Owen Roe works primarily with smaller vineyards in the Willamette Valley in Oregon and the Yakima Valley in Washington State. Both of these areas have cooler climates that yield fruit with low pH and excellent acidity. All of the grapes used by Owen Roe are hand harvested, handled with minimal processing, small-lot fermented, and aged in French Oak barrels.

We had the pleasure to visit Owen Roe during a recent visit to Oregon’s Willamette Valley. I highly encourage you to do the same the next time you are in the area; but plan ahead, they are open by appointment only. We tasted nine wines, and our favorite was the 2009 Ex Umbris Syrah. It is outstanding. As you will see from my notes and ratings below, Owen Roe produces a number of wines worth checking out if you see them on the shelf at your local wine shop or on a restaurant wine list.

2009 Owen Roe Ex Umbris Syrah (Columbia Valley): Deep, dark purple. Nice nose with dark black licorice and black fruit aromas. Very vibrant fruit, blackberry, black cherry, licorice, and herbal notes come through on the palate. Full-bodied with crisp acidity, and medium to high, silky tannins. Well-balanced with good mouthfeel and a long finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $24; Available elsewhere, $22 to $33

2010 Owen Roe Sinister Hand Red Wine (Columbia Valley): 71% Grenache, 24% Syrah, and 5% Mourvedre. Deep purple. Aromatic with strawberry, red cherry, game, and spice on the nose. Black cherry, game, spice, and a hint of coffee come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with crisp acidity, smooth tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $24; Available elsewhere, $20 to $30

2009 Owen Roe Yakima Valley Red Wine (Yakima Valley, Washington): 59% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc, and 17% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep, purplish red. Nice nose with blackberry, black cherry, thick jam, and liqueur aromas. Black cherry, blackberry, licorice, spice, and a hint of earth come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity and smooth 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, $42; Available elsewhere, $35 to $50

2008 Owen Roe Rosa Mystica Cabernet Franc (Yakima Valley, Washington): Deep, garnet red. Beautiful nose with black fruit, earth, herbal, and vegetal aromas. Flavors of black cherry, black plum, bell pepper, white pepper, and earth. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, and dry yet smooth tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $42; Available elsewhere, $33 to $47

2008 Owen Roe Ex Umbris Syrah (Columbia Valley): Deep, dark purple. Gorgeous nose with blackberry, black plum, and spice rack aromas. Deep, rich black fruit, espresso bean, and mocha come through on the palate Full-bodied with lively acidity and medium to high, drying tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $24; Available elsewhere, $22 to $29

2010 Owen Roe Abbot’s Table Red Wine (Columbia Valley): 48% Sangiovese, 15% Blaufrankisch, 14% Zinfandel, 14% Malbec, 7% Syrah, and 2% Merlot. Deep purple. Nice nose with red and black fruit. Jammy with ripe fruit, blueberry, plum, and cherry on the palate. Medium-bodied with lively acidity, smooth tannins, and a long finish. An approachable table wine.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $23; Available elsewhere, $17 to $27

2010 Owen Roe Chardonnay (Columbia Valley): Light straw yellow. Nice nose with apple, pear, and a touch of vanilla aromas and flavors. Dry and light to medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a long, refreshing finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $21

2009 Owen Roe Slide Mountain Cabernet Franc (Yakima Valley, Washington): Deep, dark purplish red. Gorgeous nose with meat, game, and blackberry aromas. Black cherry, game, and a touch of vegetal notes come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium to high, drying tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $72; Available elsewhere, $57 to $72

2009 Owen Roe Durant Vineyard Pinot Noir (Durant Vineyard, Dundee Hills, Oregon): Medium rusty red. Aromas of cherry, berry, herbs, and a hint of earth on the nose; cherry, strawberry, herbs, and earth on the palate. Medium-bodied with lively acidity, medium tannins, and a long, slightly rough, finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $42

Owen Roe Winery: David O’ Reilly Took His Dream Solo was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

While Sineann is located in Newberg, Oregon, in the heart of Pinot Noir country, and Rosback got his start with that grape, his portfolio of wines includes much more than Pinot. Almost all of his wines are single-vineyard designated from vineyards in Oregon, Washington, California, and even New Zealand. Sineann’s Sauvignon Blanc is closed with a screwcap while all of the other wines are sealed with glass closures.

