Having a Ball in Walla Walla!
Recently, I had the pleasure to explore the exciting wine region of Walla Walla, Washington. This is an area that is literally exploding with new wineries and delivering great wine to please all. In just three days, we visited and sampled the wines of 11 different wineries.
Walla Walla is located in the southeastern corner of Washington, east of the Cascades about 200 miles. The region is literally “high desert” (elevation about 1000 feet) as the Cascades form a rain shadow for the area. Rivers are the main source of water. Walla Walla has long been known as one of the most fertile agricultural areas in the nation, producing such crops as wheat, asparagus, strawberries and the famous Walla Walla Sweet Onions. The growing, shining star today though is the wine business.
So, what about the wine? Cabernet and Merlot are the leading red varietals, and the region is also gaining great attention for stunning Syrah. Chardonnay and Riesling are the leading white varietals of the area. The quality is compelling with many of the producers. It is a relatively young region yet many quality wines come out of the area. Wineries such as Cayuse, Leonetti, Doubleback, and Gramercy all call this area home.
A great example of the quality is Force Majeure. This was our first visit of the trip and harvest was in full swing. Harvest crates were full of beautiful berries waiting to be sorted. The wines of Force Majeure are beautiful and lush – full of deep, rich fruit and earth notes. They have a wide portfolio that includes Rhone varietal blends and big, plush cabernets. These are noteworthy wines. Todd Alexander is the winemaker whose previous job was at Bryant Family in the Napa Valley. He knows his craft, and it is well demonstrated in the wines.
“Force Majeure has already established itself in the top tier of Washington wineries.” – Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator
Included in the pictures is a video of grapes waiting to be sorted that shows the beginning process of fermentation. The weight of the grapes themselves has caused some of the berries to break open and shed some juice. Native yeast – the mediator of fermentation – are found on the skins of the grapes. The yeast are “digesting” the sugar, and the alcohol is formed with the main by-product being CO2. Take a look at the video. They were quick to put dry ice on the grapes to halt the process of fermentation, so the winemaker has control.
Another key to these wines is price. I brought home well crafted, finely structured and luscious cabernet and red blends for less than $75 a bottle. For highly rated wines, these prices are what I call a deal. For example, Abeja is another outstanding winery that calls Walla Walla home. Their 2016 Cabernet, for me, was a real stunner. It was aromatic with loads of dark black fruit, smooth and supple on the palate for only $60. The wine garnered a rating of 94 points by Wine Spectator, and it clearly stood out in our tasting line up.
Other notable stops on our visit included K Vintners, Corliss, Mark Ryan, and Walla Walla Vintners. Each visit presented a great introduction to the winery and a full experience of their wines. Be prepared, a visit to the city will keep you busy. There are over 140 Wineries, tasting rooms and wine bars in Walla Walla. In the downtown alone, there are almost 30 different tasting rooms (all within walking distance of each other) that will welcome you to come in and taste through their portfolio. The other aspect worth mentioning is the price for tastings themselves. It is modest relative to Napa Valley, and each one will give you the full experience of the wineries’ offering. Sound like a great place to visit? I think so!
Enjoy!
