Return to Walla Walla & a Winemaker's Fete

After spending 3 days in Walla Walla just prior to the Holiday Barrel Tasting Weekend, I am reminded of why this town is so inviting. The wines? Oh yes, they are good and they are plentiful. But it's more than just the wines themselves, it is a sense that the entire community has embraced a lifestyle that evokes "wine country."

A stay at the Marcus Whitman Hotel, a lovely dinner at Whitehouse Crawford and visits to numerous wineries in the area made our stay a true Walla Walla experience. To top it off we attended the Winemaker's Fete, the kick-off event to the weekend's festivities. It started with a welcome reception, an array of delicious hors d'oeuvres and some 40+ wineries pouring wines to taste. I discovered some new wines that I must say were mouthwatering and was pleasantly surprised by the amount of white wines. I especially enjoyed a viognier by Tertulia Cellars, a newcomer to Walla Walla. Another great white was Reininger's Helix Aspersa, a second label wine for Reininger. The Aspersa is 60% viognier and 40% Chardonnay with spicy floral notes and tropical fruit flavor.

As for the reds at the reception, they were plentiful and BIG. Another new commer, A'maurice, poured a Bordeaux style blend that was truly enjoyable, a great food wine with a touch of spice. When given the opportunity, I enjoyed comparing the terroir of the Walla Walla vineyard wines with the same varietal made of grapes from the Columbia or Yakima Valley. The difference was definitely notiicable, not necessarily better or worse, just there and of course, a matter of taste.

Through a seating raffle, we had the privledge of sitting with Winemaker Serge Laville of Spring Valley Vineyard during the dinner. We had great fun pairing Spring Valley wines with our courses of pear and blue cheese salad, duck prepared 3 different ways and beef tenderloin, all by Chef Bear of The Marc. Serge gave us a lesson on alcohol content and we talked about the similarities and differences in Washington Wine Country and France's vineyard region.

Following a dessert reception, the evening slowly came to an end. A good time was had by all and as I meandered the halls back to my room I was filled with the joy of a few beautiful days spent in Walla Walla wine country.

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