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Washington

In recent years, Washington's wine industry has become the fastest-growing agricultural sector in the state. The number of Washington wineries has increased 400% in the last decade, attracting two million annual visitors to Washington wine country and creating a two million dollar wine-tourism industry.

Located approximately on the same latitude (46ºN) as some of the great French wine regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy, Washington State wine country includes nine federally recognized American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), commonly known as appellations; three of them share territory with Oregon State.

The Walla Walla Valley wine region is the most remote of all Washington State wine regions.  Ironically, that remoteness may be an advantage for Washington wineries located there.  Some say it is the major contributing factor to the well-known esprit de corps of Walla Walla wineries and their vintners.  Others say Washington wineries within this arid, 530 square-mile appellation are setting the standard for Northwest winemaking -- especially when it comes to Merlots and Cabernet Sauvignons.
 

Lying within the larger Columbia Valley Appellation, the Walla Walla wine region includes land in both Washington and Oregon -- from the far southeast corner of Washington State to the northeast tip of Oregon.  Although almost all Walla Walla wineries are currently located in Washington, there are vineyards in both states.  Vineyard acreage totaled 800 acres in 1999 and reached 1,200 in 2001.  More than 70 wineries (as of November 2006) call the Walla Walla Valley Appellation home.  Those listed below are open to the public during some part of each year, although some ask that you call first.
  • Producers
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Mannina Cellars

Mannina Cellars is a small, family run winery specializing in producing small lots of premium wine. Mannina Cellars is situated in the heart of the spectacular Walla Walla Valley where we can take advantage of one of Washington’s best “terroirs” Mannina Cellars was named after the maternal grandmother of the winemaker, who emigrated from Italy. SOLD BY VINUM IN WESTERN WASHINGTON ONLY
For winery information, plus tasting notes, please see: www.manninacellars.com
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Balboa Winery

Balboa was started by Mike Sharon and Tom Glase with the intent purpose of bringing wine to the “masses”. Tom uses all screw cap closures making it easy for everyone to enjoy the distinct wines of Washington. Tom works with the vineyard manager daily to pick his fruit when it is ready and is able to maintain a complete hands-on philosophy to his wine making approach. Their goal is to make great wines that are a reflection not only of the varietals used but the soils of the Walla Walla area. They use only 2 & 3 year old barrels and age the wines for 18 months, and wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered to retain their true character.

SOLD BY VINUM IN OREGON ONLY
For some winery information, plus tasting notes & accolades, please see:

www.balboawinery.com

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Bunnell Winery

The Bunnell Family Cellar specializes in small handmade lots of wine from the Rhone Valley grape varieties including Syrah, Mourvedre, Grenache, Cinsault and Viognier. The "vins de l'endroit" (wines of a place) showcase showcase exceptional vineyards in the Columbia Valley. "Vins de l'esprit" (wines of the creative spirit) are unique examples of the art of blending.
The wines have been celebrated in a number of publications, including Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, Wine Press Northwest and Northwest Palate.
With the special care and attention to all details, these wines are sure to please the palate of all who taste them. Enjoy!!!

SOLD BY VINUM IN OREGON& CLARK COUNTY WASHINGTON ONLY
For some winery & vineyard information, plus tasting notes& accolades, please see:

www.riveraerie.com or www.washingtonwine.org/profiles/bunnell-family-cellar/

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Corvidae

Corvidae is David O'Reilly's newest creation. Mirth is a light, crisp chardonnay that is value priced with uncompromised taste. David O'Reilly is known for making beautiful wines, overseeing everything from picking the grapes to bottling the wine. Corvidae Mirth is sure to be a new favorite!

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Columbia Crest

At Columbia Crest we pride ourselves on delivering handcrafted, superior- quality small-lot wines, as well as affordable everyday Washington wines. Our first release in 1984 started a tradition that has established us as one of America’s most popular and fast-growing wineries.

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Cougar Crest

Cougar Crest Winery was established on 50 acres of vineyard, all in the Walla Walla Appellation. After selling wine grapes to other wineries for years, owners Deborah and David Hansen, moved into making wine themselves after training at the University of California at Davis. It was there, among the California wineries, that their appreciation for the art of winemaking was born and transferred to their winemaking in Walla Walla. The first year, they raised all their own plants with cuttings from Windrow Vineyard (the original Seven Hills vineyard) and Cailloux Vineyard. The chosen site was Stellar Vineyard, and the plants flourished. They currently make wine from Estate Grown Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc,Viognier, Petit Verdot and Malbec, which will greatly expand our blending options and complexity in their Bordeaux varietals. Their wines are excellent examples of these Washington wine varietals! SOLD BY VINUM IN OREGON & CLARK COUNTY WASHINGTON ONLY

For winery and vineyard information, plus tasting notes & accolades, please see: www.cougarcrestwinery.com

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Otis Kenyon

Otis Kenyon Wine is a family owned and managed winery with deep historical ties to the Walla Walla Valley. Their storied family history in the region is well worth the short read on their website. Otis Kenyon handcrafts limited quantities of elegantly structured and affordable Bordeaux and Rhone varietal wines from their estate and other Walla Walla vineyards. In tribute to four generations of Otis Kenyons, the family has returned to the Walla Walla Valley with a passion for time-honored winemaking, an unyielding commitment to excellence and a dedication to sustainable and bio-diverse viticultural practices.

