2011 Walla Walla Vintners Columbia Valley Cabernet Franc

Walla Walla Vintners was one of Washington State’s early, artisanal wineries. It was founded in 1995 by Gordy Venneri and Myles Anderson, two friends who had been making wine together as a hobby since the early 1980s. Venneri and Anderson still own and operate Walla Walla Vintners, which is based in the city of Walla Walla, and they still source their grapes from vineyards throughout Washington State. The estate makes red wines, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Sangiovese, Dolcetto and blends.

Columbia Valley AVA is larger than some states. At 18,000 square miles, or 11 million acres, the appellation covers almost half of Washington State and a small part of Oregon on the south side of the Columbia River. Established in 1984, Columbia Valley contains numerous sub appellations within its boundaries, including Yakima Valley AVA and Walla Walla AVA, both large and important wine districts. Columbia Valley AVA, generally called the Columbia Basin by Pacific Northwesterners, is in the Columbia River Plateau, and the AVA also includes a section of northeastern Oregon. There are dozens of microclimates within this appellation of about 7,000 vineyard acres. Many kinds of grapes are grown in the Columbia Valley, though the principal grapes planted are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Riesling, Syrah, Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc. Eastern Washington experiences very hot summers and cold winters, and the northern latitude means that Washington vineyards receive several more hours of sun in the summer than California vineyards. Grapes in Washington therefore have time to develop significant tannins and overall ripeness.

This is a parent grape to Cabernet Sauvignon. It most likely originates from Basque country. It is an excellent blending grape, known for making the exquisite Cheval-Blanc. Franc is a little hardier on a vine than Sauvignon, but drinks smoothly at the table.