Guide to Wine Scores

Freehand Cellars in Wapato, WA was born out of the idea of providing a new option for lodging in the Yakima Valley. Business partners from Seattle, architect James DeSarno and property developer Eduardo Oliveira, took over the former Windy Point Winery property and redesigned the gorgeous tasting room. “Winemaking, as with architecture, are our art forms,” says Karissa … [Read more...] about Freehand Cellars Lands in Wapato

During an industry tour of Washington AVAs in 2008, New York sommelier Steve Wells got bit by the winemaking bug. “I think the ah-ha! moment came while tasting Grenache Blanc grapes in the middle of Boushey Vineyards at sunset and drinking a glass of McCrea Cellars Sirocco Blanc made from those grapes,” recalls Steve. In 2011, he convinced his wife to ditch the East Coast in … [Read more...] about 3 Releases from Time & Direction Wines

Joe Campbell is no stranger to Yakima Valley agriculture. He grew up with half of his family running a cow-calf operation and the other half harvesting over 1,000 acres of orchards. With that influence, Campbell has spent most of his life involved in the agricultural industry in some aspect. Joe and his wife Alison began exploring wine in 2016 when they enlisted the help of … [Read more...] about Simcoe Creek Winery Opens In Zillah

Michael and Cindy Rasch, owners of Golden Ridge Cellars, took advantage of the incubator winery program offered by the Port of Walla Walla when the opportunity arose to open their own tasting room in 2019. The Raschs have been cultivating Golden Ridge Vineyard since they bought it in 2007. The eight-acre vineyard was originally planted in 1998 with help from legendary grower … [Read more...] about 3 Releases from Golden Ridge Cellars

Settled into new digs a couple storefronts away from their old location in downtown Walla Walla, Spring Valley’s storied past goes back decades. Uriah Corkrum made his way west from Illinois in the mid-1800s, making a new life amongst the fertile lands in the Walla Walla Valley. Five generations later, with years of wheat farming tied to the family’s history, Shari Corkrum … [Read more...] about Spring Valley Vineyard Grows Into Larger Digs

Casey and Vicky McClellan founded Seven Hills Winery in 1988 and were among the first handful of wineries to open in the Walla Walla Valley.  They sold the winery ownership in 2016 to Napa-based Crimson Wine Group but Casey has stayed on as head winemaker, logging 31 vintages under his belt as of this writing. Below are two wines we recently reviewed: Seven Hills 2019 … [Read more...] about Seven Hills 2019 Sauvignon Blanc & 2019 Dry Rosé

Comprehensive quality control in the vineyards allows Mercer Estates Winery owners Rob and Brenda Mercer the ability to deliver exciting estate-grown wines at exceptional values.  Their tiered brands offer a range, from value-driven reds and whites to ultra-premium reserve wines. Founded in 2005, this winery continues to impress at every turn. The Mercer’s family has been … [Read more...] about 7 Releases from Mercer Estates

Mark and Tami Garvin opened Tipsy Canyon Winery in Manson, with  help from their daughter, Lexi. The Garvins were inspired to make their first barrel of hobby wine nearly 15 years ago and the first batch was an instant hit with friends and family. As thee Garvins increased quantities with each passing year, their operation expanded and so did their dreams. They  purchased a … [Read more...] about Tipsy Canyon Winery Opens Near Lake Chelan

During Stephanie Jones’ Navy service aboard a guided missile destroyer in the Mediterranean, her palate was honed on wines from Spain, Italy and France. “When I joined the civilian world I knew I wanted to incorporate winemaking as part of my life. I love to learn and I love to challenge myself, and winemaking fits the bill in both regards,” says Stephanie. Inspired by the … [Read more...] about 3 Releases From Glacier View Cellars

WIT Cellars is the endearing story of three friends who worked tirelessly together to form their own winery and have continued to flourish using the motto of “whatever it takes.” The trio previously met while working together at a flagship winery in the Yakima Valley; Flint Nelson as winemaker, Carolina Warwick (nicknamed Cat) as assistant winemaker and Gina Adams-Royer as … [Read more...] about WIT Cellars Expands On The State’s West Side

