REGION: Washington

While visiting the Walla Walla Valley in 1996, Christophe Baron spotted a plot of land with acres of softball-sized stones that reminded him of vineyards he had visited in France and Spain. This challenging terroir would stress the grapevines, making them produce more mature, concentrated fruit. He purchased the property and named his winery after the Cayuse, a Native American tribe whose name was taken from the French ‘cailloux’; meaning rocks. The majority of his vineyards are planted with Syrah, and the rest dedicated to Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Merlot, Tempranillo, and Viognier which are used for a variety of other top notch wines under the Cayuse label.