Participants to gain knowledge about Walla Walla, Syrah during second annual Celebrate event
WALLA WALLA, WA — Syrah is taking center stage during the second annual Celebrate Walla Walla Valley Wine event, to be held June 19-21 in Walla Walla, Washington. Ticket sales are well ahead of last year’s pace, with less than a month to go.
“People from all over the U.S. are coming to Walla Walla for Celebrate, and we can’t wait to show off the Valley — from the charming downtown, to the fantastic culinary scene and of course, the amazing wines,” said Duane Wollmuth, Executive Director of the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance.
Each year, the Celebrate events focus on a specific wine varietal. This year, organizers are bringing in wine producers from world-renowned Syrah growing regions to provide a forum for attendees to not only learn more about Walla Walla Valley wines, but also how Syrah can differ based on growing conditions, winemaking styles and vineyards.
The 2014 Celebrate Walla Walla Valley Wine event will begin on Thursday, June 19 with a vintage pour tasting featuring a limited number of Walla Walla Valley wines from the 2007 vintage or earlier. On Friday, June 20, Wine & Spirits wine critic Patrick Comiskey and noted Geologist Kevin Pogue will lead a kick-off event at the Gesa Power House Theatre. That same day, participants will have the rare opportunity to compare and contrast wines from the Walla Walla Valley, Paso Robles and Sonoma, California and the Yarra Valley, Australia during a special winemaker panel moderated by highly acclaimed sommelier and winemaker Rajat Parr. Participants will enjoy this impressive line-up of wines:
• áMaurice Cellars, 2010 Estate Syrah “Fred the Hummingbird” | Walla Walla Valley
• Gramercy Cellars, 2010 Gramercy Cellars Syrah | Walla Walla Valley
• Reynvaan Family Vineyards, 2011 The Contender Syrah | Walla Walla Valley
• Wind Gap Wines , 2012 Wind Gap Syrah, Armagh Vineyard | Sonoma Coast, California
• Jamsheed Wines, 2010 Healesville Syrah | Yarra Valley, Australia
• Halter Ranch Vineyard, 2012 Block 22 Reserve Syrah | Paso Robles, California
After the Friday winemaker panel, Celebrate participants will be invited to take part in a special tasting of Syrah and Rhone-style wines from 45 Walla Walla wineries during a dinner featuring an all-star lineup of local chefs: Andrae Bopp of Andrae’s Kitchen, Antonio Campolio of The Marc Restaurant & The Vineyard Lounge and Jim Cooley of Bon Appetit. The organized events will conclude on Saturday, June 21 with a series of winemaker dinners around the Walla Walla Valley.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
June 19, 2014
Vintage Pour | Garrison Creek Cellars | 4:30-6:30 p.m.
June 20, 2014
The World of Syrah: Kick-off Event | Power House Theater | 8:30-10:00 a.m.
Winemaker Panel Presentations and Tastings | Marcus Whitman Hotel | 3:30-5:30 p.m.
Syrah Wine Tasting & Dinner | Reid Center at Whitman College | 6:00-9:00 p.m.
June 21, 2014
Winemaker Dinners around the Walla Walla Valley | 6:00-9:00 p.m.
Tickets on sale now: www.wallawallawine.com/celebrate.