Fiona Mak is on a mission to show wine lovers that Rosé isn’t just meant for summer—it’s a wine for every season. Her winery and tasting room, SMAK, is the newest addition to Walla Walla’s incubator winery district near the airport. Originally from Hong Kong, Fiona holds a degree in Hospitality Management from Syracuse University and has been at the helm of several … [Read more...] about SMAK Wines Goes All In For Rosé

Walla Walla-based Foundry Vineyards opened a tasting room in Seattle’s Pioneer Square. Founded in 1998 by Mark and Patty Anderson, the winery launched in 2003 utilizing fruit from their estate vineyard. Second-generation siblings Jay and Lisa Anderson now run the winery, continuing to expand and bring new vision to the business. In addition to their red and white wines, … [Read more...] about Foundry Vineyards Malbec & Pét-Nat

The idea for Lone Point Cellars was born during a Hawaiian family vacation, turning into a grand project along the way. After years of farming fruit orchards on Brewster flats in the north central region of the state, Jim and Dana Divis wanted to try their hand at something new. They already had a background in farming to get vines planted and a winery started, but wanted an … [Read more...] about Lone Point Cellars Brings Wine, Food & Lodging to Brewster

A plaque hangs in John and Rebecca Otis’ Zillah tasting room with the words, “All because two people fell in love,” setting the tone for the meaningful connections the Otises hold with those in their lives and with wine. John is no stranger to the winemaking business, having opened Crossroads Winery in Frisco, Texas in 2005. Crossroads was also the place he and Rebecca met … [Read more...] about From Texas Roots to Yakima Valley: Velen Winery

Established in 2001, Forgeron Cellars’ latest opening in Leavenworth is the third addition to their line-up (with opportunities to taste in Woodinville, as well as the flagship tasting room and winery in Walla Walla). Cody Janett was promoted to head winemaker in 2018 when Forgeron's founding winemaker Marie Gilla relocated into a new winemaking position at Valdemar Estates. … [Read more...] about Cody Janett Moves Into Top Winemaking Position At Forgeron Cellars

Valdemar Estates is the product of five generations of winemaking. Originating from Rioja in Spain, the family has been making wine since 1889 (the same year, coincidentally, that Washington became a state). Jesús Martinez Bujanda, the CEO and fifth-generation representative of the Valdemar family, moved to Walla Walla from Rioja to launch the winery. “We intend to showcase … [Read more...] about Valdemar Estates Brings 130 Years Of Winemaking To Washington

Tanya Woodley and Elaine Jomwe, SuLei founders and partners, have been churning out exceptional wines for the last 12 years. Washington Tasting Room first reported on them in 2014 upon the opening of their Walla Walla tasting room—and their latest red and white releases are hard proof this duo is a consistent winner in every category. Producing high quality, bang-for-your-buck … [Read more...] about Walla Walla-Based SuLei Cellars Expands To Vancouver, Wash.

Looking to cultivate a traditional European vibe to showcase his selection of Michael Florentino Cellars and Sherman Wines, proprietor Brad Sherman has expanded his footprint beyond Woodinville. The new location is in the heart of a thriving wine-tasting scene at SODO Urban Works in Seattle. “We wanted to launch the new Sherman brand through our new location,” explains Brad. … [Read more...] about Old World Tasting Room Brings European Vibe To Seattle

“Every wine has a story,” is a mantra for Jean (aka J.J.) Compeau. He named his winery Narratif out of respect for both his French heritage and the stories he has been telling about Washington’s wine regions and wineries during his more than two decades working in the wine business. It was a twist of fate three years ago that sent him transitioning out of working for other … [Read more...] about Narratif Winery Launches In Yakima Valley

Matt and Kelly Austin met early in their respective careers as attorney and fashion designer in Los Angeles. Their interest in wine flared during an impromptu trip to Santa Barbara and more wine-region adventures ensued, including many in Kelly’s home state of Washington. “When I decided that I’d like to return to school to learn to make wine, we knew that Washington was where … [Read more...] about Minimal Intervention Wines From Grosgrain Vineyards