Alexandria Nicole Cellars

By Brooke Young

I belong to a lot of wine clubs in Washington, and I would have to say that membership with Alexandria Nicole is the most fun. They have a 243-acre estate vineyard located high above the bluffs on the Columbia River, near the town of Patterson. In addition to the winery, they also feature a wine bar and banquet facilities. They have a tasting room in Prosser and another one in Woodinville, and members can attend events at any and all of their locations. And oh, the events! While most wineries host one shindig a year, the folks at Alexandria Nicole put on events many, many times throughout the year. They have seven to eight releases per year, and each is accompanied by a swank release party in both Prosser and Woodinville. Because of this, I spend more time at AN than at any other winery in the state, and have come to really appreciate their extremely friendly and helpful staff and, of course, the phenomenal wine they make.

Tertulia Cellars

By Brooke Young

On my first visit to Walla Walla last June, I tasted wine at some great places, but the visit to Tertulia Cellars elevated the experience for me in many ways. The new tasting room had just been completed, and its vivid red and gold facade and funky interior décor was in great contrast to the rows of army buildings that make up the airport tasting rooms. We tasted a Viognier, two different Syrahs and my favorite everyday wine that Tertulia just calls Red Table Wine. But best of all, winemaker Ryan Raber took us down to the cellar and let us sample Tempranillo right out of the barrel. I can tell you that nothing is so delightful as standing on the cold stone floor and talking wine with the person who makes it, and we felt special getting this time with him and his incredible wine.

Syncline

By Brooke Young

If you love the wines of a particular winery, you might consider joining its wine club. This can be a great way to try varietals and vintages that you might not otherwise consider, and there are benefits offered to members that the regular wine-buying public isn’t privy to. Right now some of us at WINO are crushin’ on the wines of Syncline, a smallbatch producer of extraordinary quality wines out of Lyle, Washington.

Owned by husband and wife team James and Poppie Mantone, Syncline is producing high-quality Rhone varietals that flourish in the soil of their estate vineyard, Steep Creek Ranch, located on a southern slope on the very eastern edge of the new Columbia Gorge AVA. The Mantones keep production under 3,000 cases annually to ensure that they stay intimate with each barrel, every vine, and produce the best wines possible.