We had the pleasure to visit Sineann during a recent visit to Oregon’s Willamette Valley. I highly encourage you to do the same the next time you are in the area. We tasted a total of 17 wines. Our favorites were the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Baby Poux from Champoux Vineyards in Washington’s Horse Heaven Hills and the 2008 The Precious Late Harvest Gewurztraminer from the Columbia Gorge. Both are outstanding. Sineann also makes another dessert wine that I would love to try called Sweet Sydney, named for one of Rosback’s daughters. Sydney just happens to be the name of our daughter, too. Sweet Sydney is a limited production Zinfandel icewine, and, unfortunately for us, was all sold out when we visited. As you will see from my notes and ratings below, Sineann produces a number of wines worth checking out if you see them on the shelf at your local wine shop or on a restaurant wine list.

Our favorites:

2009 Sineann Cabernet Sauvignon Baby Poux Vineyard (Columbia Valley): Deep, dark purplish red in color. Nice nose with blackberry, black cherry, chocolate, and coffee aromas. Big black fruits, chocolate, and espresso bean comes through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied and lively with big yet smooth tannins. Well-balanced with good complexity and a long finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $42; Available elsewhere, $36 to $62

2008 Sineann The Precious Late Harvest Gewurztraminer (Columbia Gorge): Light amber brown color. Extremely aromatic with honey, caramel, prune, and dried apricot on both the nose and palate. Very sweet and sticky, medium to full-bodied with good acidity, and a long, yummy white peach finish. Residual Sugar: 43%
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $24 [375ml]; Available elsewhere, $23 to $25

Here’s a breakdown of the rest of the wines that we tasted during our visit:

Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
2008 Sineann Cabernet Sauvignon Sugarloaf Mountain, California, $42, QPR: 5
2007 Sineann Pinot Noir Lachini, Willamette Valley, $36, QPR: 4
2009 Sineann Old Vine Zinfandel, Columbia Valley, $39, QPR: 4
2009 Sineann Petit Verdot, Champoux Vineyard, Columbia Valley, $48, QPR: 2

Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
2009 Sineann Abondante Red Wine, Columbia Valley, $24, QPR: 4
2008 Sineann Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $30, QPR: 4
2007 Sineann Pinot Noir Schindler, Willamette Valley, $36, QPR: 4
2009 Sineann Merlot Champoux, Columbia Valley, $36, QPR: 3
2010 Sineann Pinot Noir Resonance, Yamhill-Carlton, $42, QPR: 3
2010 Sineann Pinot Noir Yates Conwill, Yamhill-Carlton, $42, QPR: 3
2010 Sineann Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand, $20, QPR: 2

Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
2009 Sineann Cross-Check Red Wine, Columbia Valley, $20, QPR: 4
2009 Sineann CJ Port Zinfandel, Columbia Valley, $24, QPR: 3
2009 Sineann Pinot Noir, Oregon, $30, QPR: 3
2010 Sineann Gewurztraminer Resonance, Willamette Valley, $18, QPR: 2

Sineann’s Peter Rosback…a Jack of Many Vineyards was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

On a recent visit to Walla Walla, we had the pleasure to sit down with Rick and taste through five of Woodward Canyon’s current releases. As we sat in their beautiful reserve house, Rick shared some of the history and philosophy behind the winery. It was Rick’s good friend Gary Figgins of Leonetti Cellar who encouraged him to get into wine in the first place back in the mid-70’s. In 1976, Rick planted the first of 41 acres of the Woodward Canyon Estate Vineyard.

