Happy Hallo-wine!

It’s Trick 'r Drinking time. If you’ve been a consistent reader of this blog you know I am all about pairing food and wine together. I love this time of year in the Walla Walla Valley and I love Halloween. And the question I have is - - what kind of candy to hand out to the little ghouls and goblins? Every year varies. If I am in my healthy self-righteous diet mode then I will give out candy I do not care for (so I won't be snacking on it). If I am in my "I don't give a bat's ass-gimme-chocolate, then I will give out the good stuff. And when I say good stuff I mean candy like Three Musketeers and Hershey bars. Of course, while I am waiting on the lil' monsters to ring the door bell, I need to be sipping on a little wine. So what kind of wine pairs with Halloween candy?

Candy Corn: Chardonnay makes for a good pairing with these little nuggets of white, yellow and orange (or known in my house as West Virginia vampire teeth). I would choose either Canoe Ridge or Forgeron Cellars Chardonnay. Both wines are very light in oak and will not mask that sweet candy corn goodness.

Caramel Apples: "Hoobie" Sauvignon Blanc from Couvillion Winery or Three Rivers Meritage White. The clean and refreshing tastes from these wines bring out the crispness from the apple.

Mary Janes "Peanut Butter Kisses (the taffy in the orange and black wax wrappers): Okay this particular pairing is painful as I dislike the Hiney Wine jokes, but the Hiney Winery Tiny Hiney makes for a perfect pairing - very reminiscent of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Tiny Hiney is a dessert wine made with Concord grapes (jelly and juice grapes) and Riesling.

Almond Joy: Long Shadow's Poet’s Leap Riesling or Walla Walla Village Gewurztraminer. The fruit of pear, melon and honey from the Riesling pairs nicely with the addition of the coconut and almonds from the candy. If you are wanting a semi-sweet wine, the Gewurztraminer still has some residual sugar and the exotic fruits from the wine would blend well with the fruit and nuts from the candy.

Hershey Chocolate Bar (with or without almonds): Waterbrook Winery Cabernet Sauvignon is definitely a more mellow Cabernet with softer tannins and does not interfere with the chocolate. Also, Waterbrook’s Melange - a red blend that is one of my all-time regulars when I want an every day sipping wine. Melange works quite well with any chocolate - - trust me.

Three Musketeers Bar: Any Walla Walla produced Merlot is going to pair well with one of my favorite candy bars! In fact, the first Merlot that comes to mind is from Lowden Hills Winery. Merlot does not seem to over-power the milk chocolate and fluffy center.

Snickers Bar: Mannina Cellars Sangiovese or even Mannina’s Cali red table makes for a great pairing. The earthy and dark cherry qualities from both wines work well with the peanuts, caramel and nougat.

M&M's: A handful of these color-assorted candies pair nicely (peanut or plain) with a glass of Syrah. Choose your Syrah like you do your favorite M&M colors such as Morrison Lane Vineyard Syrah pairs nicely with the red and brown ones and Isenhower Cellars Wild Alfalfa Syrah or even their Wild Thyme (with 60% Syrah) is a good pairing with the blue and green M&M’s in your candy dish.

Remember as with the M&M’s, all of the above wines will melt in your mouth and not in your hands. Cheers!

We Want Wine Without Borders!

Okay people - - hunker down for awhile. She's on a rant. You've been warned.

If there was a local sit-down or picket line about this subject, I would be there. As a "child of the 60's and 70's" the closest I came to a rally was during a high school band trip to Seattle. A few of us strayed and found ourselves downtown at a Vietnam war protest (we were suppose to be checking out museums and the Space Needle). Of course, I had to get in the middle of it, but quickly found a way out of the crowd when a passer-by gave me a pamphlet on what to do in case of tear-gas and I noticed an army of police with masks standing by. I would later cringe when the news and photos of the rally appeared on the NBC news. My father never missed Huntley and Brinkley. My inner-voice would chant, as I watched the news with Dad, "Please do not recognize me in the crowd of 10,000 people." (Hmm - now that I think about this, I don't think my mother knows about this - - oh well, she might now!)

So, what is this wine shipping-foo all about? First and foremost, it is not cool to discriminate against interstate commerce - a direct violation of the Commerce Clause, Art. I, §8, cl. 3 and the Twenty-First Amendment. And the truth is that alcohol wholesale/distributors around the country are violating this act every day.

