Walla Walla: The Region So Nice They Named It Twice

May 12, 2004 Ticket sales begin 6:30 p.m. Doors open 7:00 p.m.
St. Demetrios Cultural Center, Members $20, Guests $30

What is happening in Walla Walla? Simply put, it is one of the most exciting winemaking regions in the country. Within a decade this area has grown from a mere handful of wineries to over 40 and counting. Walla Walla wines continually receive recognition in publications ranging from The Wine Advocate and Gourmet to The Wall Street Journal.

Why Walla Walla? The conditions here are ideal for producing grapes of superb quality. The complex soil provides perfect drainage, the limited rainfall allows growers to control irrigation, and the combination of long sunny days with cool nights allows the grapes to develop their flavor and complexity slowly while still retaining their natural acidity.

We invite you to come and experience Walla Walla wines for yourself at our May Program. We will be pouring seven wines from three boutique wineries and a representative from each will be on hand to talk about the region and their wines.

Please note, due to the higher costs for these exclusive wines and food bites, the entrance fee for this program will be $20 members and $30 guests. We promise you won’t be disappointed!

Three Great Wineries

Forgeron Cellars The forgeron, French for blacksmith, symbolizes the age-old tradition of quality craftsmanship. Winemaker (and brand new mother!) Marie-Eve Gilla and Jamie Carothers, marketing and sales director, will be on hand to tell us about their wines.

Whitman Cellars crafts traditional Bordeaux and Rhône-style wines of balance and expression of terroir. They produce Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Viognier and a proprietary blend “Narcissa.” Brenda Divers, marketing manager,will be speaking at our program.

Welcome Back Kaspar

We are excited to bring back Kaspar Donier of Kaspar's Restaurant and Wine Bar to our May program. Kaspar is a five-time nominee for the James Beard Award as America’s Best Chef Northwest and his restaurant, Kaspar’s, is nationally recognized as one of the region’s top dining spots. The reason is his outstanding and innovative cuisine that combines Northwest ingredients with French, Asian and Southwestern influences. To pair with our Walla Walla wines, Kaspar will be serving:

• Spicy Chicken Zucchini Pinwheel Skewers
• Beef Roulade with Rich Mushroom Bacon and Garlic Crouton Sauce
• Mediterranean Vegetable Bruschetta
  with Oregonzola (Oregon Blue)
• CheeseApple Tart with Cheesecake Ice Cream

Shoreline Central Market is providing bread for this event.