Woodward Canyon Winery

Rick Small grew up in Walla Walla in a farming family with deep agricultural roots in the Lowden area west of Walla Walla city. Through the 1970s Small became interested in commercial wine grape planting at a time when Walla Walla had essentially no modern wine industry. Inspired in part by Gary Figgins's 1977 Leonetti Cellar founding, Rick and Darcey Small began planting vinifera vineyards on family land near Lowden in 1977, with Chardonnay as the first varietal, and founded Woodward Canyon Winery in 1981 with the first commercial vintage. The estate vineyard (planted 1977) remains the anchor of the producer's premium estate-tier bottlings; the vineyard's age and continuous management for over four decades provide the deep root systems and concentrated fruit profile that have made Woodward Canyon bottlings one of Washington's most-cited heritage Cabernet sources. The Woodward Canyon name refers to the local geographic feature (Woodward Canyon is a small drainage near the winery property). The family operation now includes Rick and Darcey's daughter Jordan Small Dunbar as General Manager and co-owner, and Marcus Rafanelli, who joined as winemaker in February 2026, representing a planned generational transition.

• Rick and Darcey Small founded Woodward Canyon in 1981; Rick grew up in a Walla Walla farming family with deep agricultural roots in the Lowden area
• Began planting vinifera on family land 1977 (Chardonnay first); inspired in part by Gary Figgins's 1977 Leonetti founding
• Founded Woodward Canyon Winery 1981; first commercial vintage 1981; second modern winery in Walla Walla after Leonetti
• Estate vineyard (planted 1977): foundational planting; ongoing 40+ year continuous management; deep root systems + concentrated fruit anchor heritage Cabernet

The estate vineyard is Woodward Canyon's defining site. Planted 1977 (Chardonnay first) on Walla Walla highland soils west of the city, the vineyard anchors the producer's premium estate bottlings. The vineyard's age and the loess-influenced soil profile produce concentrated fruit with structural depth and aromatic complexity that distinguish the Old Vines bottlings from younger Walla Walla plantings. The Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced primarily from Sagemoor Vineyard (Blocks 3 and 9, planted 1972) and Champoux Vineyard (1972-planted blocks), which together supply the bulk of the blend; the winery was an original partner in Champoux Vineyards LLC when it was formed in 1996 and retains a 3 percent stake after selling 22 acres of the site to Quilceda Creek in 2021. A small estate component rounds out the blend. Woodward Canyon's estate-sourced bottlings are primarily designated Walla Walla Valley AVA; broader Columbia Valley bottlings carry the Columbia Valley designation. The producer's reputation rests substantially on the heritage age of the Old Vines plantings.

• Estate vineyard (planted 1977): Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Chardonnay on Walla Walla highland soils west of the city
• Vineyard age + loess-influenced soil profile: concentrated fruit with structural depth and aromatic complexity; distinguishes Old Vines bottlings from younger WW plantings
• Old Vines Cabernet sourced primarily from Sagemoor Vineyard (Blocks 3 and 9, 1972 plantings) and Champoux Vineyard (1972 blocks); Woodward Canyon holds co-ownership stake in Champoux Vineyards LLC
• Old Vines Cabernet carries Columbia Valley AVA; estate-sourced bottlings primarily Walla Walla Valley AVA designation

Woodward Canyon's lineup centers on Bordeaux-discipline structured wines. The Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon (introduced 1992) is the producer's flagship; each vintage features artwork by a different West Coast artist and draws from older Columbia Valley vineyards. The Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon (sourced primarily from Sagemoor and Champoux 1972 plantings) is a separate upper-tier bottling. The Walla Walla Valley Merlot (estate-sourced) is plush but firm with structured tannin. The Estate Chardonnay blends fruit from the estate vineyard and Celilo Vineyard (Columbia Gorge, planted 1972) and shows lemon, green apple, and lees-aged texture in a Burgundian-influenced style with restrained oak. Estate Cabernet Franc and other vineyard-designated bottlings round out the lineup. The producer's stylistic register reflects Rick Small's Bordeaux-discipline approach: restrained alcohol, structural tannin, preserved acidity, judicious oak influence. Woodward Canyon wines are routinely included in major critical retrospectives of Washington Cabernet evolution.

• Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon (flagship since 1992): each vintage features a West Coast artist label; sourced from older Columbia Valley vineyards
• Walla Walla Valley Merlot (estate-sourced): plush but firm with structured tannin
• Estate Chardonnay (estate vineyard + Celilo Vineyard, Columbia Gorge): Burgundian-influenced style with restrained oak; lemon + green apple + lees-aged texture
• Stylistic register: Bordeaux-discipline; restrained alcohol; structural tannin + preserved acidity

Woodward Canyon's operation has remained family-owned and operated since 1981. Rick Small continues as founding winemaker and co-owner; Darcey Fugman-Small is co-founder and co-owner. Their daughter Jordan Small Dunbar serves as General Manager and co-owner. Marcus Rafanelli joined as winemaker in February 2026 in a planned generational transition. The Small family operates the broader Woodward Canyon Estate (the winery property near Lowden) including the tasting room and the estate vineyard operations. Beyond the winery itself, Rick Small and the Woodward Canyon team have played significant roles in the broader Walla Walla wine community: Rick Small served as Chair of the Washington Wine Commission and was President of the Walla Walla Valley Wine Growers Association when the Walla Walla Valley AVA was approved in 1984, contributed to the WSU Viticulture and Enology Program's development, and mentored numerous subsequent Walla Walla winemakers through industry consulting and apprenticeship. The producer's four-decade-plus continuous operation represents the broader Walla Walla three's anchor identity: family-operated, quality-focused, multi-generation, and deeply embedded in the regional wine community.

• Family operation since 1981: Rick Small (founding winemaker, co-owner); Darcey Fugman-Small (co-founder, co-owner); Jordan Small Dunbar (GM and co-owner); Marcus Rafanelli (winemaker since February 2026)
• Woodward Canyon Estate near Lowden: winery property + tasting room + estate vineyard operations
• Community role: Rick Small was Chair of the Washington Wine Commission and President of the Walla Walla Valley Wine Growers Association (at 1984 AVA approval); contributed to WSU V&E Program; mentored numerous WW winemakers
• Four-decade-plus continuous operation: anchor identity for broader Walla Walla three; family-operated, quality-focused, multi-generation, embedded in regional wine community