Tapteil Vineyard and Winery

It’s interesting to contemplate what drives people to create businesses. Often it is the hope of making lots of money. For others, it’s a mission of the heart, and the money is secondary. Take one Lawrence “Larry” Pearson.

Equipped with a solid civil engineering background, Larry dreamed of growing cabernet sauvignon. When you visit with him, you perceive a person who, despite his very analytical nature, set about satisfying a big itch without the benefit of a detailed business plan and financial projections. This itch motivated him and his spouse, Jane, to purchase a parcel of land in a relatively obscure part of Washington called Red Mountain. In 1985, Larry realized his dream of “getting his fingernails dirty” by planting his first cabernet sauvignon vines. He named his vineyard Tapteil, after the lower portion of the Yakima River where the Tapteilmin, or “narrow river people,” once lived. Today, 25 acres later and endless days managing the vineyards, Larry and his vineyard team now grow merlot, syrah, and cabernet franc amongst the rows of cabernet sauvignon on the south slope of his property.

Still learning, still reinventing, Larry continues to produce the intense, full-flavored cabernet sauvignon that has come to define Red Mountain. Larry is an active member of Vinewise, a sub-organization of the Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers that focuses on sustainable, environmentally friendly, vineyard management practices.

Did we mention that Larry transforms his fruit into great wines? Located at the north end of Sunset Road, Tapteil Vineyard and Winery commands a sweeping few of the Red Mountain table and a panoramic view of Horse Heaven Hills in the distance. Rumor has it that if you come all this way without sampling Tapteil’s cabernet sauvignon, you might be spending a night in the Benton City jail or at least getting your head examined. While you are enjoying Larry’s other Tapteil wines(most notably the syrah), please take time to pet the winery dog Argus – sip more, bark less. He’s the coolest dog in Red Mountain.

From Tapteil’s hilltop terrace, complete with a basalt fountain, you can enjoy a picnic. If you do, be sure to pack some fresh artisan bread to soak up the select virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar that Jane sells in the tasting room. Like others who have come before you to Tapteil, you might catch yourself daydreaming about quitting your day job and planting vines.

Did we mention that Larry transforms his fruit into great wines? Located at the north end of Sunset Road, Tapteil Vineyard and Winery commands a sweeping few of the Red Mountain table and a panoramic view of Horse Heaven Hills in the distance. Rumor has it that if you come all this way without sampling Tapteil’s cabernet sauvignon, you might be spending a night in the Benton City jail or at least getting your head examined. While you are enjoying Larry’s other Tapteil wines, please take time to introduce your palate to the wines under his second label, Spilya, a local Native American word for “coyote.”

From Tapteil’s hilltop terrace, complete with a basalt fountain, you can enjoy a picnic. If you do, be sure to pack some fresh artisan bread to soak up the select virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar that Jane sells in the tasting room. Like others who have come before you to Tapteil, you might catch yourself daydreaming about quitting your day job and planting vines.

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  Tapteil Vineyard and Winery was featured in WineTrails of Washington as part of the Red Mountain WineTrail on page 386!