About Fly High

History

After moving from Minnesota to Arizona, Sandra and David King were looking for a place to retire. In late 1993 they found a 100 acre farm in the heart of the Applegate Valley. As a pilot, David saw a private landing strip on this long, narrow farm and Sandra saw a garden.

First, David built a large barn for the airplane he was building, as well as the ones he flew on a regular basis. Sandra built a 60 x 60 foot vegetable garden. Vineyards in the Applegate Valley were rapidly expanding, so when they discussed what to do with the rest of the farm they decided to plant wine grapes. They planted two acres of Syrah and one acre of Viognier.

When David passed away suddenly in 2004, Sandra’s son, J.D. joined her to
help develop the farm into a full vineyard. They planted Tempranillo and Pinot Gris and started their own label called Fly High Vineyard as a memorial to David. The Applegate Valley is a very close-knit vineyard community, and on a cold winter evening, Fly High became partners with neighbors Matt Sorensen and Maria Largaespada of LongSword Vineyard to make and market wine. Matt is the winemaker for both vineyards, and they joined forces to build a tasting room on the LongSword property.

Eighteen acres of the 100 acre Fly High property are planted to Viognier, Pinot Gris, Syrah, Roussanne, Marsanne, & Tempranillo vines. The property also holds the winery for both vineyards now, and will be put to use for the first time in the Fall of 2011.

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