FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 3, 2009
CONTACT: Elizabeth Martin-Calder, Executive Director
Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance
emcalder@wallawallawine.com
509-526-3117 x304

Recent Scores from the Wine Advocate coupled with accolades from other national wine and food critics reinforces
Walla Walla’s rising claim as a wine region of distinction

Fall Release events slated for this coming weekend gives guests a chance to taste, compare, and experience for themselves
Walla Walla’s rising popularity

Walla Walla, WA (November 3, 2009) – Robert J. Parker Jr.’s Wine Advocate announced on October 31 the scores for Washington State wines, with a record breaking 188 of the wines reviewed coming from the Walla Walla Valley and 125 receiving a score of 90+. Parker’s associate, Dr. Jay Miller, visited Washington State last spring, spending the better part of three days tasting and touring in the Walla Walla Valley. For over 25 years the Wine Advocate has been considered by consumers as an essential guide for tasting notes and recommendations by following a potential 100 point score system.

In his article, Miller reviewed 48 Walla Walla wineries. Of those 48, 31 wineries received scores of 90 points and above.

Cayuse Vineyards winemaker and owner, Christophe Barron, added to his high-scoring legacy with all his wines achieving a score of 95 or higher and the 2006 Bionic Frog Syrah receiving a 99. Additional scores over the 95 mark were awarded to Walla Walla winemakers and wineries: Greg Harrington of Gramercy Cellars; Charles Smith of K Vintners; Chris Figgins of Leonetti Cellar, and Rick Small of Woodward Canyon.

Several of Walla Walla’s up and coming producers with a score of 91 or higher include: Corliss Estate, Doubleback, Kontos Cellars, Rasa Vineyards, and Tranche Cellars, demonstrating once again Walla Walla’s ability to attract and cultivate promising wine industry professionals.

Cayuse Weekend / Fall Release, November 6-8, 2009
The announcement comes days before one of Walla Walla’s biggest wine weekends.
Traditionally the weekend when Cayuse Vineyards hosts a private party for their wine club members, the first weekend in November has become a placeholder for what the wineries now call Fall Release. With an anticipated arrival of over 5,000 guests to the Valley, wineries will showcase their current releases with many wineries stepping-up their services via extended hours and culinary fare artfully paired with their wines.

Established in the late 70s and early 80s by four local residents with a vision to make great wine in a predominately wheat-growing community, the Valley is now home to over 100 wineries and over 1,800 acres of wine grapes, and is known for its hand-crafted Bordeaux-style reds, Syrahs, Chardonnays, and Rieslings. Average vineyards are less than 30 acres, although Seven Hills Vineyard, named one of the top ten vineyards in the world, has over 200 acres. The boutique-style wineries of the Walla Walla Valley are renown for their diversity and friendliness, with 60% of the wineries producing less than 5,000 gallons of wine.

Additional Accolades
No stranger to favorable press this past fall, additional national publications and online sources that have showcased Walla Walla’s depth as a wine region include:

Food & Wine: October 2009 issue names Charles Smith of K Vintners as 2009 Winemaker of the Year.

Wine & Spirits: November 2009 issue names three Walla Walla wineries, L’Ecole No 41, Saviah Cellars, and Tamarack Cellars, in their listing of 100 of the 2009 Wineries of the Year. This will be L’Ecole No 41’s eighth consecutive year to receive this honor.

Sunset Magazine: November 2009 issue names Walla Walla as the Up and Coming Wine Region of 2009, with Abeja listed as having one of the top 10 wines to buy in the “Western Wine Scene” and Cadaretta and Amavi listed for having a top 50 wine buy. Dunham Cellars also received recognition as a runner-up for Best Winery Tasting Room.

Budget Travel: August 2009 issue denotes Walla Walla as one of four wine regions recognized for its prized character and quality.

About.com: October 31 blog site of food critic and writer Alison Stein Wellner praises Walla Walla for being recognized as one of the top 10 culinary destinations in the world.

The Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance is a winery and grower membership organization 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 Elizabeth Martin-Calder, Executive Director, at 509-526-3117 or emcalder@wallawallawine.com.
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