Bruce Morford has been in agriculture all his life. Beginning in 2000 he became a specialist in wine grapes, planting 16.5 acres of red vinifera grapes at his Slide Mountain Vineyard in the extreme western edge of the Yakima Valley AVA.

A distinctive site, Slide Mountain Vineyard is a north-facing slope composed of basalt rock mixed with clay loam at between 1,300- and 1,500-ft. elevation, well above the Missoula Flood plain where most area vineyards are located. Because of its location at the eastern foothills of the Cascade Range mountains, Slide Mountain Vineyard benefits from good air circulation. During the summer, air movement helps reduce temperature extremes, and during the winter it protects vines against severe cold.

Bruce meticulously tends his vines, with extensive use of hand labor to keep the ratio of leaves (which gather solar energy) in balance with the grape bunches (which require the energy). Such attention to detail, plus the exceptionally clear air at the site’s higher elevation, means the vines consistently produce intensely-flavored fruit. This, plus the influence of the clay soils, gives the wines produced from Slide Mountain distinctive concentration, intense coloration, and noticeable minerality.
​
Lady Hill is pleased to obtain Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, and Merlot from Slide Mountain, and we are especially excited to work with this vineyard’s Cabernet Franc. The fruit Bruce Morford grows has achieved multiple 90-plus scores from national wine critics, and we are privileged to partner with Bruce for Lady Hill wines.