The Walla Walla Valley is known for its merlot.
Athena is an Eastern Oregon town about 10 miles south of the Washington border. Athena has a grain mill, a post office, a skate park and a library, but it does not have a winery. Fortunately, neighboring wineries in Milton Freewater and Walla Walla are just a 20- to 30-minute drive away.
Watermill Winery, Milton Freewater, Ore.
Watermill Winery, established in 2005, is one of the first wineries in Milton Freewater. The tasting room offers a dining room for 30 guests. The vineyards of the Watermill grow cabernet sauvignon, merlot, syrah, malbec, cabernet franc, petit verdot, tempranillo and mouvedre cultivars and varietals. Wine Enthusiast awarded 92 points respectively to the Watermill Winery's 2007 Estate Petit Verdot and 2007 Praying Mantis Syrah. The petit verdot also made the Seattle Times Top 100 Washington Wine List.
Saviah Cellars, Walla Walla, Wash.
Family-owned Saviah Cellars was chosen Wine & Spirits Magazine's 2009 Winery of the Year. The winery produces around 9,500 cases of wine each year. As of January 2011, releases included offerings of syrah, chardonnay, petit verdot, Big Sky Cuvee, Laurella, cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, malbec, The Jack and Star Meadows White. Winemakers Richard and Anita Funk founded Saviah Cellars in 2000. The winery is open to visitors seven days a week starting at 10 a.m.
Pepper Bridge Winery, Walla Walla, Wash.
Pepper Bridge Winery's commitment to sustainable viticulture helps create a buzz around its merlot, cabernet sauvignon and reserve. Following strict environmental standards makes good wine. Food and Wine magazine named Pepper Bridge's 2007 merlot the best merlot of the year. The tasting room is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The winery offers tours with advance reservations.
Northstar Winery, Walla Walla, Wash.
Northstar Winery is known for its merlot. The winery produces Walla Walla and Columbia Valley Merlots, Stella Maris Red, Stella Maris Blanca Semillion and Stella Maris Chardonnay. Northstar's 2006 and 2007 merlots are rated in the 90s by trade magazines. The tasting room at Northstar is open seven days a week. For a refundable $7 tasting fee as of January 2011, visitors tastes their way through the Northstar wine blending process.
Tags: Walla Walla, cabernet sauvignon, Milton Freewater, Pepper Bridge, petit verdot