Wine Tasting – Abeja Winery

Our next tasting event will feature the extraordinary wines from Abeja Winery in Walla Walla, Washington! Join us on Saturday, March 1, at 4 p.m. when Abeja National Sales Manager Mark Rowan leads us through a lineup of five fantastic wines.

Abeja is located on a beautifully restored century-old farmstead in the foothills of the Blue Mountains, four miles east of Walla Walla, Washington. The 38-acre site is home to both the celebrated Abeja winery and The Inn at Abeja. Abeja founders Ken and Ginger Harrison came to Walla Walla Valley in the late 1990s in search of land suitable for planting world class Cabernet Sauvignon. They purchased the old farmstead site in 2000 and planted their first grapes in 2001. Not only was the property suited for grape growing and winemaking, but by restoring the farmstead’s existing buildings, the Harrisons saw the opportunity to preserve the property’s rich heritage while creating a one-of-a-kind Walla Walla wine country destination.

Spanish for bee, the name Abeja (pronounced ‘ah-BAY-ha’) was chosen to honor a deep-rooted respect for the environment. Abeja winemakers Daniel Wampfler and Amy Alvarez-Wampfler produce handcrafted wines that are the result of meticulous viticultural practices; customized, small lot fermentation and aging; and selective blending. At his event, we will have the opportunity to sample five of Abeja’s estate-grown wines made from sustainably farmed grapes grown on multiple Walla Walla vineyard sites.

TASTING LINEUP:

Abeja Chardonnay 2022
This rich and expressive nose opens with a bouquet of lemon curd, white nectarine, chamomile, flint and vanilla. The nicely weighted palate boasts bright flavors and complementing acidity with notes of crisp Rome apples. Full, ripe peach continue to build upon layers of citrus, pineapple and a dash of salted caramel that culminate in a flavorsome, mouthcoating finish. 

Abeja Beekeepers Red 2022 
Generous aromas of blackberry with cinnamon and fresh mint greet the nose and are mirrored on the plentiful palate loaded with ripe black and red fruits. Intriguing notes of licorice, black tea, and violets emerge next, building depth and complexity. This juicy blend is a deep ruby color, with a moderate body, powdery tannins, and a long-lasting finish.
82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 4% Malbec

Abeja Merlot 2022 
A generous nose loaded with ripe plum is layered with complex aromas of baking spice, earth, and rose. The plum-hued glass boasts a palate led by a fresh strawberry, which opens onto a moderate body with powdery tannins and fresh acidity. Next, layers of rhubarb, black pepper, and cloves mingle with savory undertones of sage and olive, which continue to evolve throughout a lengthy finish.

Abeja Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Crushed blackberries greet the nose with a minty freshness intertwined with warming vanillins and rich umami undertones. The broad entry is filled with a medley of crushed berries and stone fruits. The palate is firm but elegantly structured, promising enjoyment from now well into the years ahead. Layers of nocino, cocoa, and Oolong tea bring further intricacies to the dark fruits, leading into a full and drawn-out finish.

Abeja Heather Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
The fragrance of crushed boysenberries opens on the nose with complexities of vanilla bean, and tobacco leaf. The palate is expressive and well-structured with velvety tannins and satisfying acidity. A mouthwatering entry of pomegranate glides into savory undertones of black olive and sage as sophisticated layers of ripe fruit come together and persist throughout a long, mouth-filling finish.