Vintage Walla Walla® 2008
Walla Walla, WA (April 3, 2008) – The Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance presents its signature wine and food event, Vintage Walla Walla® on June 6 and 7. This year’s event includes an expanded program of events and will make its home on the Whitman College Campus.
Vintage Walla Walla® 2008 will showcase vintage wines of the 2001 vintage or earlier at the Vintage Tasting on Friday evening. Saturday will feature a Pavilion Tasting of current and new releases from the Valley’s wineries. The weekend’s festivities will also include new and expanded educational classes, tours, and seminars; vineyard picnic lunches prepared by regional chefs; and a grand lecture with one of the area’s leading terroir experts and a panel of local winegrowers.
Events and activities for the weekend include:
Wine and Vineyard Classes:
• Terroir Tour – Discover Walla Walla’s distinct terroir and visit several of the Valley’s unique vineyard locations with Whitman College Geology Professor Dr. Kevin Pogue.
• Cheese and Wine Pairing – Gain insight into the tricks of pairing Walla Walla wines with carefully selected cheeses, specifically focusing on how to determine which characteristics create appetizing combinations.
• Blending – Learn about the art of creating the perfect blend with local winemakers and Walla Walla Community College Center for Enology and Viticulture Instructor Mike Moyer.
Vineyard Lunches: Guests can get back to nature as they picnic in one of the Valley’s picturesque vineyards. Guest chefs Jody Denton of Merenda and Deep in Bend, OR and Bear Ullman of Walla Walla’s Marc Restaurant will prepare lunches to be paired with wines made from the featured vineyards. Winemakers will be on hand to talk about their wines and join the fun.
Vintage Wine Panel Discussion: Paul Gregutt of the Wine Enthusiast will lead a discussion focusing on the vintage wines of the Walla Walla Valley, how they are aging, and why their ageability is important to our wine region. Gregutt will be joined by a panel of local winemakers, including: Marty Clubb of L’Ecole Nº 41, Chris Figgins of Leonetti Cellar, Casey McClellan of Seven Hills Winery, and Rick Small of Woodward Canyon Winery. Discussion includes a tasting comparison of vintage and current wines from each of the winemaker’s respective wineries.
Vintage Tasting: Located in Reid Center’s Ballroom on Whitman College’s campus, this tasting will focus on vintage wine selections from the 2001 vintage or earlier. The Valley’s wine pioneers will be on hand to showcase their wines and how they are aging. A featured guest chef will be preparing hors d’oeuvres to pair with the wines being poured. Tickets are limited. A special “flash live auction” with exclusive vintage wine lots will be highlighted.
Terroir Panel Discussion: Whitman College Geology Professor Dr. Kevin Pogue will lead a discussion about the unique and varied terroir of the Walla Walla Valley and why the wines from this AVA are so distinctive. Pogue will be joined by a panel of local winegrowers.
Pavilion Tasting: Over 40 Walla Walla wineries come together to showcase their new and current releases in an outdoor tasting on the campus of Whitman College. Cooking demonstrations by regional guest chefs will focus on pairing appetizers with the varietals being poured that afternoon. A silent auction with a special focus on large format bottles and current and vintage wines will be offered.
Proceeds from these events will benefit the Walla Walla Food Bank, part of the Blue Mountain Action Council.
Sponsors for Vintage Walla Walla® include: Bright’s Candies, Marcus Whitman Hotel and Conference Center, Portland Monthly magazine, Riedel, Seattle Metropolitan magazine, Swire Coca Cola of USA, Walla Walla Community College Center for Enology and Viticulture, and Wildhorse Resort & Casino.
For additional information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.wallawallawine.com.
Wineries of the Walla Walla Valley are committed to making wines of superior quality that are drinkable now but that are also able to age for not just years but for decades. A wine’s ageability directly relates to its structure, balance, and overall quality. Producing wines that age well is a characteristic of a wine region that is focused on establishing itself as a region dedicated to crafting premium wines. Following in the footsteps of other regions like Bordeaux, the Walla Walla Valley is committed to quality and creating wines that can stand the test of time.
The Walla Walla Valley is home to roughly 100 wineries and over 1,600 acres of wine grapes. Walla Walla is becoming increasingly recognized by both trade and consumers as one of the nation’s top wine regions to watch. The wineries of the Walla Walla Valley are relatively small but make up for the lack of quantity in the quality of wines they produce. Walla Walla has become know for its Bordeaux-style reds but is also gaining notoriety for its Syrahs, Chardonnays, and Rieslings.
The Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance is a winery and grower partnership committed to furthering the awareness of the quality wineries, wines, and vineyards of the Walla Walla Valley Appellation. Our mission is to support and promote quality and excellence in our wine industry and to further national and international recognition of our region. For more information, please visit www.wallawallawine.com.
For press information, please contact Jordan Small, Communications Associate, at 509-526-3117 or at jordan@wallawallawine.com.