With his farming background, it is no wonder that Rick places such importance on Woodward Canyon’s vineyard sources. The hiring of winemaker Kevin Mott in 2003 has allowed Rick to focus his attention on the vineyards. In addition to their estate vineyard, Woodward Canyon is a partner in Champoux Vineyards with Paul and Judy Champoux and three other wineries, Andrew Will, Powers, and Quilceda Creek. They also source fruit from other top vineyards in the state including Sagemoor Vineyards, DuBrul Vineyard, and Celilo Vineyard, to name a few.

“I want people to buy our wines because they are drinkable, go well with food, and are age-able.” –Rick Small, Owner/Director of Production

Rick and Darcey drink wine with food. Therefore, they strive to produce wines that are balanced and food-friendly. In fact, when we were tasting the 2009 Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Rick could not stop raving about how well it pairs with Darcey’s Dungeness crab cakes. (Mmmm…makes me hungry just thinking about that pairing.)

The Woodward Canyon “Artist Series” Cabernet Sauvignon is their “standard bearer” for Cab, and each vintage features a different work of art on the label. The featured artists are predominantly from the Pacific Northwest. Woodward Canyon has every original art piece from every “Artist Series” label since 1992.

Of the current releases we tasted, my favorite is the 2008 “Old Vines” Cabernet Sauvignon. The Cabernet Sauvignon for this wine typically comes from two of the oldest Cab blocks in Washington State, 1972 plantings from Champoux and Sagemoor Vineyards. This particular vintage also contains a small percentage of Petit Verdot from Woodward Canyon Estate Vineyard.

We have visited with Rick and Darcey at events and tasted some of their previous vintages. I have interviewed Darcey for our Women of Washington Wine series and Rick for articles about Champoux Vineyards and Sagemoor Vineyards. Whether on the phone or in person, Rick’s enthusiasm and passion for wine, Woodward Canyon Winery, the Walla Walla Valley, and the Washington State wine industry is evident.

Since the very beginning, Rick and Darcey have maintained a cellar library. They hold back a small amount of each wine they make for their library. In the early days, Rick recalls the bank not understanding why he purposely was not selling all of the wine he made. He tried to explain that it was important for research purposes, not to mention sentimental reasons, to have wines from each vintage that could be used for age-ability studies, vintage comparisons, and so forth. This foresight recently proved quite valuable when they began making wines from the 2010 vintage, which was a cool vintage. Rick and winemaker Kevin Mott went into the Woodward Canyon library and pulled out bottles from other cool vintages. They tasted through them to learn what to do and what to expect and made some adjustments as a result.

Woodward Canyon is located in Lowden, Washington, just 13 miles west of Walla Walla. If your travels take you to the Walla Walla Valley, I highly encourage you to visit Woodward Canyon. Their tasting room is in a restored 1870’s farmhouse, and the production facility is in the old Small family farm shops. Private, sit-down tastings of their reserve wines are available in the Reserve House adjacent to the tasting room.

2008 Woodward Canyon “Old Vines” Cabernet Sauvignon (Washington State): 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. Deep, dark red. Gorgeous nose with black cherry, black currant, leather, cinnamon, and nutmeg aromas. Luscious black fruit, mocha, and spice come through on the palate. Full-bodied with crisp acidity and medium to high, silky tannins. Well-balanced with good complexity, and a long, rich finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $79; Available elsewhere, $73 to $80

2010 Woodward Canyon Washington State Chardonnay (Washington State): 100% Chardonnay. Medium, golden yellow. Very aromatic with pear, apple, nectarine, and vanilla on the nose. More pear, nectarine, and vanilla as well as mineral notes come through on the palate. Medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a rich, creamy mouthfeel. Well-balanced with a long, lingering finish. One of the best Washington Chardonnays I’ve ever tasted.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $44; Available elsewhere, $41 to $44

2008 Woodward Canyon “Artist Series” Cabernet Sauvignon (Washington State): 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, and 4% Syrah. Deep, dark red. Nice nose with black cherry, blackberry, and chocolate aromas. Black cherry, mocha, and a hint of spice come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity and silky tannins. Well-balanced and smooth with a long, lingering finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $49; Available elsewhere, $32 to $50

