Walla Walla Valley Spring Release Weekend Preview

 

The weekend of April 30 - May 2 will be Spring Release Weekend in Walla Walla. It is the biggest event of the year and all the hotels, motels and restaurants are fully booked. We will be going over a week early in order to check out several wineries before things get hectic. Here's my list of must-visit wineries.

 

aMaurice, Walla Walla Vintners - These two neighbors off Mill Creek Road have generous, friendly owners: the Schafer family (aMaurice) and Gordy Venneri and Myles Anderson (WWV) so it always pays to visit.

Bunchgrass Winery - This small winery will be pouring its new '07 releases, Syrah, Malbec and Triolet.

College Cellars of Walla Walla Community College - I tasted a couple of impressive wines made by enology students, so I will check this out.

Couvillon, Spring Valley Vineyards - These wineries on Corkrum Road will be open Friday and Saturday, so we'll take the ten mile drive up Middle Waitsburg Road to visit.

Flying Trout, Tero Estates - Ashley Trout has found a new home for her winery, sharing space with Tero (Mike TEmbrull, Doug ROskelley).

Glencorrie Winery - Ronn and Dean Coldiron's winery will be pouring its second vintage, the 2007's.

Gramercy Cellars, Waters Winery - Gramercy will have its tent erected next to Waters.

Long Shadows - Spring Release Weekend is not complete without a visit to this impressive operation.

Otis Kenyon - This is one of the few times the winery in Milton-Freewater is open to the public (the tasting room is on Main Street in Walla Walla).

Rasa Vineyards, Cadaretta Winery - They will be pouring at the Artifex facility on Saturday.

Reynvaan Family Vineyard - We will be retasting the fabulous '08 Syrahs that are being offered as futures.

Robison Ranch Cellars - Jim & Jane Robison and Brad & Ruth Riordan will be hosting an Open House on Saturday which will be the event. The 2009 whites and rose will be presented along with a preview of the 2008 reds.

Rotie Cellars - Sean Boyd will be opening a new tasting room on Main Street.

SuLei Cellars - We will be checking up on Tanya Woodley and Elaine Jomwe's promising '09 whites and rose and '08 reds.

Trio Vintners - Now consisting of a duo, spouses Steve Michener and Denise Slattery, Trio Vintners will be releasing new 2007's.

Woodward Canyon - Rick Small always serves up tasty food and impressive wines.

 

For those of you coming over to Walla Walla for the weekend, this serves as a recommended list. Also check out: El Corazon, Sleight of Hand, Sweet Valley, Forgeron, Amavi, Pepper Bridge Winery, Beresan, Gifford Hirlinger, Adamant, Kontos, CAVU, Castillo de Feliciana, Tertulia, Trust, and more. I will be reporting on my findings in the upcoming June and July issues of the Review of Washington Wines.