Your Woodinville Wine Blog Team Took a Road-Trip to Walla Walla!
A “Welcome To Washington Wine Country” Sign Brightened Our Visit to the Marc Restaurant
The days of taking long road-trips have almost become a thing of the past for me because life gets so busy. There is something to be said for exploring the country with your feet close to the soil. Something else entirely when you’re lucky enough to represent Woodinville Wine and explore Washington State wine country. The 2018 Wine Blogger’s Conference gave us that wonderful experience.
Apparently, I was feeling a bit too excited to arrive in Walla Walla… and took a series of photos that look just like this one. Geesh, I am sorry for the window glare! The drive from Woodinville to Walla Walla was stunning on this sun-filled afternoon. Carrie and I were beyond eager to arrive and learn so much from some of our favorite winemakers.
Our First Stop – Searching for Woodinville Wine at the Marc Restaurant
6 hours later (with a hysterical pitstop that’s really it’s own post, haha) we opened this book at the Marc Restaurant. The Marcus Whitman Hotel is a landmark hotel in the center of downtown Walla Walla, WA and host to the conference. Carrie and I were excited to see familiar names from our Woodinville wine adventures (Pepper Bridge and Five Star Cellars) on the menu. The L’Ecole No. 41 Merlot is a favorite of Carrie’s so she ordered that. Our wine and food were delicious!
I had the 2014 Pepper Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon. Both are glass pours at The Marc Restaurant.
Our Wine Education Continued With a Talk From This Panel Of Walla Walla Wine Leaders!
We started off our first full day at the conference with a panel led by Muriel Kenyon, general manager of Otis Kenyon Winery, Ashley Trout, owner/winemaker from Vital Wines and Brook and Bull, Nina Buty, founder/president of Buty Winery and founding partner/general manager Annette Bergevin from Bergevin Lane Vineyards. Of the four, only Otis Kenyon has a tasting room in the Woodville Hollywood District, but perhaps the other three will join? (hint, hint)
What IS speed blogging anyway?
Owner/winemaker Tim Armstrong and his wife, owner/general manager Jen Armstrong from Armstrong Family Winery shared their warm smiles and delicious wines with our table for the first session of speed blogging. This was an exciting 50 minute filled tasting presented by 20 wineries, with each table of bloggers getting a chance to meet and taste wines from 10 of them. Each rotating speed tasting lasted 5 minutes, in which time we all asked questions, tasted wine and furiously posted to our social media outlets. It was much harder than it sounds!
Carrie and I were both blown away by this Armstrong Family Winery 2014 David’s Folly, a blend of 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Cabernet Franc and 14% Petit Verdot. It was bold, smooth and fruit forward and I could imagine pairing it with a juicy steak or a plate of aged cheese and smokey Charcuterie. Tim told us he tries to make Cabs that “don’t taste like a cab” and this one was delicious.
Here I am posing before heading to my first wine breakout session. I chose to attend the Consorzio Lugana DOC wine session.
This was the delicious tasting lineup from the Lugana team. My favorite was the orange-infused vintage on the far right. Lugana wines are made from 100% Turbiana grapes grown on the shores of Lake Guarda.
From L’Ecole No. 41, here are owner/managing winemaker Martin Clubb and General Manager Constance Savage – we wanted to give them a shout-out even though their winery is in Walla Walla and is not yet one of Woodinville’s amazing tasting rooms. This team poured us some beautiful wines during the conference and we would sure LOVE to see them come to our city!
Be sure to check back with us tomorrow for more on our adventures at the 2018 Wine Bloggers Conference! We have so much more to share with you including photos from our Tertulia Cellars, Truth Teller Winery and Gard Vintners tastings.
~Jen
Fabulous References for Your Wine Research Library – Woodinville Wine and more!
Armstrong Family Winery website