2009 Woodward Canyon Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Walla Walla Valley, Washington): 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc, 7% Syrah, 4% Petit Verdot, and 4% Mourvedre. Deep, dark red. Nice nose with black cherry, black currant, tobacco, earth, and mineral aromas. Flavors of black cherry, mocha, and tobacco. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium, drying tannins, and a long, very dry finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $44

2009 Woodward Canyon Estate Sauvignon Blanc (Walla Walla Valley, Washington): 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Light, straw yellow. Very aromatic with pear, melon, and white peach on the nose and palate. Light-bodied with crisp acidity and a long, rich finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $26; Available elsewhere, $25

Spotlight On: Woodward Canyon Winery was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

We had the pleasure of visiting Rasa Vineyards and tasting through their inaugural releases shortly after they moved into their new facility last fall. We were blown away by the quality of their wines then. In fact, their 2007 Principia Reserve Syrah was our Wine Peeps’ pick for Best Washington Wine of 2010. On a recent visit to Walla Walla, we made it a point to visit again so that we could taste their new releases. There are no signs of a sophomore slump here. In fact, if it is possible, we were even more impressed with the overall quality of their lineup of wines this time.

We tasted eight of their wines, five from their primary Rasa label and three from their new second label, PB Wines. The PB Wines are made in an identical manner and get the same treatment as the Rasa wines but are just offered at a lower price point.

Their 2008 Creative Impulse, a Cab/Merlot blend from DuBrul Vineyard, which will be released this fall, especially impressed us. It truly is a “Wow!” wine. We also thought that their 2008 QED and 2009 Vox Populi Mourvedre were outstanding.

Rasa Vineyards offers their wines through their mailing list first. They are also distributed in 17 states. If you have not had a chance to try one of their wines, I encourage you to keep your eyes out for them on the shelf at your local wine shop or go ahead and put your name on their mailing list. Only open by appointment, Rasa Vineyards is definitely a must-visit if you are in the Walla Walla area.

For a more detailed write-up about Rasa Vineyards, the Naravane brothers, and their winemaking philosophy, please refer back to my Spotlight On: Rasa Vineyards post.

2008 Rasa Vineyards Creative Impulse (DuBrul Vineyard, Yakima Valley, Washington): 69% Cabernet Sauvignon and 31% Merlot. Deep, dark purplish red. Outstanding nose with gorgeous aromas of black cherry, black currant, leather, smoke, licorice, and earth. Black cherry, black currant, leather, pencil lead, earth, and smoke come through on the palate. Full-bodied with crisp acidity and silky, smooth tannins. Well-balanced with good complexity and a finish that goes on forever. An absolutely amazing wine. Wow!
Quality: 5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $95 [to be released Fall 2011]

2008 Rasa Vineyards QED (Walla Walla Valley, Washington): 83% Syrah, 10% Grenache, 5% Mourvedre, and 2% Viognier. Deep, dark purplish red. Beautiful bouquet with aromas of blackberry, black cherry, licorice, and a hint of game and earth. More black fruit, licorice, and game, as well as vanilla cream come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity and medium to high, silky tannins. Well-balanced with good complexity and a very long, smooth finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $50

2009 Rasa Vineyards Vox Populi Mourvedre (Columbia Valley, Washington): 100% Mourvedre. Deep, dark purple. Gorgeous nose with black fruit, smoked meat, game, white pepper, and floral notes on both the nose and palate. Medium-bodied with crisp acidity and medium, coarse tannins. Well-balanced with good complexity and a long, lingering finish.
Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $45

2008 Rasa Vineyards Principia Reserve Syrah (Walla Walla Valley, Washington): 100% Syrah. Deep, dark beautiful purple in color. Nice nose with aromas of black and blue fruit, earth, game, black pepper, and spice. Black cherry, blackberry, blueberry, earth, spice, and black pepper come through on the palate. Full-bodied with crisp acidity and high, drying tannins. Well-balanced with a long, lingering finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 1 bang for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $85 [to be released Fall 2011]

