In my last blog posting, I predicted that Spring Release Weekend in Walla Walla would be the biggest and best ever. By all accounts, this has turned out to be the case, with a big turnout and lots of sales. Here's my rundown of our experiences. Our objectives for the weekend were to visit wineries that are open only for special events and to check out newcomers.

On Thursday, May 1, Lynn and I stopped by Tertulia Cellars which had some new Rhone-style reds and a Viognier and Rosé that will be reviewed in the July issue of the Review of Washington Wines. We also visited Dusted Valley whose new 2012's will be reviewed in July. At Abeja, we tasted the new releases which are already sold out.

On Friday, we went to Long Shadows (wines to be reviewed in July) and to the new downtown tasting rooms: Result of a Crush (Angela Reynvaan and Amanda Reynvaan Garratt), SuLei Cellars (Tanya Woodley and Elaine Jomwe), and the eponymous Gino Cuneo Cellars, and Henry Earl Estates. Previously, we had visited Mansion Creek Cellars (Julia Russell) and Studio TwoZeroTwo (Aryn Morell and Brandon Kubrock). A special report on the new tasting rooms will be in the June issue. In the afternoon, we stopped by àMaurice Cellars whose knock-out new Estate wines will be reviewed in July.

We started Satuday off by visiting Leonetti Cellar, chatted with Gary Figgins, and then tasted the new 2012 Merlot and 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon to be in the June issue. In the afternoon, we drove south to Balboa (Tom and Amy Glase) for their Fiesta de Vina Blanco, for their new white releases which will be reviewed in July. In the afternoon, we went to Corliss' (Michael and Lauri Corliss) annual gathering, where a sensational 2012 Syrah was previewed along with the 2011 reds which will be released in the fall.

On Sunday morning, we went to a brunch at Cadaretta's Glass House on the high slope overlooking the Valley from the south. The new 2013 SBS White and 2011 reds will be reviewed in July. That concluded a great and eventful Spring Release Weekend.