SUMMER SELECTIONS

View video tasting notes for your Summer Selections from Winemaker David ‘Merf’ Merfeld.

2008 Cabernet Sauvignon
Columbia Valley
“This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon displays rich notes of vanilla, cola, black cherry, and raspberry on a soft, silky palate. Cabernet fruit from Anna Marie Vineyard in Walla Walla contributes bright red fruit aromas and flavors, while fruit from Cold Creek Vineyard, east of Yakima in the Columbia Valley, adds notes of dark berry and stone fruits. A very elegant wine to be enjoyed for years to come.”
DOWNLOAD FACT SHEET
Retail price: $41 | Member price: $32.80   REORDER »

2008 Malbec
Walla Walla Valley
“Aromas of cedar, vanilla, and black pepper lead into a medium-bodied wine with spicy, savory, black cherry flavors. This is a rustic wine that will hold up to a variety of foods including barbeque, Italian to Cajun, Indian, or Mexican. Enjoy this limited production 100% Malbec from Walla Walla.”
DOWNLOAD FACT SHEET
Retail price: $40 | Member price: $32   REORDER »

CLUB SELECTION FOOD PAIRINGS

The rustic 2008 Malbec wine will complement a variety of foods including barbeque, Italian, Cajun, and Mexican. We recently tried the Malbec with some delicious Indian food (not too spicy) and it paired amazingly well. The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon is a bigger, yet elegant wine that will enhance your end of summer grilling fare — Flat Iron, Rib Eye or Porterhouse steak, BBQ ribs or even grilled lamb chops.

RECENT ACCLAIM

2007 Merlot Walla Walla Valley  |  BUY
#48 — "100 Best Washington Wines"
Seattle Met Magazine, September, 2011
Rated — "Outstanding"
Wine Press Northwest, August, 2011

2007 Merlot Columbia Valley  |  BUY
#62 — "100 Best Washington Wines"
Seattle Met Magazine, September, 2011
Rated — "Excellent"
Wine Press Northwest, August, 2011
90pts and "Outstanding"
Tasting Panel Magazine, July, 2011

2006 Merlot Walla Walla Valley
Included on list of "11 Striking Merlots"
SIP Northwest Magazine, August, 2011

Summer Selections
Club Wine Food Pairings
Recent Acclaim
Upcoming Events
Merlot Camp
Club Member News

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17th
4:30pm
Club Harvest Party
This year begins with appetizers and wine, as a cooper from Seguin Moreau demonstrates the barrel-making process. At 6pm enjoy live music and the dinner feast prepared especially for us by Cheese Louise Chef Tamara Krieger. Wine club members receive two complimentary tickets, each additional guest is $50. Call today to make your reservation.

FRIDAY, November 4th
5:00pm
Wine Club Blending Seminar
Sample Merlot from some of our very best vineyards. Put together your own blend and see how it compares to the Northstar blend. Merf will be here to talk about each vineyard and the blending process. Seminar fee is $30/person. Check the website for more details as we get closer to Fall Release Weekend.

FRIDAY, November 4th
6:30pm
Wine Club Reception
This weekend we will be releasing the 2008 Columbia Valley Merlot and the 2008 Walla Walla Valley Merlot. Stop by the winery for a tasting of the new wines, appetizers and a 2011 harvest update. Reception is free to wine club members.

FRIDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAY, November 4th, 5th & 6th
Fall Release Weekend
Stop by the winery to try our newest releases, 2008 Walla Walla Merlot and 2008 Columbia Valley Merlot. Don't miss the famous cheese table while you are here as well. We are open Friday and Saturday 10am-4pm and Sunday 11am-4pm. Tasting fee is $8 and includes a complimentary logo glass. No fee for wine club members.

Learn more at our website Events Calendar

Tasting Room Hours
Monday through Saturday: 10:00am-4:00pm
Sunday: 11:00am-4:00pm

Washington Merlot was on the minds — and lips — of campers at Northstar Merlot Camp, held at the winery in Walla Walla July 25th-27th. Led by Northstar winemaker David “Merf” Merfeld, wine writers and trade guests from across the country experienced the making of Northstar’s highly acclaimed Merlots from vine to glass, learning why Washington has emerged as one of the most exciting regions for the variety from one of the state’s premier Merlot producers.

Highlights of the Camp included:

• Visits to Klipsun Vineyard on Red Mountain and Anna Marie Vineyard in Walla Walla
• A tannin management exercise in Northstar’s cutting edge research lab
• A stylistic comparison tasting of Merlots from around the world
• A blending seminar where campers experimented with their own Merlot blends using key component wines from Merf’s “spice rack.”

Merlot Campers also had the unique opportunity to taste the initial blend for Northstar’s new, ultra-premium Merlot, known as “The Big Dipper,” which will release in fall 2012.

CLUB MEMBER NEWS

Our big news for the wine club? The wine club just became even more exclusive as we are now officially closed for new membership! To assure that we can continue to provide enough of our superior wine for all our valued club members, we have made the difficult decision to “cap” the club at the current number of members.

At this time, a waiting list option is available. As an existing club member, if you elect to drop out of the club, but later wish to reactivate your membership, you will be required to join the waiting list and wait your turn for re-entry. Taking this bold step will ensure that you continue to enjoy the unparalleled quality, variety and exclusivity to which you've become accustomed.

We are looking forward to Fall in the tasting room and all the fun events coming our way. September 17th is the Wine Club Harvest Party. This year we are very excited to have a representative from Seguin Moreau Napa Cooperage here to do a barrel-making demonstration. He will start the demo at 4:30pm and we will serve dinner on the lawn at 6:00pm. Call today to make your reservations.

November brings Fall Release Weekend and the release of our 2008 Columbia Valley Merlot and 2008 Walla Walla Valley Merlot. We will also be hosting our first ever Wine Club Blending Seminar this weekend. Join us on Friday, November 4th to taste single vineyard Merlot from some of our best vineyard sites and learn how we use those to make the final blend for our fabulous Merlots. Then stick around for the Wine Club Reception to be the very first to try the new wines, sample appetizers created by Cheese Louise chef Tamara Krieger, and listen to live music in the tasting room.

We're looking forward to a great Fall and harvest season; come out to the tasting room and say hello! Don't forget to check the website for updates on all wine club events and news.

Lindsey Dennis, Guest Services/Wine Club