Walla Walla - July 2012

I just returned from our annual pilgrimage to Walla Walla.  Once again, this wine region does not disappoint. We were able to visit some new wineries, as well as some continual favorites.  New finds for us included:

Rotie Cellars - Wow.  I mean, I had read all kinds of great things about this winery, and now I know....they are all true.  Sean Boyd is the Rhone Master of Washington State as far as I'm concerned.  The Northern Blend (95% Syrah/5% Viognier) is deep, dark and brooding. It's so rich and there is so much going on, but with an amazing balance of acid and tannin.  The Southern Blend (75% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre) is brighter, layered with licorice and spice. I was amazed at how smooth these wines were drinking, both the 2010 vintage.

Tertulia Cellars - We visited Tertulia on the hottest day of our our trip. With temps near 100 degrees, we were grateful for Tertulia's beautiful air conditioned tasting room.  We were fortunate to be there when Ryan, the winemaker, was there and he chatted us up about vineyards, weather and the vineyard process.  It was very informative and you can tell how much he cares about his craft.  Ryan makes regular appearances on Tertulia's Facebook page, posting videos with reviews on their wine, as well as videos from the vineyards as well.  The 2011 Rose' (73% Mourvedre, 24% Counoise, 3% Grenache) has wonderful floral notes and a refreshing crisp finish.  I was really impressed with the 2007 Les Collines Syrah. Classic Walla Walla Syrah, meaty, smoky, bacon, it is downright chewy. I love it.

Lunch at The Reserve House

One of the highlights our our trip was having lunch at  the Reserve House at Woodward Canyon.  They are doing lunch Fri-Sun starting at 11:30.  They have a seasonal menu, utilizing a lot of foods grown on site.  You can enjoy wines by the bottle or the glass.

We loved being back in Walla Walla.  July was a little hot, weather wise, but an awesome time to taste a lot wines before they are sold out.  We enjoying visiting some of our favorite stops including: Tero Estates, Waters Winery, Walla Walla Vintners, and Reininger Winery.

If you haven't been I highly recommend at trip to Walla Walla.  It is a great place to see where the grapes are grown, learn about how great wine is made.

Lavender in full bloom at Walla Walla Vintners