2010 Rasa Vineyards The Lyricist Riesling (Columbia Valley, Washington): Light, greenish straw yellow. Very aromatic with white peach, pear, orange peel, mineral notes, and hint of pineapple on both the nose and palate. Medium sweet and medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Well-balanced with good mouthfeel and a long, refreshing finish. Residual Sugar: 4.89%
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $30

2010 PB Wines Heritage Pinot Gris (Kilian Vineyard, Yakima Valley, Washington): Medium greenish yellow. Aromatic with pear, lemon, lime, tropical fruit, and mineral notes on both the nose and palate. Dry and light-bodied with crisp acidity and good mouthfeel. Well-balanced with a long, refreshing finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $18

2008 PB Wines Yakima Valley Syrah (Yakima Valley, Washington): 100% Syrah. Dark, deep purple. Nice nose with aromas of black cherry, blackberry, spice, pepper, and a hint of chocolate. More blackberry, black cherry, pepper, and smoke come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied and fruit-forward with lively acidity, smooth tannins, and a long finish. Showing nicely with some bottle age.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $29

2010 PB Wines Riesling (Columbia Valley, Washington): Light, greenish straw yellow in color. Nice nose with aromas of white peach, tropical fruit, and honeysuckle. White peach, mango, and floral notes come through on the palate. Off-dry and light-bodied with crisp acidity and a long, refreshing finish. Residual Sugar: 2.3%
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Winery, $16

Rasa Vineyards Continues to Wow Us was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

In addition to my continued wine writing here at Wine Peeps and for other wine publications, I am pleased to announce that I am now the Wine Consultant for Shuttle Express. Shuttle Express has been offering wine tours since 2008, but my task is to help improve and expand the wine tour program.

As a champion of Washington wine, I look forward to helping more people Experience Washington Wine! While we plan to expand our offerings to other areas in the future, today our wine tours focus on Woodinville Wine Country. Woodinville is a must-visit destination in Washington wine country. Home of the state’s oldest, largest, and most well-known wineries, Chateau Ste. Michelle and Columbia Winery, the Woodinville area is also home to over 90 wineries and tasting rooms, with new ones opening all of the time. Woodinville now boasts the second largest concentration of Washington wineries after Walla Walla and is located just 17 miles northeast of Seattle. In addition to the many wineries that are actually located in Woodinville, many wineries located in other parts of the state have opened tasting rooms there which now makes Woodinville Wine Country representative of the entire Washington wine industry.

Whether you live in Seattle and are looking for a fun outing or are entertaining out-of-town guests or clients, or you are visiting the Seattle area for vacation or work or to take an Alaskan cruise, we hope you will consider booking a tour to truly Experience Washington Wine with Shuttle Express. Arrange a private tour anytime or enjoy our Saturday public tour to Woodinville. And, rest assured, you will not be touring wine country in an airport shuttle van. Rather, you will be able to relax and enjoy the ride in one of our luxury vehicles, which includes limos, limo vans, and limo coaches with “U” shaped seating, among others.

While we are proud of our current wine tour offerings, we welcome your suggestions and ideas as we expand our wine tour program. What would you like to see offered on the tours? What days and times would you like to see tours available? Which wineries would you like to see as stops on the tours?

For you winery owners and tasting room managers, if you are interested in having your winery be a stop on one of our tours, please let me know. We look forward to partnering with you to make our tours beneficial for all parties involved, wineries, guests, and Shuttle Express.

If you have ideas, questions, or would like further information about the Experience Washington Wine with Shuttle Express tour program, please leave a comment or contact me directly: kori at winepeeps dot com.

For more frequent updates about Shuttle Express, please “like” us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Cheers!

