Reynvaan
Summary
Reynvaan Family Vineyards is a boutique, family-owned winery in Walla Walla Valley specializing in Rhône-style wines, particularly Syrah, from their two distinctive estate vineyards including parcels in the cobblestone-rich Rocks District of Milton-Freewater. Their minimal intervention approach, developed under Christophe Baron's mentorship, showcases authentic terroir expression through native fermentations and thoughtful oak aging, helping establish Washington as an emerging destination for world-class Rhône varieties since their first commercial release in 2007.
Heritage & Leadership
Reynvaan Family Vineyards was established in 2004 by Mike and Gale Reynvaan in Washington State's Walla Walla Valley AVA. The winery represents a career shift for the Reynvaans, who developed a particular interest in Rhône-style wines before founding their vineyard operation. Their inaugural commercial vintage was released in 2007, marking the beginning of their formal entry into the wine industry.
The winery maintains its original family ownership structure, with Mike and Gale continuing to guide the overall direction of the business. Their son, Matt Reynvaan, serves as the winemaker, maintaining the family's direct involvement in all aspects of production. During their formative years, the Reynvaans worked with Christophe Baron of Cayuse Vineyards, who provided consultation and mentorship as they established their winemaking program. This relationship helped shape their approach to viticulture and winemaking in the distinctive terroir of the Walla Walla Valley.
The Reynvaans have deliberately kept their operation focused on small-scale production, prioritizing quality and vineyard expression over volume. This approach has guided their development from their founding through to their current operations.
Vineyards & Wines
Reynvaan Family Vineyards cultivates two distinct estate vineyards within the Walla Walla Valley: "In the Rocks" and "Foothills in the Sun." The "In the Rocks" vineyard is situated within the Rocks District of Milton-Freewater AVA, a sub-appellation of Walla Walla Valley that received official recognition in 2015. This vineyard features the distinctive cobblestone soil composition that characterizes the Rocks District, drawing geological comparisons to France's Châteauneuf-du-Pape region. The "Foothills in the Sun" vineyard occupies a higher elevation position and contains predominantly loess soils, creating a contrasting growing environment to their Rocks District site.
Together, these vineyards comprise approximately 37 acres of land dedicated to viticulture. The Reynvaans focus primarily on Rhône varieties, with Syrah serving as their flagship grape. Their vineyard plantings also include Grenache, Mourvèdre, Viognier, and Marsanne, allowing them to produce both single-varietal wines and blends in the Rhône tradition.
Their wine portfolio includes several single-vineyard Syrahs that showcase the distinct characteristics of each site. Among their most recognized bottlings are "The Contender" and "In The Rocks" Syrahs. The winery also produces a white Rhône-style blend called "Queen's Road White," typically featuring Marsanne and Viognier. In addition to these core offerings, Reynvaan produces smaller quantities of other wines, potentially including Cabernet Sauvignon or Bordeaux-style blends.
Philosophy & Practice
Reynvaan Family Vineyards employs a minimal intervention approach to winemaking, allowing their distinctive vineyard sites to express their unique characteristics. This philosophy guides their technical decisions throughout the winemaking process, from harvest through to bottling.
The winery utilizes native yeasts for fermentation rather than commercial cultures, a practice aligned with their non-interventionist methodology. For their Syrah production, they incorporate whole-cluster fermentation techniques for some wines, which can contribute additional structural elements and aromatic complexity. After fermentation, their wines age primarily in French oak barrels, with a measured approach to new oak that aims to preserve the fruit character and vineyard expression in the finished wines.
The Reynvaans' winemaking practices reflect their commitment to producing wines that authentically represent their Walla Walla Valley vineyards, with particular emphasis on their distinctive Rocks District terroir. Their technical decisions are guided by this site-specific focus, resulting in wines that showcase the unique growing conditions of their estate vineyards.