1) The new Cougar Crest Winery tasting room on Hwy 12 at Frenchtown Road. This winery has been collecting accolades for its wine and devotees know that winemaker Debbie Hansen is right on the mark. However, with the recent shout out from Gary Vaynerchuk, this winery is now pure gold. While we are talking about new digs: be sure to catch Patit Creek Cellars now at the airport and with their fingers crossed, you will see Otis Kenyon on Main Street near Merchants.

2) The art exhibit at Reininger Winery. The Walla Walla Artist Alliance is preparing for their first group show to take place at Reininger Winery on May 3 and 4 (Spring Release Weekend) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Artists showing: Charly Bloomquist, Anne Bullock, Harb Drake, L.A. Fairbanks, Margaret Jamison, Reggie Mace, Martha Mason, Pat Stanley Matthews, Jim McNamara, Sandra Rokoff-Lizut, Diana Schmidt, Windward Studios and Elberta J Wood.

3) Rose’s everywhere but specifically: Tertulia Cellars’ 2007 Mourvedre du Rose’, Bergevin Lane’s Rose’, Trio Vintners’ 2007 Tres Rose, Adamant Cellars Rose’.

4) We love all of Yellow Hawk Cellar’s food-friendly wines including their Kick-Ass Red (or maybe we just like saying it), their dessert-style OpPORTunity and Orange Muscat. Open Friday, May 2, 12pm-5pm, Sat & Sun, May 3 & 4, 10am-5pm.

5) Here’s your chance to visit 2007′s ‘Food & Wine’s Winery of the Year’ Long Shadows Vintners and rub shoulders with their famous international winemakers as you break bread! A number of the luminary winemakers involved with Long Shadows, will be on hand for Thursday’s winemaker dinner at the Marcus Whitman Hotel (dinner includes room reservation, so if you don’t already have, forget it). If you don’t make the dinner, then be sure to catch Napa’s Randy Dunn (Feather), Giovanni Folonari (Saggi) of Ruffino, Philippe Melka (Pirouette) and Walla Walla’s Gilles Nicault of Chester-Kidder at the winery this weekend during their open house, Friday-Sunday, 10-4PM.

6) New digs for Nicholas Cole Cellars at 229 E. Main Street and the debut of Michele, their Bordeaux blend named for the Mike’s daughter on her 16th birthday.

7) A bit of fine chocolate with your wine: Stella Fino is pouring their Italian-styled varietals at the fine chocolatier Petit Noirs in Milton-Freewater.

Notable New Releases: Trio Vintners’ 2006 Zinfandel $26 and 2006 Zinfandel Semi-Sweet Dessert $28, Isenhower Cellars 2006 Columbia Valley Rara Avis (69% Grenache, 22% Mourvedre, 9% Syrah) $28 and their 2007 Columbia Valley Snapdragon (72% Roussanne, 28% Viognier) $20, SYZYGY will be releasing their 2005 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Sagemoor, Conner Lee and Klipsun vineyards) to rave advance reviews! and they will be offering a special pre-release tasting of their new SAROS wine – a blend of Tempranillo, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. Bergevin Lane releases their inaugural “The Princess” Syrah sourced from Francisca’s Vineyard near Braden Road.

9) Just in time for the hot weather, Elegante’ Cellars (at the airport) Strawberry Wine sourced from Klicker’s strawberries.

10) Here’s a great reason to join the Forgeron Anvil Club – breakfast! Start your Saturday with a glass of bubbly, followed by a fabulous menu paired especially with Forgeron Cellars wines. This event is for Anvil Club members only. Not a member yet, join today. Reservations required. Hours: 8:30 am – 10:00 am. Cost: $25 For more info: Call 509-522-9463.

Most wineries will be open Friday through Sunday with special wine club events happening just about everywhere on Friday afternoon and evening. Look for a new program by the area wine association that encourages a “Designated Driver” with complimentary coffee at Verve Cafe.

Here’s to a great Spring Release Weekend. Have fun and be sure to drink lots of water!

Well, here in Walla Walla, we have never aspired to ‘cute’, preferring to reflect the genuine lifestyle that is our community. However, WWWN did like the comment made by the new majority owner (see our story below) of Three Rivers Winery, in the formal announcement of his purchase. William Foley (former Fidelity CEO and California winery owner) remarked, “(Walla Walla is) …the center of the wine world in terms of the state of Washington.”

Of course, the Three Rivers ownership change signals a huge wave of recognition from outside the state as to our importance as a wine growing region.

Add to that, the news that Precept Brands intend to build a 250,000 case winery and tasting room near Lowden (more in the article below.)

This super-charged attention to our valley, is due in part to the quality of our wines, but also can be attributed to the incredible focus our wineries (and their wine association) have made in maintaining our reputation as a ‘world-class wine region.’ The recent trade and consumer tasting in New York City and the upcoming June trade event in San Francisco will go a long way to garner national acknowledgment of the unique positioning of our appellation’s wines.

What’s up with the numerous applications to the liquor board for fruit and/or wine distillery licenses? (thanks to M, who alerted us) We will update you as we learn more about Northstar and Spring Valley Vineyards’ plans for their new WSLCB distillery licenses. Port or brandy comes immediately to mind. What DO you call port-like wines now that the word PORT is reserved for those fortified wines exclusively from Portugal?

Last year, we reported on a development project east of town that was to have 300 plus homes, a boutique hotel and 9-hole golf course. While it looked like a sure thing when first announced, our best bet now is that won’t happen under the current national economic climate. However, a development west of town, minus a hotel but with an 18 hole championship course, is gaining traction.

In January, we reported that permits for the Marcus Whitman Hotel’s move upwards for a rooftop lounge had been secured. Latest tidbit is that it is now on hold.

However, there has been no downturn in development projects, from new lodging proposals to a number of multi-winery tasting rooms, some already under construction. And how will the roar of big pipes pair with cabernet when a Harley-Davidson storefront opens in the former Brickstone Gallery location?