Woodward Canyon Winery, named for the canyon owner Rick Small’s family farmed and where the Estate Vineyard is now located, was established in 1981 by Rick Small and his wife Darcey Fugman-Small. Woodward Canyon is the second oldest winery in the Walla Walla Valley, and the Smalls were instrumental in the process of obtaining federal approval of the Walla Walla Valley Appellation in 1984. The winery has consistently produced premium, age-worthy cabernet sauvignons and merlots as well as chardonnays. Rick planted the first of forty-one acres of the Woodward Canyon Estate Vineyard in 1976 on his family’s dryland wheat ranch. Rick’s roots run deep in the land that has been farmed by his family for three generations. The hillside vineyard now includes cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, sauvignon blanc, chardonnay and barbera, as well as several experimental varieties. The Estate Vineyard is Certified Salmon Safe and also experimenting with organic and bio-dynamic farming practices. The winery purchases grapes from select growers and the Smalls are a partner in Champoux Vineyard which lies above the Columbia River in the Horse Heaven Hills appellation. Woodward Canyon has a strong belief that the quality of the wine starts in the vineyards; grape-growing and winemaking after all, are still agriculture. The next generation, Jordan Dunn-Small and Sager Small have joined in the ownership and operation of the winery. In 2013, Jordan joined the winery fulltime and is currently Director of Direct to Consumer Operations. Sager returned to Walla Walla in 2015 and graduated in Enology and Viticulture at Walla Walla Community College. He is currently the Estate Vineyard Manager. Having cooked in some of Seattle’s best restaurants for over a decade, Sager is also Woodward Canyon’s resident chef for winemaker dinners and private events. The tasting room is in a restored 1870’s farmhouse with shady gardens and is open daily.