Originally rooted in Napa Valley, Duckhorn Wine Co. is taking its wine-making expertise to Washington state with the acquisition of a 20-acre vineyard site in the acclaimed Red Mountain American Viticultural Area (AVA). The unplanted site is located just above Col Solare, the vineyard partnership between Tuscany’s Marchesi Antinori and Washington’s Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. Once developed, the new vineyard will serve as a source of estate fruit for Canvasback, a new Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon.

“While our roots are in Napa Valley, our vision has always been the idea that certain varieties find their best expressions in particular regions,” said Duckhorn Wine Co. President and Chief Executive Officer Alex Ryan in a statement. “Cabernet Sauvignon from Red Mountain in Washington state is one of these amazing combinations. This acquisition is a testament to how fully committed we are to Washington state and the Red Mountain AVA. Establishing our own estate vineyards is central to Canvasback’s future and consistent with our approach to Duckhorn Vineyards, Decoy, Paraduxx and Goldeneye — all of which use a combination of grapes from top growers and estate vineyards.”

Located near the top of Red Mountain at an elevation between 1,100 and 1,300 feet, the site is above the frost zone and features rolling slopes, a southwest exposure, and Warden series sandy loam soils with a basalt layer deep enough to allow the vines to fully take root, the company says.

The Duckhorn Wine Co. viticultural team will begin planting in the spring of 2014, with the majority of the vineyard planted to Cabernet Sauvignon. The name Canvasback was chosen for the wine in keeping with Duckhorn’s waterfowl tradition. Canvasback ducks are native to the Pacific Flyway and have breeding grounds in Washington state.

The debut 2012 vintage of Canvasback will be released for national distribution in the fall of 2014 with a suggested retail price of $40.