Picture this: you live in Pennsylvania and you want to purchase wines from the state of Washington. You’ve read a lot about the wonderful wines of Walla Walla, so you surf the internet and there they are - world class Walla Walla wines - all within the reach of your keyboard and credit card. How easy would it to be to finally add those wines to your wine collection. Well tough! Snap out of it! You can’t! You cannot buy any Walla Walla wines because your state has restricted what kind of wines you can and cannot purchase. If you want to purchase any wines from Walla Walla, then you are going to have to purchase them from your local store who will purchase them from their wholesale distributor. And chances are great that the wholesale distributor will not have these wines in their inventory, especially if it is an award winning wine from a small Washington State winery. Too bad - so sad - you are out of luck and you can thank your politicians for accepting the hand-outs from the local wholesale distributors. In North Carolina alone, the North Carolina Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association donated more than $85,000 to their local politicians in 2006.

Now the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America, Inc. (WSWA) want you to believe that the three tiered system needs to stay in place because it is all about the safety of the children. The truth is that the WSWA wants to control wine shipments and especially wine sales on the internet because the WSWA does not make a penny from the small wineries who self-distribute (and often through the internet). In fact, the WSWA has been trying to push through legislation for years to abolish winery self-distribution. Every time I read the WSWA quote, "it’s for the children" it reminds me of something out of the mouth of pop-rocker-perv, Michael Jackson. Yeah right, and if you believe their "selfless act" - - have I got a deal for you - a case of 1787 Chateau Lafite I’ll sell you for $99.95.

When will the WSWA ever learn that their tired old debate of "protecting the children from alcohol internet sales" is losing momentum? Any under-ager can buy a liter of cheap beer from the "guy" that hangs in the alley behind the neighborhood convenience store a lot cheaper and quicker than buying a bottle of wine on the internet (for you South Park fans, check out how Cartman feels about the WSWA). How many kids do you know that will order $30 wines on the internet including at least $20 for shipping, pay for it with a credit card, and wait for 3-5 days for delivery? If I remember right back in my youth, it was all about instant gratification when it came to underage drinking. Umm - of course, I was referring to my old friends from high school days...they use to tell me about it...

Furthermore, shippers like FedEx and UPS have made it very difficult (yet easier for the wineries to stay in compliance) for anybody under 21 years of age to receive alcohol. Their policies state that all alcohol shipments must have an adult-over-21 signature before receipt of package. I recently had a FedEx driver tell me that he has known drivers who have lost their jobs for delivering wine without an adult signature. And it is against federal law to ship alcohol through the US Postal System.

Besides individual wineries using their efforts, The Specialty Wine Retailers Association is an organization working to keep the wine market without borders so that consumers can purchase and receive wine directly from any retailer in the United States. There are other organizations that work with consumer and wineries, such as Free the Grapes, a coalition whose goal is to ensure the consumer a choice of where to purchase wine.

And last but certainly not least, blogs are exercising their voices and assisting to educate their readers on retailer-to-consumer shipping issues. The Ship Compliant Blog is an online site for wineries to use and to help them stay current on interstate shipping rules. Organizations like these are truly needed, especially when the wholesale cartel have threatened consumers and wineries with jail time if they bypass the middleman. Also out there, voicing the importance of freeing the grape is REthink Wine Blog and now Wine Without Borders. Tom Wark, the tireless and fearless, of Fermentation - the Daily Wine Blog will be managing Wine Without Borders regarding wine to consumer shipping issues.

As of today, wine retailers can only ship legally into 15 states and wineries may ship into 35 depending on offsite or onsite sales (meaning if you visited the winery then you can have your wine sent to you via shipper). Doesn’t sound right, does it? We live in the United States of America. Shouldn’t the number of states that both wine retailer and winery can ship into be a total of all 50 states? Wine sales are bigger than ever and the number is sales keep growing - - meaning there are enough sales to go around for all - wineries around the nation and for the wholesale/distributors!

(And let me be very, very clear that I have nothing against the actual services of what a wholesale/distributor provides. In some areas of the country and for some alcohol related businesses the wholesaler/distributor provides a convenient service for many stores, restaurants/hotels and other retailers of alcohol. For many wineries, the wholesale distributor plays an important role in assisting them to reach specific areas and businesses that the winery may not be able to reach on their own based on their volume and manpower. But the point is - - the wineries should have a choice and not be bullied of whether or not to use the services of the wholesale/distributors. )

Celebrity Wine - Porn, Sports and Rock 'n Roll!