SOLD BY VINUM IN OREGON & CLARK COUNTY WASHINGTON ONLY

For winery & vineyard information, plus bottlings and some tasting notes, please see: www.otiskenyonwine.com

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428 Wines

What's in a number you may have thought? Well, think back to when you were growing up and the number of the house where you had the fondest memories? For the owners of 428 Wines, Jeff and Kim Sully and their young “executive” sons Kevin and Tom, it was 428 16th Street. Thus, the Four-Two-Eight label evokes family, good times, good friends, good food, and most important - having fun! Opening a bottle of 428 can bring you this experience. The Sullys certainly enjoy the fun of making it in their micro-winery in Walla Walla. Winemaker Jeff Sully makes the wines with neighbor Forgeron, sourcing Alder Ridge. See for yourself, what was that number again?

SOLD BY VINUM IN WASHINGTON ONLY

For winery information and tasting notes as well as some great photographs of their kids, please see: www.428wines.com

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River Aerie

Located on the banks of the Yakima River in Washigton, the RiverAerie Farm is the Bunnell family home. This idyllic setting is also the site of their cellar and their lavender and herb gardens. In 2007, they introduced a line of wines named for their farm. The RiverAerie brand features varietal wines and blends selected for their unique character and quality. For winery and vineyard information, plus tasting notes and accolades for specific bottlings, please see www.riveraerie.com.

or www.washingtonwine.org/profiles/bunnell-family-cellar/

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Walter Dacon

Walter Dacon Wines is dedicated to Rhone and Mediterranean style wines and sources grapes from select vineyard sites in the Yakima and Columbia Valleys. Their wines bring home the richness of a centuries-old tradition of vinification. Hand crafted through the unique art of blending, which is the rule in the Rhone, and aged in French and American oak barrels, Walter Dacon wines reveal the underlying fruit blended with gentle, precision use of oak.
SOLD by VINUM IN WASHINGTON ONLY For winery information, please see www.walterdaconwines.com

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SLEIGHT OF HAND

Sleight of Hand Cellars, a tiny "garagiste" winery located in the rolling hills of Walla Walla, Washington, is the brainchild of winemaker Trey Busch and his partners, Sandy and Jerry Solomon. Born from a love of great wines and a passion for excellence, not to mention also having fun, Sleight of Hand Cellars is dedicated to producing extraordinary wines of place. Washington State is that place, and they believe that it is here that some of the greatest wines in the world are being made. Their wines are the result of intense practices in the vineyard including microscopic yields and, of course, hand harvesting. In the winery, they allow the wines to evolve without much intervention. Their Bordeaux style blends see 20 to 24 months in barrel, and syrah will see 15 to 18 months in oak. We think that you will agree, that these are "Simply Magical Wines".
SOLD by VINUM IN OREGON ONLY_ For winery and vineyard information, plus tasting notes and accolades for specific bottlings, please see www.sofhcellars.com

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Efeste

Efeste, pronounced “F-S-T”, represents owners Daniel & Helen Ferrelli, Patrick Smith and Kevin & Angela Taylor. Efeste’s roots start literally in some of the best vineyards in the world. Together with winemaker Brennon Leighton and consultants Chris Upchurch & Jay Soloff of DeLille Cellars, they embrace the idea of marrying old world techniques with new world fruit; producing earthy yet elegant wines highlighted with robust fruit.
SOLD BY VINUM IN OREGON & WASHINGTON STATE EXCEPT KING COUNTY For winery and vineyard information, plus tasting notes and accolades for specific bottlings, please see www.efeste.com

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O'Reilly's Wines

O'Reilly's wines represent great value and great taste! David O'Reilly has made 3 beautiful wines, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Riesling. The vineyards and wines are treated with the same devotion as the most expensive wines. The Pinot Gris is stainless steel fermented, and the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are aged in barrels that are three to four years old. The wines are fruit forward and tasty at a young age, yet they develop over time into wonderfully complex wines.

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The Keeper

2007 The Keeper Cabernet Franc
Columbia Valley Cabernet Franc

Several distinctive vineyards were sourced throughout the Columbia Valley AVA to create this generous and distinctive Cabernet Franc. Lovely fresh tobacco and green olive fragrance provide a gracious backdrop for the exhuberant berry fruit with just a hint of violets. The 2007 vintage favored excellent aromatic development of this Cabernet Franc fruit and the result is an affordable hallmark varietal wine to be enjoyed throughout the year.