Experience Washington Wine with Shuttle Express was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

The app is sortable by wine trails in the Walla Walla area, by specific winery names, by appointment-only wineries, by pet-friendly wineries, by wineries with picnicking areas, and by handicap accessible wineries. When you select a winery, the app provides tasting room hours, tasting fees (if any), contact information, a map with the address, mileage from your home and directions, and photos.

There is also a “Beyond the Tasting Rooms” filter where you can find information on other things to see and do in the Walla Walla area. And if this isn’t enough, there are filters for restaurants, lodging, gift shops, and even wedding venues. I’m sure that I haven’t yet discovered everything that this app will do, so go to Steve’s Journal on the WineTrailsNW website to find out more.

Be sure to come back and let me know how much better your next trip to Walla Walla is with this handy-dandy app.

Happy WineTrails!

Full Disclosure: We received a promo code to demo this app.

Wine Tech: WineTrails of Walla Walla iPhone/iPad App was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

This is Steve Roberts’ fourth book in his series of WineTrails guidebooks. He began this wine book odyssey with the best seller, WineTrails of Washington, and followed it up with WineTrails of Oregon and WineTrails of Idaho. Steve is one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet, and his interest in wine is only surpassed by his skills as a writer and photographer. I love his work.

What makes WineTrails of Walla Walla different, and more valuable, than his first three guidebooks is that it’s not just a book of wine trails. This book has valuable sections on places to eat, places to stay, and things to do in Walla Walla in addition to his signature WineTrails about wineries to visit.

I’ve been to Walla Walla many times, but I had no idea that there was a children’s museum that my granddaughter could visit or a symphony or a balloon stampede. I did think that I knew most of the places to eat and places to stay, but Steve found a few that were new to me. I’m really looking forward to exploring some of these new finds on my next trip to Walla Walla.

To make your visit to Walla Walla’s wineries with public tasting rooms easier, Steve divided the wineries into five separate WineTrails: West (9), Downtown (25), Airport (16), East (4), and South (19). As you can see by the number of wineries on each WineTrail indicated in parentheses, it could take you many, many days or a number of trips to Walla Walla to visit them all.

So curl up with this book and plan your first or next trip to Walla Walla. I believe that using this guidebook will make it your best Walla Walla trip ever.

By the way, after I wrote this review, Steve called it to our attention that he had mentioned Wine Peeps in his write-up about Rotie Cellars. Somehow I missed it in my first pass through the book. So be sure to check out page 86.

Have fun!

Book Review: WineTrails of Walla Walla was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Along with the Wenatchee Valley and Lake Chelan, Leavenworth is one of three destination areas within the Cascade Valley Wine Country. Located in central Washington State halfway between Seattle and Spokane, Cascade Valley Wine Country is home to approximately 50 wineries and tasting rooms. The oldest wineries in the Cascade Valley Wine Country have only been in existence about a decade. However, in that short time, they have capitalized on the tourist-appeal of the area and have established a thriving wine community.

Our family has taken long weekend trips to Leavenworth a couple of times each year since we moved to Washington State in the mid-1990’s. We enjoy visiting in both summer and winter as there is so much to do, no matter the season. During that time, we have watched wineries and tasting rooms open and have enjoyed getting to know some of the folks in the wine business there. Colby and I had a chance to visit Leavenworth again during our recent trip touring the Cascade Valley Wine Country.

In my opinion, Boudreaux Cellars is producing the best wines overall in Leavenworth. Only open by appointment, Boudreaux is well worth a visit. Owner/winemaker Rob Newsom, a Louisiana native, has lived on the property since 1981 and began making wine in his garage in 1998. In 2001, he started building the winery facilities. Boudreaux currently produces about 2,000 cases per year, which is exactly the production level that Newsom plans to maintain. Newsom sources his grapes from many different vineyards around the state. His goal is to get the best grapes from the best vineyards. Boudreaux Cellars is best known for its Cabernet Sauvignon, which is excellent. In addition to making great wines, Boudreaux boasts a spectacular setting along the Icicle River. With his Louisiana Cajun accent and dry sense of humor, Rob Newsom truly is one of the great personalities in the Washington wine industry.

