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A tiny Milton-Freewater winery that's been one of the rising stars of the Walla Walla Valley will be showing off its wines during the annual Walla Walla Wine Alliance spring release weekend May 5-7.

At least 54 wineries, some new, will be open Friday, Saturday and Sunday generally from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. where the public can meet the winery staff, sample new releases and buy wines.

The weekend draws visitors from all over the Pacific Northwest, and people as far away as the East Coast have been known to fly in for a chance to sample some of the nation's best wines.

Walla Walla has been attracting a great deal of national press including stories in Sunset magazine and the Wall Street Journal.

What makes Walla Walla a mecca for wine lovers is its geography. Most of the 54 wineries are within a 10 minute drive of each other.

Then there is the quaintness of the historic town nestled up against wheat fields and the Blue Mountains.

While Marilyn and Cecil Zerba are new to the wine scene and are on the outskirts of the wine region in Milton-Freewater they are not newcomers to Walla Walla.

Marilyn went to Walla Walla High School with winemaker Gary Figgins of Leonetti Cellar and Hank Sauer, tasting facilitator of Wine Press Northwest magazine. Cecil has a history of growing crops in the Milton-Freewater area and more recently growing wine grapes.

He is making a name for himself with Zerba's 2003 Syrah, which earned a platinum award from Wine Press Northwest, and his 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon tied for top spot among 128 cabernets judged by the magazine.

Like the other wineries this weekend Zerba will be pouring a variety of mostly red wines. Some wineries will charge a fee and some will provide appetizers and show off artwork.

The list of wineries participating in the spring release this weekend are:

Abeja, 2014 Mill Creek Road. Taste the new releases of cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay and Beekeeper's blend. Artisan cheese, flat breads and spring gardens will be served.

Ash Hollow, 14 N. Second Ave. Open Friday 10 a.m.-8 p.m. with special evening 5-8 p.m. with artist Jeffrey Hill, cuisine by chef Tamara and three wines: 2005 Somanna, 2005 Gewurztraminer and 2005 rose.

Basel Cellars Estate Winery, 2901 Old Milton Highway. $5 tasting fee refundable with wine purchase. Release of 2003 Merriment, 2005 Forget-Me-Not White and 2005 Caspia Rose. Winemaker dinner Friday evening featuring guest chef Mauro Golmarvi from Assagio Ristorante in Seattle. Reservations required and space is limited. Call 509-522-0200.

Bergevin Lane Vineyards, 1215 W. Poplar St. Newly released red and white wines complemented with prime rib, appetizers and live music Saturday. A $5 tasting fee is refundable with wine purchase.

Bradenview Cellars, 305 E. Boeing. Two new spring releases: 2003 Merlot and 2003 "Casilda," a Cab/Merlot blend.

Buty, 535 East Cessna Ave. New releases of the 2003 Rediviva of the Stones and 2004 Caballo Blanco.

Canoe Ridge Vineyards, 1102 W. Cherry St. Tasting room fee of $5 includes etched logo glass. Newest release and current selections, the artwork of Monica Stobie and artisan cheeses and breads.

College Cellars, 500 Tausick Way. Students and staff will be pouring samples of current releases and providing tours of the teaching winery. Culinary arts students will be preparing light appetizers.

Colvin Vineyards, 720 "C" St. Pouring six wines and serving Cougar Gold Cheese.

Dunham Cellars,150 East Boeing Avenue. Friday wine club members reception from 5-7 p.m. A tasting fee of $5, will be refunded upon wine purchase.

Dusted Valley Vintners, 1248 Old Milton Highway. Tasting fee is $5 includes logo wine glass. Pouring "Release No. 1," a Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend made from the best of the '03 and '04 vintages. Fine imported cheeses are offered as samples.

Five Star Cellars, 840 "C" St. Offering appetizers and cheeses, with their own smoked salmon and turkey. A $5 tasting fee waived for club members and with wine purchase.

Forgeron Cellars, 33 W. Birch St. New releases, 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon, Pepper Bridge Vineyard and 2005 late harvest Gewurztraminer, along with a selection of cheeses. Featuring artwork from Larry Wilson, a Pendleton native and the handcrafted wood bowls from Bear Ullman from fallen 100-year-old trees in Walla Walla.

Foundry Vineyards, 405 Woodland Ave. Open Friday 10 a.m.-8 p.m. with special evening 5 to 8 p.m. with gallery opening of artists with regional and international acclaim, including David Bates, Frank Boyden, Ian Boyden, Squire Broel, Leslie Cain, Jim Dine, Chuck Ginnever, Marilyn Lysohir, Ann Morris, Brad Rude, Peter Shelton & Marie Watt. Free reception with appetizers and wine is included.

L'Ecole No 41, Lowden. New wine releases with a variety of hand-selected cheeses and salmon mousse from Raphael's in Pendleton. Spring wine dinners Friday and Saturday. Limited seating. Contact Cindy at 509-525-0940, ext.104 or cindy@lecole.com.

Lowden Hills Winery, 535 Spitzenburg Road, College Place. Artist Roger McGee displays smaller bronzes and plays Indian flute music on his custom-made wind-dancer flutes. Cherie "Scissors Hand" McGee displays her paintings with paper art. Saturday music by the Gugies duo and Roger McGee. Refreshments include bread, cheese, chocolate and the debut of 2003 Merlin's Winemakers reserve and 2005 Viognier.

Nicholas Cole Cellars, 705 Berney Drive. Releasing and tasting 2003 Camille and barrel sampling 2004 Camille. Serving cheeses. Tasting fee of $5 waived with wine purchase.

Northstar, 1736 JB George Road. Friday is second-annual open winery for Northstar wine club members and friends 1-4 pm. Kate Bray Trio, great nibbles and opening of artist Bernard Hosey's exhibit of metal sculptures. Offering Blues music, cheeses and breads paired with two newest releases 2003 Merlot and its first Cabernet Sauvignon, 2003.

Otis Kenyon, 1793 JB George Road. Merchants Ltd., 21 E, Main St., will feature and pour Otis Kenyon 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon during spring release.

Patit Creek Cellars, 4 S. Fourth Ave. Patit Creek's downtown tasting room will have artwork by three Walla Walla artists, Jill Ingram, Carol Cole and Richard Cyzhold. Featuring the newly released 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon, along with a selection of cheeses and bread.

Pepper Bridge Winery, 1704 George Road. A tasting fee of $8 for the two wines, refunded on wine purchase.

Reininger Winery, 5858 West Highway 12. Releasing Reininger and Helix wines. On Saturday and Sunday also offering cheeses from around the world.

Seven Hills Winery, 212 North Third Ave. Pouring new releases of 2005 Riesling, 2005 Viognier, 2005 Pinot Gris and selected current release red wines. Showing chalk pastel landscapes of the Walla Walla Valley by Leslie Williams Cain.

Spring Valley Vineyard, 7 S. Fourth Ave. (tasting room) and 1663 Corkrum Road, (the ranch). In our downtown Walla Walla tasting room, pouring new releases including 2004 Uriah, 2003 Derby and 2004 Muleskinner along with 2003 Frederick. At the ranch, open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. Winemaker Serge Laville will pour newest releases, family members will be on hand to give the ranch's history. Also, meats, cheese, olives, etc.

Syzygy, 290 "A" St. Releasing 2004 Columbia Valley Red Wine, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot and Malbec and also pouring recently released 2003 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. On Saturday and Sunday the student chefs from the Walla Walla Community College Culinary Arts Program will grill food for a small donation.

Tamarack Cellars, 700 "C" St. Complimentary wine tasting with $5 fee for reserve wine tasting. Selection of our current and new releases including inaugural Sangiovese bottling. Cheeses and the La Monarca taco wagon.

Three Rivers Winery, 5641 W. Highway 12. Complimentary tasting with $5 fee for reserve/barrel tasting. Complimentary samples of gourmet food items. Winemaker dinner at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Reservations: 509-526-9463.

Va Piano, 1793 JB George Road. Fresh grilled paninis and sample our first vintage of 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2003 Syrah.

Walla Walla Vintners, off Mill Creek Road. Free wine tasting of the spring 2006 releases, with Cougar Gold cheese, bread and brownies.

Waterbrook, 31 E. Main St. Introducing 2005 Sangiovese rose and the new WB premium label. Barrel carving demonstration.

Waters Winery, 416 N. Second Ave. Grand opening and inaugural release with free tasting of 2003 Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, 2004 Columbia Valley Syrah and 2004 Columbia Valley Bordeaux-blend, Interlude.

Whitman Cellars, 1015 W. Pine St. On display the Fenton-Stahl Gallery's featured artist exhibit. In addition to selection of wines, Bill Krieger from Cheese Louise will pair cheeses. Tasting fee is $5, refundable with purchase.

Woodward Canyon Winery, Lowden. New releases are the 2004 Columbia Valley Chardonnay, 2003 Columbia Valley Merlot and 2003 "Artist Series" Cabernet Sauvignon.

Yellow Hawk Cellars, 395 Yellow Hawk St. Wines paired with select Juniper Grove Farm goat cheeses from Redmond, Ore.

Zerba Cellars, 85530 Highway 11, Milton-Freewater. Wines include 2004 Lewis Vineyard Chardonnay, 2003 Wild Thing red wine, 2003 Columbia Valley Cabernet Franc and the gold medal 2003 Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

Other wineries: Amavi, Bunchgrass, Fort Walla Walla, Harlequin Wine Cellars, Isenhower Cellars, James Leigh Cellars, K Vintners, Latitude 46 N, Leonetti Cellar, Patrick M. Paul Vineyards, Rulo Winery, Russell Creek Winery, Saviah Cellars, Skylite Cellars, Stephenson Cellars and Walla Walla Village Winery.



 
Bob Woehler, a retired Herald staff writer, has been writing a column about wines of the Pacific Northwest since 1978. Send him e-mail at bwoehler@charter.net or check out his past columns at Wine Press Northwest.

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