Walla Walla Spring Release Weekend

 

This year, Spring Release Weekend began on Friday, April 30 and ended on Sunday, May 2. Most wineries reported more traffic and more sales than last year's Spring Release. I observed that most visitors left each winery with at least a bottle or two. Here are some highlights:

 

We visited Reynvaan Family Vineyards to retaste the winery's 2008 Syrahs with Mike and Matt Reynvaan. The '08's are progressing beautifully. I put in my order for futures to be released in November.

 

Amavi opened a new tasting room on a hillside overlooking the Pepper Bridge Vineyard. The view of the Blue Mountains there is spectacular. The winery had just released a delicious '09 Rose and '09 Semillon.

 

Flying Trout has joined forces with Tero Estates to occupy a new facility near Milton-Freewater. Ashley Trout poured some fine new 2008's and Tero Estates has some fabulous '07 reds from the adjacent Windrow vineyard that will be released in October.

 

Sinclair Estate Vineyard opened its tasting room Friday with impressive reds. Tim and Kathy Sinclair are the owners. They also have a Bed & Breakfast called Vine and Roses.

 

On Saturday morning, we went to the Artifex winemaking facility to taste Rasa Vineyards' wines with Pinto and Billo Naravane. There, we also tasted Cadaretta's new releases with Brian Rudin.

 

Sean Boyd's Rotie Cellars and Tanya Woodley and Elaine Jomwe's SuLei Cellars have opened tasting rooms downtown.

 

On Saturday afternoon, we drove up Middle Waitsburg Road to Spring Valley. At Spring Valley Vineyard, we met the family patriarch, Dean Derby. Then we went to nearby Couvillion to see Jill Noble and taste her '08 reds.

 

Later that afternoon, we went to Robison Ranch Cellars' Open House which was well attended and had a wonderful spread of food, mostly prepared by Jim Robison.

 

Sunday morning we took a couple from Coeur d'Alene to Long Shadows where they poured new 2007 releases, and then to Bunchgrass, a small boutique winery which released two new 2007 Syrahs.

 

I will be reviewing new releases from these and other wineries in the June and July issues of the Review of Washington Wines.