plan your trip at visityakima.com 7 Read the full interview Four generations after their grandfather planted Schmidt Orchards, Patrick and Matt Rawn are growing and crafting awardwinning, estate-grown wines on the same lands. Their bond and love of the land is evident in their commitment to stewardship and sustainability, earning the first Rules for Sustainable Winegrowing certification. What does it mean to you to be stewards of the same lands your family has worked for generations? We view our role as just that. Stewards, not owners. We are just the family’s current iteration of stewarding this place. A big part of this stewardship is taking a long-term view and making every decision in the context of its impact on future generations. You’ve taken sustainability to a higher level with involvement in the creation of the new Sustainable WA certification, as well as earning certification for your vineyards. Do you see those practices growing in the Yakima Valley moving forward? An increasing amount of the valley’s acreage will most certainly become certified over the next couple of years. My guess is we will see at least half of the vineyard acreage become certified within five years. Most growers do a great job and really care deeply about their farms and the valley at large. Taking the step to become certified gives a grower the opportunity to tell the story of good things they are doing. It gives one a seat at the table. Additionally, Sustainable WA is built on the best science and practices that exist. Investing in meeting the standard provides a roadmap towards continually getting better as a grower. aOWEN ROE WINERY aLAPIERRE FARMS & WINERY aTWO MOUNTAIN WINERY - MATT RAWN AND PATRICK RAWN MEET THE MAKER MATT RAWN & PATRICK RAWN - TWO MOUNTAIN WINERY
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