Background: The seeds of Eastern Washington’s Valdemar Estate date back to 1889, when Joaquin Martínez Bujanda opened his first winery in northern Spain.    

The Valdemar family has now been making wine in La Rioja for five generations. Jesús Martinez Bujanda, who represents the fifth generation of the family, is now the owner and CEO of the estate. But he fell in love with the Walla Walla Valley while studying at the University of Washington and his passion for winemaking and for the region inspired him to create Valdemar Estates in 2019. The winery, which he runs with his sister Ana Martínez Bujanda, is the first internationally owned winery in Washington. