Guest Speaker and Acclaimed Winemakers Announced for Celebrate Walla Walla Valley Wine – Syrah
Keynote speakers and esteemed panelists headline the Walla Walla Valley’s premier wine event
WALLA WALLA, WA – More than 60 Walla Walla Valley wineries, guest winemakers from leading wine regions and esteemed speakers will headline this year’s Celebrate Walla Walla Valley Wine – Syrah to be held at various locations throughout the Walla Walla Valley July 14-16, 2022.
Celebrate showcases a different wine varietal each year, comparing and sharing the similarities and differences of the Walla Walla Valley with other leading wine regions around the world.
The 2022 Celebrate event series will kick-off Thursday afternoon with a talk hosted by Elaine Chukan Brown, Executive Editor US of JancisRobinson.com at the historic Gesa Power House Theatre in downtown Walla Walla. Tailored to oenophiles, topics will span terroir, growing conditions, and the cultural significance of Syrah.
Thursday evening also includes Vintage Pour hosted at CAVU Cellars, where guests can sample library wines ranging from 2005 to 2012 from 30 Walla Walla Valley wineries.
On Friday, visiting winemakers and wine experts will join Walla Walla Valley winemakers to delight guests with a panel discussion and tastes of Syrah from around the globe. Moderated by Elaine Chukan Brown, the Wine Panel Presentation and Tasting will demonstrate how wines can vary among the world’s leading regions resulting from different growing conditions and winemaking styles through the educational seminar and tasting. Along with a wine selection from France’s Rhône Valley, attendees will get to taste Syrah represented by the panelists:
- Richard Funk, Winemaker & Owner | Saviah Cellars, Walla Walla Valley
- Trey Busch, Winemaker & Co-Owner| Sleight of Hand Cellars, Walla Walla Valley
- Devyani Gupta, Winemaker & Viticulturist | Valdemar Estates, Walla Walla Valley
- Anthony Yount, Winemaker | Denner Vineyards, Paso Robles, California
- Sam Coturri, Winemaker | Winery Sixteen 600, Sonoma Valley, California
“The Wine Panel Presentation and Tasting is a unique opportunity to taste Syrah from multiple acclaimed growing regions, side by side, while hearing from the winemakers themselves,” said Robert Hansen, Executive Director of Walla Walla Valley Wine. “Attendees will gain access to a once-in-a-lifetime experience to learn, taste and engage with the hand-picked panel of prominent Syrah winemakers.”
The Wine Panel Presentations and Tastings take place on Friday, July 15 from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. at the historic Marcus Whitman Hotel & Conference Center.
Friday’s events culminate with the Collaborative Winemaker Dinner Series. Ticket holders will experience an exclusive evening in the Walla Walla Valley as winemakers and local and guest chefs band together to create intimate food and wine experiences. A limited number of seats are offered at the dinner tables of ten locations throughout the Walla Walla Valley.
The Celebrate Walla Walla Valley Wine – Syrah series of events concludes with the Syrah Grand Tasting at Valdemar Estates. This is the largest organized tasting event of the year in the Walla Walla Valley with over 50 wineries pouring their latest Syrah releases alongside white, sparkling and rosé wines.
Schedule at a Glance
Thursday, July 14, 2022
Syrah Kick-Off Event at Gesa Power House Theatre | 2:30-4:00 p.m.
Vintage Pour at CAVU Cellars | 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Friday, July 15, 2022
Wine Panel Presentation and Tasting at Marcus Whitman Hotel & Conference Center | 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Collaborative Winemaker Dinner Series throughout the Walla Walla Valley | 6:00-9:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 16, 2022
Syrah Grand Wine Tasting at Valdemar Estates | 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Tickets are now on sale at www.WallaWallaWine.com/Celebrate.
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Celebrate Walla Walla Valley Wine – Syrah is made possible by:
Banner Bank, SIP Magazine, Trysk Print Solutions, Townsquare Media, Black Tie Wine Tours, Columbia REA, Gesa Power House Theatre, KCTS 9, Marcus Whitman Hotel & Conference Center, Seattle Times, Walla Walla Wine Limo, Walla Walla Union Bulletin, City of Walla Walla, Walla Walla County and the Port of Walla Walla.
About Celebrate Walla Walla Valley
Formed by Walla Walla Valley Wine in 2013, Celebrate Walla Walla Valley Wine is the region’s signature wine event held annually in July. The event series is structured to showcase a different wine varietal each year, focusing on Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Merlot, the region’s most widely grown and produced varietals. Over the course of three days, the events demonstrate how wines can vary among the world’s leading regions resulting from different growing conditions, winemaking styles, and vineyards through special tastings of rare vintage wines, educational seminars, and one-of-a-kind winemaker dinners.
About Walla Walla Valley Wine
Walla Walla Valley Wine is a nonprofit wine industry membership organization whose primary mission is to build an internationally acclaimed Walla Walla Valley wine brand among consumers, media, and trade by executing marketing programs in collaboration with member wineries, vineyards, and partners. Walla Walla Valley Wine functions as the leading informational resource for consumers, media and trade interested in learning more about the Valley’s wine industry.
Media Contacts:
Liz Knapke
Communications & Marketing Director, Walla Walla Valley Wine
[email protected] | (509) 526-3117 office
Shelby Pryor
Communications & Marketing Coordinator, Walla Walla Valley Wine
[email protected] | (509) 526-3117 office
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