Cayuse Vineyards

Cayuse Vineyards is a wine producer based in the Walla Walla Valley on the border of Oregon and Washington. Its focus is on the Rhône grape varieties, and in particular Syrah, wines from which have earned several 100-point ratings from The Wine Advocate.

The company was founded in 1997 by Christophe Baron, a Frenchman from a Champagne-making family near Charly-sur-Marne. All of the vineyards owned by Cayuse are within the newly formed Rocks District of Milton-Freewater AVA, which is wholly in Oregon. However Cayuse continues to label its wines with the broader Walla Walla AVA, which is usually associated with the Washington wine industry, though it straddles both states.

Cayuse only uses estate grown fruit from its five vineyards totalling 24 hectares (60 acres). The first plantings were self-rooted vines, but in 2000 Cayuse introduced grafted vines as a precaution against phylloxera. Cayuse has always farmed its vineyards organically and in 2002 became the first entirely biodynamic producer in the Walla Walla Valley. The soil is 'Freewater very cobbly loam' and consists of rolled stones similar to the galets roulés of southern France, particularly Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Cayuse's first vineyard is named Cailloux in honor of its stony soil, and it is from here that the flagship Syrah is produced. The estate's name is a derivation of the same word, and is the name given by white settlers to the local native American tribe.

Other top wines in the portfolio include the En Chamberlin Vineyard and Bionic Frog Syrahs, and the Impulsivo Tempranillo.  The majority of Cayuse wines are sold to members of the mailing list, places on which are highly sought-after.