What do Grammy Award winning musician Carlos Santana and race track star, Jeff Gordon have in common? Their own wine labels. First it started with 60's TV star Fred MacMurray of My Three Sons (who would later sell the vineyard to E& J Gallo) and later Fess Parker, who is probably just as well known for his destination winery, spa and soon to be seaside hotel, than he is for the roles he played as Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett. Other TV stars of the 60's came along like the Smothers Brothers who own Smothers Winery and Remick Ridge Vineyards of Sonoma.

There are big distinctions behind those labels - the celebs who take active roles in their vineyards and/or wineries (like Smothers and Parker) and those who pay negociants to fetch the wine from various wineries, such as three of my favorite rock legends: Santana, Bob Dylan and Mick Fleetwood. Then we have posthumous labels of rock legends such as Jerry Garcia and of course, Elvis.

One of the more famous wineries, especially seen all over northern California grocery stores is from famed film director of the "Godfather" trilogy, Francis Ford Coppola’s wine label. Yes, this Walla Walla Wine Woman has been known to enjoy a bottle here and there - the Zinfandels are quite nice. However, let’s not forget (no wait - - let's forget) about daughter, Sofia Coppola's Gen-X spin on wine. The stuff in the can that is marketed "for the person who lives like there is no tomorrow." Who thinks like that? There should be no tomorrow when we start drinking wine out of a can.

The Gallo Winery found a "good thing" when they announced last month their partnership with MSO to develop a brand of wines under the "Martha Stewart Vintage" label. Now your dinner party will be complete with the meal prepared from your MS cookbook and MS cookware, your table set with MS plates and linens (umm...even the dining table can be from the MS Katonah or MS Turkey Hill collection) and of course you will need the MS wine glasses from Macy*s to drink the MS vintage from.

Last but not least, golfing legends like Greg Norman and Arnold Palmer. Norman actually owns an estate winery and vineyard and the Palmer label is a partnership with a winery.

So what got me started on this rant? Yesterday, in one of my many wine-related emails was the announcement of the new "Mamietage Collection of Fine Wines." This collection of "fine wines" is named after screen legend and notorious blond bombshell Mamie Van Doren. Huh? I thought she was dead! I must have confused her with the other two blond "Bombshells" of the 50's. Okay, so how do I know about the "The Three M's — Mamie, Monroe and Mansfield?" Umm...my mother told me?

"Mamietage" is produced in 1.5 liter bottles featuring three images of Mamie. Two of the images are of Mamie as she is today, and the third image is from Mamie at the age of 21. The wine labels all feature nude poses of Mamie covered up by a top, clear "peel away" label that has stars strategically placed. Once you peel the label away - - a nude Mamie! The peel away portion is attached, and can be replaced to it's original form. How special - like paper dolls!

Last year I blogged "Porn Wine" regarding porn star Savanna Samson launching her own brand of Italian wine. Wine critic, Robert Parker gave the wine 90 points and claimed Samson’s wine to be "luscious and oppulent." Oh reee-ally Mr. Parker. "Luscious and oppulent," you say?

So, all of these celebrity wines got me to thinking - I need my own wine label. Hey! I’m a celebrity - a wine blogging celebrity - the Wild Walla Walla Wine Woman - a celebrity in my own mind! I could have peel away labels like paper dolls. Your choice of bare umm - - feet or Birkenstocks. Purple and red reading glasses or no eyeglasses. Fountain pen behind my ears or laptop computer. Toga with belly dancing scarves or Washington State University sweat shirt with Sponge Bob Squarepants sweat pants? Ain't she purty? My paperdoll image can be holding your choice of wine. Red or white, but never a glass of White Zin. Cheers!

The Flying Trout Crush

The word from Ashley at Flying Trout Winery is she's keeping busy with crush and it appears there is a rainbow at the end of her '07 crush journey! I recently interviewed Ashley back in August for an article to be part of my new column, "The Tasting Room" in Walla Walla’s newest magazine," Lifestyles." At that time, the only wine she had available for sale was her Deep River Red - 2004. And during that visit, I discovered that Ashley is truly a one-woman-show. Winemaker, marketing director and tasting room attendant and if that isn’t enough, after this crush she will head-down to Mendoza!

