can be captured and coined as another descriptor that makes all of Spring Valley wines unique!
I will go out on a limb and stand by it forever. I believe wine is an emotion, a feeling. It’s not only a science, it is an art, and ultimately a feeling. I want to create wine that is seamless from start to finish – with a soft and welcoming entrance, rounded and textured mid pallet, and flowing finish that will leave you with a core memory. Spring Valley wines should leave the consumer with a connection to the people they are with, the stories that are being told, and the memory of the wine they were drinking.