2015 Buty Walla Walla Valley Rediviva of the Stones Red

Located in Yakima Valley, WA, owner and winemaker Nina Buty believes that making Buty wine is part of a larger process, with many interconnections and contributions. She also believes that great vineyards and great wines have soul. In keeping with these beliefs, Buty is guided by a philosophy that reflects the idea of growth from body to mind to soul to spirit - with each level building on the last to create a more complex and cohesive whole. From the selection of vineyards, the methods used to farm them and the timing of harvest, to Buty's dedication to natural winemaking practices, each level plays an important role in creating Buty wine. To maintain this authenticity, whenever possible Nina emphasizes blends where all the varietals come from the same vineyard. Buy Buty and Beast (Buty's second label) wine on WineBid today.

Walla Walla Valley AVA likes to call itself the Napa Valley of Washington, and given the concentration of well-reviewed wineries in the appellation, the comparison is understandable. The Walla Walla appellation is comprised of 340,000 acres, of which 1,200 acres are vineyards. Walla Walla is located in the southeastern corner of Washington and it extends slightly into northeastern Oregon. It is named after the Walla Walla River Valley, and the city of Walla Walla is the commercial center of Washington’s wine industry. The city was founded in the 1840s by the Hudson’s Bay Company as a trading post, but as early as the 1850s farmers were planting grapes for winemaking. Prohibition shuttered winemaking in the early 20th century, but a winemaking renaissance started in the 1970s when Leonetti Cellars, still one of the state’s most acclaimed wineries, started producing acclaimed Cabernet Sauvignon. Walla Walla’s AVA status was awarded in 1984 and today there are more than 100 wineries. Cabernet Sauvignon is the most frequently planted grape, followed by Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Sangiovese Chardonnay and Viognier.