Which reminds me - as of this week she is sold out of her Deep River Red blend and is officially closing the tasting room except on event weekends. The Flying Trout Winery door will reopen in May, 2008.

I am so ready to taste her 2007 vintages and they’re not even in the bottle! So far, she has a Malbec from the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. In fact, the Malbec is from 21 year-old vines. She is also pressing Phinny Hill Syrah from the Horse Heaven Hills and Syrah from Patina Vineyards in Walla Walla.

Keeping close to old world traditions, Ashley has planned her version of a Beaujolais party for November 17 at the Flying Trout Tasting Room/Winery. Known as "wine for the peasants" many centuries ago, Beaujolais Nouveau may not be released earlier than the third Thursday of November, according to French law passed in 1985. A traditional (and legal) bottle of Beaujolais Nouveau means grapes were handpicked from the Burgundy growing region, then followed by carbonic maceration, pressing, fermentation and then moved quickly to bottling and this all has to be done (only in France and to keep the Beaujolais Nouveau name) in time for the traditional release at midnight on the third Thursday of November. Hmmm - could this be the reason why Beaujolais Nouveau has often been the popular choice with the American Thanksgiving turkey? Good timing or planned by nouveau King of Beaujolais marketer - George Duboeuf (and that my readers sounds like another blog topic)?

Anyways - Ashley has put a new twist on her Beaujolais Nouveau party. Instead of the traditional Gamay grape that is normally used, Ashley will be producing a carbonically macerated Lemburger. There is only one barrel and what isn’t consumed at the party will be available for purchase until the end of November. I must be there! You don't see too many Beaujolais parties in Walla Walla.

A Great Value - A Great Merlot

Lately, I have been in this mode of sampling Walla Walla wines priced under $30 a bottle and is it ever paying off! The good news is I keep discovering wines that are top quality for the dollar.

One of the Valley’s great value is from Lowden Hills Winery. Lowden Hills is a family winery owned by Jim and Sonja Henderson. A highlight about the Walla Walla Valley is if you were born and/or raised here, you just about know or related to everyone. Back in high school, Sonja and I co-chaired a high school girl’s league committee together. And have continued to keep in touch.

Besides a family winery, Lowden Hills also produces estate wines from their Win Chester Vineyards located outside of Lowden, WA. Named after Sonja’s late stepfather, Win Estes, the Estes family were wheat farmers and homesteaded in the Walla Walla Valley since the late 1800's.

The historic barn, now winery, seems fitting considering the Lowden Hills Winery’s family history. The barn was built in 1938 and has been the home to livestock, crops stored by the local truck farmers, and at one time, even an old dance hall.

So - - would you like to know more about their Merlot? Lowden Hills Winery Merlot - 2002 is a blend of fruit from their estate Win Chester Vineyards and the Alder Ridge Vineyard. Alder Ridge is one of the oldest and highly regarded vineyards in Washington State. I discovered this Lowden Hills Merlot not to be a whimp, but a real full-bodied Merlot that I feel should be honored with a good meal. It is a force to be reckoned with when ney-sayers comment that Merlot is merely a blending grape - NOT! Dark and dense in color along with aromas of dark fruit from the orchard. Just that bit of age has given it a well rounded structure with flavors of dark cherries and prune-plums. I even picked up a bit of cocoa in the finish.

After opening, the bottle didn't get finished and was held over for the next day. Just as lovely! And you cannot beat the price for such an exceptional Merlot - - $20!

Garrison Creek Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon - 2002

Okay, I am on a roll and it is all about Cabernet Sauvignon - -

It’s been a long time coming, but we are finally seeing wines for purchase from Garrison Creek Cellars. If you read my blog on Garrison Creek Winery - An Exercise In Perseverance, you will remember the five year battle that owner and Walla Walla native, Michael Murr went through for his winery to receive the same treatment as the rest of the wineries in Walla Walla County. The battle is now slowly fading into the sunset and Michael will be victorious. In spite of the frustrations that the winery was put through by the county, the wine did not suffer.

I had an opportunity to enjoy a bottle of Garrison Creek Cellars Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon - 2002. Pouring the dark liquid into my glass from the long slender and distinct bottle, I could immediately smell the aroma from the Cabernet. A nose of chocolate and bramble berries. I was "warned" ahead of time that I would be seduced by the velvety liquid. Indeed. It was dark, fudgy and yummy. Reminded me of a fresh-baked fudge brownie with walnuts with a side of raspberry coulee. It was dense, well balanced and yet one could probably lay down for a couple of years - - but why? Enjoy it now.

