William Church Winery, founded in 2005 by Rod and Leslie Balsley, is located in the warehouse district in Woodinville, Washington. Bitten by the wine bug when they honeymooned in Italy, Rod and Leslie got their start in winemaking as a hobby when they moved next door to a man named Dick Gidley who had been making wine in his garage for over twenty years. After a while, they decided to pursue winemaking on a commercial scale.

Rod originally thought that they should open their winery in Walla Walla. They also looked at the Prosser area before deciding on Woodinville. Leslie was drawn to Woodinville because it was an up-and-coming wine community with great potential and they would not have to move. Rod also joked that “its proximity to Nordstom” was another reason Leslie preferred Woodinville. When they opened, Woodinville had only about fifteen wineries. In the five years since, the Woodinville wine community has exploded and now boasts over 90 wineries and tasting rooms. “When we started, people could visit all of the Woodinville wineries in a day. Now, they have to pick and choose,” said Leslie. They have been located in their current space in the warehouse district since 2007.

After years in the high-tech industry, Rod and Leslie are thoroughly enjoying their second careers in the wine industry. They are both actively involved in all aspects of the winery. Rod manages the day-to-day winemaking operations with the help of assistant winemaker Marcus Rafanelli. Leslie manages the marketing and sales aspects of the business. Rod, Leslie, and Marcus work together to decide what wines to offer and are all involved in blending trials. William Church Winery produces 2,500 cases per year.

Last weekend, we had an opportunity to visit William Church Winery and taste through their wines with Rod and Leslie. We tasted six current releases and one soon-to-be-released wine. All seven wines were very good with four receiving 4-star Quality ratings and the other three receiving 3.5-star Quality ratings. In addition to the current releases that we tasted, we also tasted a barrel sample of their 2009 Malbec, which is showing great potential. My favorites were the soon-to-be-released 2008 Syrah and the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon.

As we have mentioned previously, if you live in the greater Seattle area or visit the area on vacation, a trip to the wineries in Woodinville is well worth your time. And while you are there, I encourage you to stop at William Church Winery.

Current releases that we tasted:

2008 William Church Syrah (Columbia Valley, Washington): 100% Syrah. Vineyards: Dineen, Red Willow, and Stillwater Creek. Very dark, deep purple in color. Gorgeous nose with earth, smoke, and licorice aromas. More earth, smoke, and licorice come through on the palate as well as black fruits. Medium to full-bodied and crisp with medium to high tannins. Well-balanced with good complexity and a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $25 [to be released later this month]

2007 William Church Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, Washington): 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot. Vineyards: Dineen, Chandler Reach, and Gamache. Deep, dark red in color and very aromatic. Blackberry, black cherry, and blackcurrant dominate the nose. More black fruits as well as black pepper and oak come through on the palate. Full-bodied and crisp with medium to high tannins. Well-balanced and smooth with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $29

2007 William Church Syrah (Dineen Vineyard, Yakima Valley, Washington): 89% Syrah, 11% Malbec. Deep, dark purple and very aromatic. Aromas and flavors of earth, smoke, minerality, and spice. A brooding, Rhone-style Syrah. Medium to full-bodied and crisp with medium tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $23

2008 William Church Malbec (Gamache Vineyards, Columbia Valley, Washington): Deep, dark purple. Very fruit-forward with blackberry jam, licorice, and spice aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied and lively with medium tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $30

2007 William Church Sur La Mer Red Wine (Columbia Valley, Washington): 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 10% Malbec, and 10% Petit Verdot. Deep, dark purplish red. Aromatic with smoke, earth, and floral notes on the nose and palate. Medium to full-bodied and lively with medium tannins and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $28

2007 William Church 2 Spires Red Wine (Columbia Valley, Washington): 62% Syrah, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep, dark purple. Black fruits, licorice, and a touch of smoke on the nose and palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium to high tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $28

2009 William Church Viognier (Conner Lee Vineyard, Columbia Valley, Washington): Pale, straw yellow in color. Floral, citrus, and peach aromas and flavors come through on both the nose and palate. Dry and medium-bodied with lively acidity and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $21

In case you missed it, Leslie Balsley of William Church Winery was featured in our Women of Washington Wine series in August.

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