Our Roots
Walla Walla Valley
Dusted Valley represents our family’s quest to fulfill a dream of crafting world-class wine in Washington State. In 2003, we set out on a hunt for the best fruit and estate vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley and ended up finding that and much more. Here, the sun drenches the valley and the moon shines over the Blue Mountains. The local produce and restaurant scene is fantastic and the wines are among the best in the world. Life does not revolve around rush hour traffic and corporate deadlines, but rather the expansive vineyards and farmlands that link us with our agricultural roots, connect us to our neighbors and surround us every day.
Here, there is a spirit of camaraderie and community. Neighbors work together towards common goals and interests, and founding fathers mentor the next generation of Washington wine stars. This is Walla Walla. It’s where we grow our grapes, make our wines, raise our families and where we are proud to call home.
Wisconsin Roots
Ask anyone who knows us, and they will tell you that we are proud Wisconsin farm kids. Corey represents the fourth generation of his family in agriculture and was raised on a ginseng farm in Northern Wisconsin. Sisters, Janet and Cindy, grew up just down the road on their parent’s 250-acre dairy farm. Chad gained an appreciation and then a passion for the wonders of food and wine while working in the hospitality industry in Wisconsin.
What does the Badger State have to do with wine? Well, it just so happens that some of the barrels we use in our oak program also come from Wisconsin. Our family hails from the Northern part of Wisconsin where the growing season is short, and the winters are harsh. This is one of the most Northern forests where American White Oak (Quercus alba) grows. The short growing season produces an extremely tight-grain that is unique to oak from this region. It’s this tighter grain that frames the wines rather than having it take center stage and allows for a more elegant extraction.