Visiting with Michael, I told him how much I enjoyed the Cabernet and loved the dense and "chocolatety" characteristics of this wine. Of course, he reminded me that it was a 2002 vintage and they discovered that it's best not to release a wine immediately - give it some time in the bottle. So in a sense, Garrison Creek is going to do the aging for the customer. My way of thinking on this is that the wine is going to have more characteristics of an Old World wine and less of the jammy-fruit bombs that often see in New World wines. But then again - - since when have Walla Walla wineries been known to produce a lot of jammy fruit-bomb Cabernet Sauvignons?

Garrison Creek Cellars wines can be found at Walla Walla Wine Woman.

Northstar Cabernet Sauvignon - 2003

It's Fall. My favorite time of the year in the Walla Walla Valley. If you are visiting the area or a local, now is the time to get in your car and take a drive through the foothills of the Blues and especially check out some of the wineries off of JB George and Pepper Bridge Roads. The view is spectacular with all of the colors from the mountains as well as the trees.

It is an especially beautiful drive to Northstar Winery on JB George Road as you pass the row of grapevines lining the drive. Clusters of dark fruit hanging from the vines so close you can almost reach out and grab them. The canopies have been trimmed flat like hedges and the fruit is perfectly spaced in their picking zone. Our timing on visiting Northstar could not have been more perfect as it was the beginning of crush and you could smell the sweet grapes in the air.

Okay, so yesterday I blabbed about expensive Cabernets v. affordable Cabernets, but I actually tasted Northstars first release of Cabernet Sauvignon priced at $60. While Merlot is Northstar's flagship wine (both Walla Walla and Columbia Valley Merlots), they have graduated to other Bordeaux-rooted varietals. I did not rely on another palate, price, or points to tell me it was indeed a worthy Cabernet Sauvignon. My tastebuds sang "Huzzah-huzzah!"

Not a lot of this Cabernet Sauvignon, with a splash of Merlot and Petit Verdot, was produced - only 496 cases. It was first released exclusively for their wine club members and now available to the public. In the glass, a big aroma of cherry juice came through. The dark wine met my tongue with a sophisticated smoothness. Very balanced with flavors of a big chocolate-covered cherry, blackberry jam and a hint of vanilla in the finish. Would I pay $60 for this wine? Yes. My tastebuds gave me persmission and my tastebuds do not know how to read points.

Bergevin Lane Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon - 2004

Hey, I don't need an expensive $95 bottle of wine with lots of Parker Points to feel cool about the wine I pour in my wine glass. The most important thing to me is how does the wine taste? If the $95 bottle with 95 points make 95% of my tastebuds sing, than what a joy! However, if it does not wow my palate, why do I want it? Accolades are important for wineries to have and it's exciting to be noticed for all of their hard work, but as a consumer I have to reach deep inside and ponder my motives. Do I want to pay $95 for a bottle of wine that I have relied on someone else's palate because I do not trust my own? Do I buy it to impress my friends? Phhhhttttt!

Sure, in the Walla Walla Valley we have our share of mighty tasty wines with mighty prices, but if you do your shopping and take off the Parker Point blinders, you can find some excellent wines at affordable prices. Of course you will almost have to take a second look and say, "A quality Walla Walla wine for under $25? How can this be true?"

And I found just the wine. I am a big fan of Cabernet Sauvignon and this Cab from Bergevin Lane Vineyards fits the profile. Not a heavy tannic Cabernet, but heavy tannins aside gives you the opportunity to taste the fruit. The Columbia Valley grapes, along with skill, brings forth all of the good fruit like cherries and berries that is typical of a Cabernet, but I also picked up chocolate and Coca-Cola flavors. Can't complain about those flavors.

This 2004 vintage from Bergevin Lane is priced at $20. A smooth price for a smooth Cabernet that allows you to enjoy it as an every-day-sipping wine. And it also makes for a perfect pairing for appetizers like smoked salmon and especially entrees such as Sunday pot roast, grilled beef fajitas or any favorite chocolate dessert. Enjoy!

