Casey McClellan
Winemaker
Seven Hills Winery, Walla Walla, Washington

Casey cultivated his interest in wine while planting the first block of Seven Hills Vineyard in the early 1980s. He later earned a Master's degree from the University of California at Davis, specializing in the study of wine yeast performance. After graduation he worked in association with the Port Wine industry in Oporto, Portugal.

In 1988 Casey returned to the Walla Walla Valley to join the founding vineyard partners in establishing Seven Hills Winery, one of the original five wineries of that region. In his fifteen-year career with Seven Hills he has produced numerous wines scoring highly in Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, and Wine & Spirits Magazine, among others.

"My goal as winemaker is intensely structured, balanced wines expressing the distinct terroir of their vineyard origin. I believe the soil, climate and grapes in our Northwest appellations afford the opportunity to make wines ranked among the best in their class. I have been fortunate in my 15 years as Seven Hills' winemaker to have developed fruit sources where I harvest from the same vines each year. This a precious resource for us; knowing the vines and working closely with our growers, we can craft wines attaining the full potential of the grape."

Seven Hills specializes in making ageable, flavorful Bordelais-style and produces less than 10,000 cases per year, allowing a focus on crafting the finest expressions of Northwest terroir possible. Winegrapes are sourced from older, well-regarded vineyards such as Ciel du Cheval, Klipsun, and Seven Hills. Recent years have seen Seven Hills expand their offerings to include cutting-edge red wine blends and Riesling and Pinot Gris from some of the oldest plantings in the State.

For affirmation of the valley's popularity, one only has to look at the over fifty wineries that now call the appellation home. McClellan says "We make wines from some of the top vineyards in the State that reflect the personality of the region and vineyard sites, showing a harmony of fruit and structure, graced by just enough oak influence to complement and enhance the wine."