What to Buy
‘07 Conner-Lee Vineyard Conflict Cola, spice, plum, black cherries $50
‘07 Foreshadow Columbia Valley Merlot Spice, black cherries, anise $36
‘07 Foreshadow Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Bing cherries, plums, figs, anise, cocoa, tobacco $42
Getting There
Directions can be found on the website or by calling the winery.
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The name Bookwalter, Mennonite Swiss for “tender of beechwood forests,” has also come to stand for “maker of very fine wines,” thanks to Bookwalter Winery.
When John Bookwalter joined his father’s winery in 1997, he made some sweeping changes. He quickly hired California wine pioneer Zelma Long, whose keen attention to detail helped John tremendously. The name Bookwalter was soon lauded in many wine publications and, in 2005, the winery was named “Winery of the Year” by Wine Press Northwest.
In the spring of 2009, John partnered with Winemaker Claude Gros, who has earned great respect from Robert Parker, who considers him one of “two of the finest winemaking consultants.” John couldn’t be more excited. “Claude has an impressive résumé of successful projects in France and Spain,” John reports, “and, quite frankly, is one of the most exciting winemakers in the world today.” Claude helped John finalize the 2007 and 2008 blends and now influences the winery’s approach toward growing and winemaking on an ongoing basis.
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John has a plethora of creative ideas and he’s confident enough to execute them. In 2003, he opened Washington State’s first tasting room lounge on the winery’s 10-acre grounds in Richland. He says he got the idea after observing the popularity of coffee houses as spots for mingling and conversation. He figured he could create the same environment with his wines. The lounge was an instant success and has grown in size to accommodate more guests. To enhance the experience, a menu featuring carefully selected Northwest cheeses, flatbreads, charcuterie, chocolate tortes, and truffles is offered. The winery’s Woodinville location offers a tasting studio as well, giving day-trippers from Seattle a chance to discover Bookwalter wines.
Today, when the name Bookwalter is mentioned, people are certainly more apt to think of a bottle of fine Merlot, Riesling, or Cabernet Sauvignon than a forest of beech trees. And that’s a very good thing. |
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