Skip to main content

Forgeron Cellars Visit and Tasting

Last week I reviewed the 2009 Blacksmith Syrah by Forgeron Cellars. 

Since then, I have searched all over town for more Blacksmith Syrah, without success. Craving more bottles of that lovely Syrah, I finally emailed Marie-Eve Gilla, winemaker and co-owner of Forgeron Cellars in Walla Walla, Washington, requesting a visit with her at the winery. Marie-Eve was very gracious and agreed to meet for a wine tasting Friday morning.

While Walla Walla is only an hour drive from my home, it does seem difficult for me to schedule time to make the drive to Walla Walla wine country. Desire for more Syrah erased all obstacles. Also, my friend Ben Simons agreed to go with me. Ben is a wine blogger too, his blog is at, www.vinotology.com his twitter handle is @vinotology – a great guy to go wine tasting with. Leaving an overcast Tri-Cities for a misty Walla Walla, the Friday morning drive was laden with wine conversation. Never go wine tasting alone.

Forgeron Cellars Winery on Birch Street.
It was easy to find Forgeron Cellars, they are located in downtown Walla Walla, just off 2nd avenue on Birch street. As I mentioned, the purpose of visiting Walla Walla was to purchase more Blacksmith Syrah. However, since we were at the Forgeron Cellars tasting room, we happily agreed to taste their entire line-up of Blacksmith and Forgeron wines. What a treat.

Forgeron Cellars Tasting Room.
The Lovely Wines
An impressive array of white, red, single vineyard and blended wines. Any of these wines are suitable for your table, your friends and family will thank you for sharing.

2010 Blacksmith Chardonnay.
Forgeron 2010 Ambiance - very enjoyable blend.
2010 Chardonnay Vigneron Select - to be reviewed in future.
2008 Blacksmith Merlot.
Forgeron 2008 Merlot Columbia Valley.
Forgeron 2008 Syrah Les Collines, Walla Walla Valley - ooh, ahh.
2007 Petit Verdot and Ben Simons - a beautiful example of P.V.
Forgeron 2008 Syrah Columbia Valley - my favorite on this visit.
@wild4wawine and @vinotology wine tasting @forgeroncellars in Walla Walla.
Walldeaux non-vintage red blend - will review in future.
Forgeron Late Harvest Riesling 2010 Dionysus Vineyard - lovely.
Winemaker Marie-Eve Gilla giving us a tour of the cellar.
Marie-Eve Gilla is originally from France. She has lived in the United States since 1991 and has resided in Walla Walla for a decade. She is married to Gilles Nicault, Director of Winemaking and Viticulture at Long Shadows Vintners where he works with some of the world's greatest Winemakers. Talk about a power couple. Washington State is fortunate to have such a passionate and gifted winemaker. Wonderful wines are being made by Ms. Gilla. I was a fan of the Blacksmith Syrah, now I'm a fan of all of Forgeron wines and their winemaker. Thank you Marie-Eve, you and your staff showed us a lovely time, merci beaucoup.

The Forgeron tasting room is open to the public from 11 am – 4 pm daily. Put them on your must visit list.

Forgeron Cellars
33 W Birch Street
Walla Walla, WA 99362
Phone: 509.522.9463
Contact Page

*Yes, I did purchase a couple of bottles of Blacksmith Syrah, but not from the winery (the tasting room does not sell the Blacksmith Syrah). They directed us to the Wild Walla Walla Wine Woman Wine Shoppe, located just a few blocks from the winery. Ben and I had fun visiting with owner Catie at her well stocked shoppe - another must visit location when in town.
Wild Walla Walla Wine Woman Wine Shoppe.
Cheers!

Popular posts from this blog

Review: Sho Chiku Bai, Unfiltered Sake

Last month in Seattle, I purchased a bottle of Nigori sake at Uwajimaya. Uwajimaya is one of the largest Asian grocery retailers in the Pacific Northwest. I’ve been visiting Uwajimaya for almost 40 years. When I was much younger, I’d buy model ship and plane kits, Japanese comic books (manga) and I never left without at least one steaming Humbow in hand. Today I buy the manga for my son; while I still enjoy the tasty steamed Humbows, now I never leave without at least one bottle of Sake in hand. Uwajimaya has a terrific selection of imported sake. This most recent visit, I left with a bottle of Sho Chiku Bai Nigori sake. Nigori sake is generally the sweetest of all sakes, with a fruity nose and a mild flavor, making a great drink to complement spicy foods or as a dessert wine. Typical sake is usually filtered to remove grain solids left behind after the fermentation process; however Nigori sake remains unfiltered, resulting in a cloudier beverage. Before serving, the bottle must

Spirit Review: Ole Smokey Tennessee Moonshine White Lightnin' @OleSmoky

Today I have crossed the line from wine to spirits. At 100 proof the Ole Smokey Tennessee Moonshine is definitely turning up the volume (ABV 50%). "Moonshine, white lightning, mountain dew, hooch, and Tennessee white whiskey are terms used to describe high-proof distilled spirits, generally produced illicitly...The word "moonshine" is believed to derive from the term "moonrakers" used for early English smugglers and the clandestine (i.e., by the light of the moon) nature of the operations of illegal Appalachian distillers who produced and distributed whiskey." Source Wikipedia My family is no stranger to Moonshine.  That is, my great-grandfather and grandfather were not strangers. Evidently the family occasionally produced their own spirits on their Oregon ranch. My grandfather told me about his younger brother getting into his dads stash with predictable results. Grandmother also told me stories about midnight runs and secretive deliveries d

Col Solare Cabernet Sauvignon. The style has changed.

“There is something special going on at Col Solare." In mid-June 2022, I began working for Col Solare winery on the Red Mountain AVA in Washington state. The Red Mountain AVA and Col Solare are famous for stunning Cabernet Sauvignon. That I knew going in.  We are not here to make more wine... We are here to showcase place. At the end of June 2022, Col Solare winemaker Darel Allwine retired. Darel had been winemaker since 2013. Prior, he had been Col Solare assistant winemaker for Marcus Notaro. Marcus had been Col Solare winemaker when the Red Mountain facility opened and was winemaker before we had our Red Mountain facility.  On July 1, 2022, Col Solare assistant winemaker, Stephanie Cohen, was promoted to Col Solare winemaker. I was present for this change. It was the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new one. Col Solare is the third winery I have worked for. I chose well.  Often, I am asked by Col Solare guests, as I was last week, “Tell me about Col Solare. Who are you