Walla Walla Wine Cellar

We know, the mules probably didn’t barrel race. But we donated a bottle of the Spring Valley 2005 Muleskinner Merlot to the Valley Girls Barrel Racing Association of Walla Walla for the 2008 Barrel Daze auction. It’s a sold out vintage (just a few bottles left in our inventory) and we thought it would be a nice fit for the Western event. Hooray for the wild wild west!

This merlot comes from vineyards planted in 1993 by the Corkrum family. They’d been farming wheat on that land for many generations–like five–and switched over from wheat to grapes. Their estate vineyard, now covering 40 acres, is the source of this lovely merlot. In their own words, “This Merlot is named after the job Frederick Corkrum held while working the farm. You see, Frederick was called a mule skinner, a name that represented his job on the farm; caring for and driving the mules in all aspects of the farming operation.”

Barrel racing isn’t exactly the same thing, but there’s a clear connection. Farm work. Dusty. Horses and mules, saddles, bridles, leather. And family members working together.

This weekend’s event had the fairgrounds covered with trucks and trailers with families hanging out together, kids playing in the grass and around the arena, picnics in the grass, relatives riding together warming up their horses for racing.

Sunday morning we went to watch a friend, Cindy Davis (who had talked us into donating some wine in the first place), and two of her daughters, Sarah Jones and Cloe Davis, compete in the barrel racing. Here is the young and talented Sarah Jones — who won a first place prize in at least one category. This is a nice, clean ride.

But perhaps our favorite part of the day was watching Cloe Davis in the Pee Wee Division. Check out this amazing ride! This is Cindy’s six-year-old daughter.

Now we wouldn’t give Cloe a bottle of the Muleskinner. But it was a great bottle to open up after a day of hard riding. Start the day with a nice french press of coffee from Walla Walla Roastery, and end it with a perfect glass of Muleskinner.

I wonder if any of the Corkrum family will be competing in the barrel race next year?

How many of you know of Dave Stephenson? This guy is amazing! He’s involved in so much. But two of the things I love him the most for are his position as head winemaker at Otis Kenyon, a rising star in the Walla Walla Valley, and his own winery, Stephenson Cellars.

I Love Otis Kenyon! Beyond the fun cat interviews, the gorgeous bridge over the irrigation ditch that can be heard burbling from the front porch, and the wonderful smell of orchard remnants, Otis Kenyon is producing some fantastic wines! Check out a few of our tasting notes if you want. I’m partial to the Syrah.

But today, I’m talking about the Stephenson Cellars 2006 Viognier. Only 90 cases of this golden delight made. Okay, not really golden. It’s crisper, cleaner, lighter than that. This viognier is not too fruity. It is floral — the classic descriptor of the varietal. There is honey too. It has decent acid and is not too flabby. It’s not flabby at all, actually. Makes me think of summer sports. Is that weird?

This wine gets me past mid-palate, grabs me in the back of the mouth. And it’s a sensual hold.

There’s not much to say other than grab yourself a glass, spread out on the back patio, and enjoy a gorgeous late-Spring sunset. God, I’m glad for warmer weather here in the Northwest.

So here’s the deal. This may not seem like the most likely topic for our wine shop blog, but we think it’s important. Look at what Gary has to say, think about it. We believe in focusing on GOODNESS! So let’s all make that happen. Watch this:
- - -

- - -
And we look forward to seeing what the community can accomplish.
Now, who shall we talk about? So many good people…