Horsepower
Summary
Horsepower Vineyards is a boutique Walla Walla Valley producer founded in 2008 by French vigneron Christophe Baron, operating three small vineyards in the region's distinctive cobblestone soils and focusing primarily on Rhône varieties, particularly Syrah and Grenache. The estate exclusively uses draft horses for vineyard work, combining biodynamic farming practices with traditional French viticultural methods to produce extremely limited quantities of wines from their high-density, gobelet-trained vines.
Heritage & Leadership
Horsepower Vineyards was established in 2008 by French vigneron Christophe Baron in the Walla Walla Valley. Baron, who previously founded Cayuse Vineyards in 1997, discovered a plot of land in the valley's rocky northern sector that reminded him of the centuries-old vineyards of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The property's distinctive cobblestone soils led to the creation of Horsepower's first vineyard, Sur Échalas. Baron continues to lead all vineyard and winemaking operations, maintaining direct oversight of the project he founded.
Vineyards & Wines
Horsepower operates three distinct vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley: Sur Échalas, The Tribe, and La Revue. These sites feature the region's characteristic cobblestone soils, known locally as 'The Rocks.' The vineyards are planted at high density, with vines spaced just 3-4 feet apart. Syrah and Grenache constitute the primary plantings, with additional small blocks of Grenache Blanc. The vineyards are worked exclusively by draft horses, maintaining traditional French farming methods. All three sites hold Demeter biodynamic certification.
Philosophy & Practice
The estate's viticultural approach centers on horse-drawn plowing, a practice that minimizes soil compaction and maintains soil health. Vine training follows traditional French gobelet (head-pruned) methods, without trellising. The winemaking program emphasizes minimal intervention, utilizing native yeasts for fermentation. The estate's biodynamic certification requires adherence to strict protocols for farming without synthetic inputs. Draft horses Zeppa and Colombo work the vineyards year-round, continuing agricultural traditions that date back centuries in French viticulture.