Another must-visit in the Leavenworth area is Icicle Ridge Winery, both the winery itself with their hallmark log home tasting room in Peshastin and their downtown Leavenworth tasting room and gift shop called A Taste of Icicle Ridge. Louie Wagoner, the Wagoner family patriarch, is a well-known and respected pear farmer who ventured into the winery business with his wife Judy in 2002. Son-in-law Don Wood is the winemaker and the entire family is involved in the 6,000-cases per year operation. They host special events at the winery throughout the year including their summer Jazzamatazz Concerts. After a visit to Icicle Ridge, you leave feeling like you are part of the family.

Our most exciting new discovery on our recent trip to Leavenworth was Silvara Vineyards. Founded in 2008 by winemaker Gary Seidler and partner LPGA pro golfer Cindy Rarick, Silvara opened its beautiful tasting room between Leavenworth and Peshastin in October 2009. While their wines did not blow us away, they showed great potential. Silvara is definitely a winery to watch.

If you live in Washington or have plans to visit, I highly encourage you to include Leavenworth in your travel itinerary. With its location in the Cascade Mountains, Leavenworth is a year-round playground for outdoor recreationalists. From skiing or snowshoeing in the winter to hiking or river rafting in the summer, there are many activities available in the area. And for those that are not interested in outdoor activities, Leavenworth offers numerous unique shops. As was the case during our entire trip to the Cascade Valley Wine Country, we found the people of Leavenworth to be very friendly and welcoming. They seemed to truly love where they live and what they do. While the wine quality really runs the gamut, there are more than enough good wines and wine country experiences to be had. Given the gorgeous scenery and recreational opportunities, the area is a great get-away destination for everyone in the family, for wine lovers and teetotalers alike. For more information about planning a trip to the area, visit the websites for Cascade Valley Wine Country and the Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce.

Cascade Valley Wine Country: Leavenworth was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

While both Colby and I had both vacationed in Chelan during college, our first trip to visit the wineries in the area was in the summer of 2009. We enjoyed visiting the area again during our recent trip touring the Cascade Valley Wine Country.

In my opinion, Nefarious Cellars is producing the best wines overall in Lake Chelan. Founded in 2004 by the husband-wife winemaking team of Dean and Heather Neff, Nefarious currently produces about 2,000 cases per year and plans to maintain that level. The Neffs are extremely nice folks, and their winery and estate vineyard boast gorgeous views of the lake.

Several other wineries worth visiting in the area include: Hard Row to Hoe, Rio Vista, Four Lakes, Benson, and Tsillan.

Don and Judy Phelps at Hard Row to Hoe love to tell stories and are producing some very good wines. In 2008, the Phelps rebranded their winery, which was formerly known as Balsamroot. The new Hard Row to Hoe name has a bit of a “naughty” story behind it, and they are more than happy to share it with visitors.

John and Jan Little founded Rio Vista in 2008 and currently produce about 600 cases per year. Rio Vista is a little off the beaten path but is a great find along the Columbia River. In fact, they get as much boat traffic as they get car traffic.

Four Lakes Winery sits high up on a hill overlooking, what else, four lakes. The view is amazing. Founded in 2003 by owner Don Koester, Four Lakes’ new tasting room opened last year.

Benson Vineyards Estate Winery, founded by Paul and Kathy Benson and their sons, Scott and Jeff, is located on 30 vineyard acres with a spectacular view of Lake Chelan. They bought the land in 1998, ripped out the existing apple orchard, and began planting their vineyard in 2002. Their first harvest was in 2004, and they released their first wines in 2005. Currently, they produce about 5,000 cases per year using 100 percent estate fruit. Benson boasts a stunning new facility, which opened last year.

Founded in 2000, Tsillan Cellars is a beautiful Tuscan-style winery located on a slope overlooking Lake Chelan. Tsillan is owned by dentist/inventor Bob Jankleson and produces about 5,000-6,000 cases per year. As of 2008, Tsillan uses fruit exclusively from their 135 acre estate. Tsillan Cellars also features a Summer Concert Series.

