Welcome to Kulle vineyards
Walla Walla AVA | Northeast Oregon | SeVein Member Vineyard
ABOUT kulle vineyards
Pronounced “Keul-lay”
Located within the Walla Walla AVA near Milton-Freewater, Oregon, Kulle means “hilltop” in Swedish and reflects the heritage/ancestry of the owners as well as the topography of this parcel. Positioned in the prestigious SeVein wine region (home to some of the most prominent Washington wine makers, such as Leonetti Cellars, Doubleback and Seven Hills). Kulle Vineyards is one of the southernmost parcels in the SeVein, adjacent to Leonetti Vineyards “Serra Pedace” Vineyard.
The elevation of Kulle Vineyards, roughly 1,380 feet above sea level, makes the property less susceptible to late spring and early fall frosts. Rainfall in the SeVein averages 8”-9” each year, with most of that coming during the winter months. This vineyard is unique in that it offers multi exposure opportunities with land facing in every direction, and one of the most advanced (precision) automated watering systems in the area. In addition, it offers a unique microclimate conducive to grape growing. The fertility of the quick drying soils coupled with the dry weather yields high quality vineyards especially suited for cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc grapes. SeVein taps water more than 1,000 feet below the surface, filtered for decades through multiple layers of basalt.
The vineyard’s initial 7 acres were planted in 2020 with 3 separate blocks (Clones 4, 8 and 191) of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. In 2022 an additional 1.5-acre block of Cabernet Franc (Clone 214) was planted, and then in 2024, three additional blocks of Cabernet Sauvignon (Clones 30 and 191) were planted, for a current total acreage planted of approximately 14 acres.
Doubleback Winery was the initial buyer of Kulle grapes since 2022. They continue to be a great partner moving forward; both 2022 and 2023 vintages of the Bledsoe Family Cabernet Sauvignon have been released to excellent reviews.
Meet the kulle people
Greg and Nancy Hall
Owners
Greg and Nancy met at a biotechnology company, CellPro, in the late 1990s. They would often travel over to the west side of Washington state and do wine tastings. They both loved the wines from the region, and Greg particularly dreamed of planting a vineyard and growing wine grapes one day in Washington state. Greg has always had a love of growing vegetables and other plants/trees even as a kid.
In 2018, they were able to realize their dream and purchase 40 water rights acres in the SeVein Water Association area just south of Walla Walla outside of Milton-Freewater, Oregon. They named the vineyard Kulle (pronounced “Keul-lay”) which means “hilltop” in Swedish. The name reflects the heritage/ancestry of both Greg and Nancy. The logo reflects the hilltop terrain (one of the highest elevation properties in the SeVein), their Swedish ancestry (Swedish crown) and the central focus of growing great grapes.
Chris Banek
Vineyard Manager
With over 25 years of experience in the vineyard and wine grape production industry, Chris is a passionate vineyard management expert dedicated to producing high-quality wines. As the owner of Banek Winegrower Management, he oversees all aspects of vineyard operations, from soil management to grape harvesting, ensuring that each step adheres to sustainable practices and premium quality standards.
Chris is very committed to environmental stewardship, implementing practices that not only enhance grape quality but also support biodiversity and sustainability through regenerative practices.
Greg & Nancy Hall, Owners
A Regenerative approach to grape growing
Regenerative soil health of grapevines is a philosophy rooted in the understanding wine is not an annual project, but one that emphasizes its multi-generational nature. Entering into deep communication with the vines through intensive soil and canopy management practices leads to whole vineyard ecosystem health, and a myriad of benefits to the consumer. Kulle partners with Apical to employ the best methods of this regenerative approach to ensure grape vine health and vitality.
buy our fruit!
harvest 2026 (and beyond)
cab Sauvignon and cab franc Grapes
available for purchase
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