
WALLA WALLA, Wash. — Many of the most historic wineries in the Walla Walla Valley will dust off some of their oldest bottles of Merlot and serve them to patrons of Vintage Pour on June 18 to kick off Celebrate Walla Walla Valley Wine — The World of Merlot.
Examples include the Waterbrook Winery 1987 Merlot (Columbia Valley), Walla Walla Vintners 1997 Spring Valley Vineyard Merlot (Walla Walla Valley), Leonetti Cellar 1999 Merlot (Columbia Valley) and L’Ecole No. 41 1999 Merlot (Walla Walla Valley).
Well-cellared wines from the 21st century include Woodward Canyon 2000 Merlot (Walla Walla Valley) and Pepper Bridge Winery 2002 Merlot (Walla Walla Valley). Seven Hills Winery will be presenting its 2001 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Walla Walla Valley).
Those served by guests beyond the Walla Walla Valley include Duckhorn Vineyards 2008 Three Palms Merlot from Napa Valley, Château Guadet 1998 Château Guadet, Saint-Émilion (France)Avignonesi 2007 50 & 50 (Merlot & Sangiovese) from Tuscany.
Celebrate Walla Walla Valley Wine prepares for Year 3
This year, the annual three-day international festival in Walla Walla spotlights Merlot and features seminars, wine tasting and dining June 18-20.
The menu for the Friday evening wine tasting and dinner at Reid Center on the campus of Whitman College features Seattle chef John Sundstrom with Walla Walla chefs Andrae Bopp and Jim Cooley.
Schedule of events
Thursday, June 18
Vintage Pour — 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Dunham Cellars
Featuring rare, vintage wines from more than 30 Walla Walla wineries
Abeja
2005 Cabernet Sauvignon | Columbia Valley
2008 Merlot | Columbia Valley
Adamant Cellars
2007 Winemaker’s Select 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Merlot | Walla Walla Valley
2007 Winemaker’s Select Merlot | Walla Walla Valley
áMaurice Cellars
2008 The Artist “Tobey”/Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc | Walla Walla Valley
Avignonesi
2007 50 & 50 (Merlot & Sangiovese) | Tuscany, Italy
Basel Cellars
2006 Merlot | Walla Walla Valley
Bunchgrass Winery
2006 Triolet | Walla Walla Valley
2007 Cabernet Sauvignon | Walla Walla Valley
Buty
2002 Merlot & Cabernet Franc | Columbia Valley
2007 Sémillon, Sauvignon & Muscadelle | Columbia Valley
Canoe Ridge Vineyard/Waterbrook
2000 Canoe Ridge Vineyard Merlot | Horse Heaven Hills
1987 Waterbrook Merlot | Columbia Valley
Château Guadet
1998 Château Guadet | Saint-Émilion, France
DaMa Wines
2007 Syrah | Walla Walla Valley
2008 Merlot | Walla Walla Valley
Duckhorn Vineyards
2008 Three Palms Merlot | Napa Valley, California
Dunham Cellars
2006 Lewis Vineyard Merlot | Columbia Valley
Dusted Valley Vintners
2008 Tall Tales Syrah | Walla Walla Valley
2008 V.R. Special Cabernet Sauvignon | Walla Walla Valley
Five Star Cellars
2007 Merlot | Walla Walla Valley
2008 Cabernet Sauvignon | Walla Walla Valley
Foundry Vineyards
2005 Red Wine | Walla Walla Valley
2006 Merlot | Walla Walla Valley
Henry Earl Estates
2008 Russell Creek Merlot | Walla Walla Valley
L’Ecole N° 41
1999 Merlot | Walla Walla Valley
2006 Estate Merlot | Seven Hills Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley
Leonetti Cellar
1999 Merlot | Columbia Valley
2008 Merlot | Walla Walla Valley
Long Shadows Vintners
2005 Pirouette Red Wine | Columbia Valley
2007 Pedestal Merlot | Columbia Valley
Northstar
2008 Merlot | Walla Walla Valley
2007 Cabernet Sauvignon | Columbia Valley
Otis Kenyon Wine
2005 Merlot | Walla Walla Valley
2007 Cabernet Sauvignon | Walla Walla Valley
Pepper Bridge Winery
2002 Merlot | Walla Walla Valley
2007 Merlot | Walla Walla Valley
Reininger Winery
2005 Malbec Pepper Bridge Vineyard | Walla Walla Valley
2003 Carmenere Seven Hills Vineyard | Walla Walla Valley
Saviah Cellars
2007 Une Vallée Red Wine | Walla Walla Valley
Seven Hills Winery
2006 Seven Hills Vineyard Merlot | Walla Walla Valley
2001 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon | Walla Walla Valley
Sleight of Hand Cellars
2008 Archimage Red Blend | Columbia Valley
2008 Illusionist Cabernet Sauvignon | Columbia Valley
Spofford Station Vineyards/James Leigh Cellars
2002 James Leigh Cellars Merlot | Walla Walla Valley
2004 Spofford Station Merlot | Walla Walla Valley
Spring Valley Vineyard
2006 Mule Skinner Merlot | Walla Walla Valley
2008 Nina Lee Syrah | Walla Walla Valley
SYZYGY
2003 Cabernet Sauvignon | Columbia Valley
2006 Syrah | Walla Walla Valley
Tamarack Cellars
2005 Merlot | Columbia Valley
2008 Seven Hills Vineyard Reserve | Walla Walla Valley
Tempus Cellars
2007 Merlot | Walla Walla Valley
2007 Cabernet Sauvignon | Columbia Valley
TERO Estates
2007 Windrow Field Blend | Walla Walla Valley
2008 Herb’s Block Merlot | Walla Walla Valley
Three Rivers Winery
2005 Champoux Vineyard Merlot | Horse Heaven Hills
2008 Merlot | Columbia Valley
Trust Cellars
2008 Syrah | Walla Walla Valley
2008 Cabernet Sauvignon | Columbia Valley
Walla Walla Vintners
1997 Spring Valley Vineyard Merlot | Walla Walla Valley
2003 Merlot | Walla Walla Valley
Woodward Canyon
2000 Walla Walla Valley Merlot | Walla Walla Valley
2005 Walla Walla Valley Estate Reserve | Walla Walla Valley
Zerba Cellars
2008 Dolcetto | Walla Walla Valley
2007 Merlot | Columbia Valley
Friday, June 19
The World of Merlot: Kick-off Event, Gesa Power House Theater, 8:30-10 a.m.
Featuring keynote speakers: Master Sommelier Fred Dame and acclaimed critic Stephen Tanzer.
Winemaker Panel and Tastings, Marcus Whitman Hotel, 3:30-5:30 p.m.
Panel presentation and tasting of wines from Bordeaux, Tuscany, Napa Valley and the Walla Walla Valley.
Merlot Wine Tasting & Dinner, Reid Center, Whitman College, 6-8:30 p.m.
More than 40 Walla Walla Valley wineries will pour Merlot and Bordeaux-style white wines, while John Sundstrom of Seattle’s Lark Restaurant and Walla Walla Valley chefs Andrae Bopp and Jim Cooley serve up small plates.
Saturday, June 20
Winemaker dinners around the Walla Walla Valley, 6-9 p.m.
Experience an evening in the Walla Walla Valley at one of 10 intimate winemaker dinners.
Visit the website for full event information, ticket sales and lodging information.
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