Simply said - Walla Walla Syrah

Okay, so it's not a catchy title, but I think we are all tired of the "Que Sera-Sera" reference and with no offense to Doris Day (okay, I know I am dating myself here - - ahem). It doesn't need much explaining other than, Walla Walla Syrah. That rather sums it up. So with that behind us, let's go down the list of Syrahs I have tasted in the last three weeks.

Wine lovers and critics from all over the nation are keeping an eye on Washington State Syrahs and in the last few weeks I understand why. Of course, being a proud native of Washington, that's a no-brainer, but I gotta say here - - we grow and produce some of the best!

Now I know this isn't a winery from Walla Walla, but the grapes sure are native. Barrister Winery from Spokane bottled a Syrah that received a gold medal at the 2007 Indy International Wine Competition and these winning grapes were from Morrison Lane Vineyard in Walla Walla. Morrison Lane Vineyards have been providing Syrah grapes to area wineries for several years. We were really fortunate not to have to go very far to taste this medal winner. Dean Morrison had a bottle of the award-winning Spokane-produced wine that he was sharing. Barrister only produced 115 cases and at a reasonable price of $26.

Barrister Winery co-fermented the small lot of Morrison Lane Vineyard Syrah with a touch of Viognier, making this wine a traditional Rhone-style wine. Aromatic with flavors of blueberries and plums. And best of all - - it tastes like Walla Walla fruit.

Just barely released, Forgeron Cellars is sure to come in first with their newly-released Syrah. For the short time this Syrah has been released, it is already gaining in accolades and favorable press. With two vintages behind them, this 2003 Syrah is going to be everything, if not more than the last two. I always love the smokiness of the Syrahs that Marie-Eve produces. To me, they seem so typical of well-made Rhones from France.

Last week I opened a bottle of Forgeron Cellars 2001 Syrah that I've been holding onto for a few years. Oh my! It was like drinking pure blueberry velvet, if you can imagine. And I feel that my timing for pulling that cork could not have been more perfect. In fact, I almost cried as I finally emptied the bottle. I can honestly say that every wine should be that elegant and smooth after seven years.

Cannot beat the bang for the buck with Syrah from winemaker Charles Smith (K-Vintners) of Magnificent Wine Company in Walla Walla. It's a quality wine with an affordable price. Perhaps they save their dollars by not using an expensive label? Kidding ...

So what can I say about Long Shadows Vintner's Sequel that hasn't already been said? Besides, that Long Shadows Vintners has been given the Best Winery of the Year award by Food & Wine magazine, the proof of the award is in the wines. I recently shared a bottle of Sequel - 2004 from my stash with long-time Walla Walla resident and wine connoisseur, H.H. "Dutch" Hayner. Dutch collects some of Walla Walla's finest wines and has been collecting since pioneer wineries, like Leonetti Cellars first opened. He thought Sequel was a wonderful wine and in fact, he went on the internet and ordered more! So how's that for a good reference?

Last, but certainly not least - Isenhower Cellars Syrah. We never seem to plan it but Isenhower Cellars Syrah or their Wild Thyme blend always shows up on our Thanksgiving table. It just seems to magically appear!

Two weeks ago we dined at Saffron Mediterranean Kitchen, one of Walla Walla's newest restaurants. It was just the very beginning of crush and yet the intimate dining room was filled with winemakers. I think they knew it was the time to party because in the next few weeks their days and nights would be limited. Norm McKibben of Pepper Bridge Winery sat at a table next to us and shared his bottle of Isenhower Cellars Wild Thyme - a blend of 60% Syrah and 40% Cabernet. Yes - - wine makers like to drink other wine maker's wine. It was yummy, jammy and paired perfect with the rich mezze spreads and wood grilled hanger steak we were enjoying.

Whether the grapes are from the major Columbia Valley region or the smaller region of Walla Walla, or even a combination of all, no matter. If the grapes come from Washington State and the Syrah is made in Walla Walla, chances are great that they are rich, aromatic and most of all - - world class!

Washington Wines at Wine Library - Again!

This week in Wine Library Episode #324, Gary Vay-ner-chuk is trying to feel better after a huge Jets loss. To help make him feel better, he claims that Washington wines puts him in a good mood. In this episode he isn’t reviewing any Walla Walla wines, but still reviewing three excellent reds from Washington State.

However, he did make the comment, “Walla Walla will surpass Napa as the place for red wine in America.”

Yay Gary!