Over the last two weeks I have been to several wine tastings and met with the winemakers from some of our region’s best wineries.
Last week I met Welcome Gordy Venneri, Owner/Winemaker of Walla Walla Vintners. Now, to be fair, we carry virtually every wine they make, so I wasn’t there to be sold. I was there to sample his wonderful wines and you should, too.
See, in 1997 when I wrote my first book, Passion For Wine, I stated that Washington State was the best wine producing area in the world. I have to tell you, I was living in Orlando, and had never lived in the Pacific NW. Needless to say, I was fairly well laughed out of town. Since then I have been vindicated with Washington scoring more 90+ ratings and gold medals than any other region. Ha Ha!
So, if Washington is the best wine state, Walla Walla is the best wine region in the state.
Getting back to the wine tasting. Gordy is decidedly old school. He has a quick wit, though a bit dry with his sense of humor. These guys from Walla Walla are more artisans than scientists, which is nice when you consider the graduates of the enology programs over the last decade. Certainly making wine is scientific, but the bulk wines are not my style. Give me the artist any day.
My job as the Yoke’s Wine Steward is to find the amazing and outstanding wines and then get them to you at the best price possible.
I did very much enjoy all of his wines. The setting was fabulous at the Dover Bay Café. The day was windy, but the sun was shining, and the wines were delicious. Below are some notes.
Walla Walla Vintners owned by Gordy Venneri and Myles Anderson, located in Walla Walla, Washington is a limited-production winery, dedicated to making premium red wines. As winemakers they made home crafted wines for over ten years before they considered making commercial wines. This was all done in their backyard using borrowed, makeshift equipment and for a while a small apple press.
In 1995 they were the 8th Bonded Winery in the Walla Walla Valley… Myles is the founding director of the Walla Walla Institute for Enology and Viticulture…
They specialize in making wines from sustainable vineyards in Washington State especially vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley. Their award winning wines receive excellent reviews from judges and leading wine journals.
09’ Columbia Valley Cabernet Franc~ $18.91 The rum-dipped cigar nose takes you to a chocolate mousse mid-palate with a finish of fresh vanilla bean.
Gold - 2011 Seattle Wine Awards
08’ Walla Walla Valley Merlot~ $18.50 The golden raisin, dried fruit nose is a "beak grabber" which takes you to the mid-palate of red licorice, lavender, cassis and Lambert cherry. The wild huckleberry, oxheart cherry finish is pure pleasure and will gain length with age. This balanced and elegant Merlot may be one of the best of the 2008s in Washington.
91 Points - November 2010 Wine Enthusiast
90 Points - July 2011 Wine Spectator
08’ Washington State Cuvee~$19.59 A deep-red, inky hue and a Kir nose. It has a jam-packed beginning of ripe huckleberry and black currant, with a mid-palate of chocolate covered cherries and ends with an unbelievable finish of crushed oxheart cherry over French vanilla ice cream…
89 Points - July 2011 Wine Spectator
08 Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon~$24.49 This great, structured blend starts with a dark garnet robe color, has a toasted wood nose, a mid-palate of tobacco and a viscous, rich black licorice finish.
08’ Pepperbridge Malbec~ $27.29 This decade old Walla Walla Valley vineyard struts its stuff with a dark, inky hue, explosive flavors of fennel, basil, oregano and chive ending with a silky smooth finish of ripe berry compote and cassis...
Gordy Venneri of Walla Walla Vintners at Dover Bay Cafe
Walla Walla Vintners wine tasting at Dover Bay Cafe
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