If you live in Washington or have plans to visit, I highly encourage you to include Lake Chelan in your travel itinerary. The gorgeous lake, which offers a host of recreational opportunities, as well as the 15 wineries in the area make Chelan a fabulous Washington wine country destination. As was the case during our entire trip to the Cascade Valley Wine Country, we found the people of Lake Chelan to be very friendly and welcoming. They seemed to truly love where they live and what they do. While the wine quality really runs the gamut, there are more than enough good wines and wine country experiences to be had. Given the gorgeous scenery and recreational opportunities, Lake Chelan is a fun destination for the whole family. For more information about planning a trip to the area, visit the websites for Cascade Valley Wine Country, Lake Chelan Wine Valley, and the Lake Chelan Chamber of Commerce.

Cascade Valley Wine Country: Lake Chelan was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Prior to our recent trip touring the Cascade Valley Wine Country, I had not spent more than a few hours in the Wenatchee Valley. Wenatchee and East Wenatchee are two cities separated by the Columbia River but it really feels like one community. During our visit, we stayed at the Marriott SpringHill Suites that opened earlier this year, a hotel I would certainly consider staying in again the next time I’m in the area.

It is no wonder that the Wenatchee Valley, the self-proclaimed “Apple Capital of the World,” has ventured into other fruit growing endeavors like grapes. In our travels through wine country, we have found some of the best viticulturists have backgrounds in tree fruit growing. The Wenatchee Valley community is happy to promote all forms of agri-tourism. So whether apples are your thing or you prefer grapes, particularly fermented grapes, Wenatchee has something to offer.

The Wenatchee Valley is home to one of the top wineries in Washington State. Fielding Hills Winery, a small, family-owned winery, continues to garner numerous well-deserved accolades. Owner/winemaker Mike Wade and his wife Karen are longtime apple and cherry growers who have turned a middle portion of their orchard near Mattawa into a vineyard. Their Riverbend Vineyard, planted in 1998, is in the Wahluke Slope AVA and is their sole source of grapes. Fielding Hills currently produces about 850 cases per year but will be increasing to about 1400 cases with the 2009 vintage. We have tasted their wines from their inaugural vintage in 2000 through their current releases and continue to be impressed. They are so consistent; it is not a question of whether their wines will be good but where they will fall on the quality spectrum between “very good” and “Wow!” In fact, we recognized Mike Wade as Best Winemaker in our Wine Peeps’ Best of 2009 in Washington Wine Country. They are open by appointment only so be sure to call ahead if you are going to be in the area; Fielding Hills is a stop you do not want to miss.

Another must-visit winery in the Wenatchee Valley is Saint Laurent Estate Winery, named for the patron saint of wine growers and vintners. Owners Mike and Laura Mrachek have built a beautiful tasting room and grounds that have gorgeous views of the Columbia River and surrounding valley. Craig Mitrakul has been the winemaker for Saint Laurent since 2004. Saint Laurent produces 4,500 cases per year, and their tasting room is open Friday through Sunday and for special events.

In addition to agri-tourism, the Wenatchee Valley also offers a host of other outdoor recreational activities including skiing at Mission Ridge Ski and Board Resort, biking/walking along the Apple Capital Loop Trail, a scenic 11-mile paved trail along the Columbia River, as well as hiking and rafting. Wenatchee also has a quaint downtown with boutique shopping and dining options.

As was the case during our entire trip to the Cascade Valley Wine Country, we found the people of Wenatchee to be very friendly and welcoming. They seemed to truly love where they live and what they do. While the wine quality really runs the gamut, there are more than enough good wines and wine country experiences to be had. Given the gorgeous scenery and recreational opportunities, the Wenatchee Valley is a fun destination for the whole family. For more information about planning a trip to the area, visit the websites for Cascade Valley Wine Country and the Wenatchee Valley Visitors Bureau.

Cascade Valley Wine Country: Wenatchee Valley was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.