DavenLore Winery
First the name and introductions… “DavenLore” is taken from the names of the owner Joan Davenport (Dr. Dirt) and Gordon Taylor. Joan or “Dr. Dirt”- which is how her card reads- has a PhD in Soil Chemistry from the University of Guelph in the mid 80’s in Ontario, Canada. Joan is employed here in Prosser at the WSU Irrigated Agriculture Research & Extension Center and has been since early 1997. The two meet while Gordon was working up at U of Guelph after receiving his Ag Degree.
Chef Magana, Gordon Taylor
The idea to start the winery came about while sharing a glass of wine with friends. DavenLore was bonded in 2005 with the 1st release of 06 Riesling in May of 07. Following, was the release of the 05 Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Red Tale in the fall of 07. Today the winery produces 750 cases with a staff of 4. DavenLore Winery practices both the Bordeaux and the Rhone style of winemaking, or a combination of the two styles with Cabernet, Merlot, Syrah, Malbec, Rose, Riesling and my personal favorite Durif (Petite Sirah) on the last release. This year’s release is just a few weeks away with the first vintage of Estate Rose- a Blend of Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah. Also on this vintage release; Malbec and Mourvedre. The Winery itself is located high up a hill in Prosser over looking many of the vineyards where the grapes are sourced and all are with-in a thirty mile radius. Seventy percent of the production is sourced from the Horse Heaven Hills AVA- Alder Ridge, Double Canyon and Zepher Ridge. Twenty percent from Yakima Valley AVA- Lonesome Spring Ranch, Far Away Vineyard and Vineheart Vineyard. The last ten percent from one of Washington’s smallest AVAs, Snipes Mountain, the Newhouse Vineyard.
The DavenLore 1lt refillable “Recovery Red”, a Washington State Non Vintage Red Wine, was released in conjunction with last year’s Prosser Farmer’s Market. The green concept behind this wine is every week on your trip to the farmer’s market you bring your empty bottle and exchange it for a full one. The price of the first bottle of ‘Recovery Red” includes the price of the refillable glass bottle, but thereafter you only pay for the wine in the bottle! This concept was such a hit, that not only will DavenLore be back at Prosser Farmer’s Market on May 1st, but many area local restaurants have developed the same kind of pr
ogram with DavenLore for the refillable bottles of “Recovery Red”.
If you get a chance to get your hands on the new 08 “Dr. Davenport” Syrah Forte (port style) wine, do it- it sells out fast! The Syrah used for 07 “Dr. Davenport”- AVA Snipes Mountain was again the source for the soon to be released 08. DavenLore is one of only a small handful of Yakima Valley Wineries making this style of wine. The 07 “Dr. Davenport” tasted like a big juicy raspberry with a coffee finish.
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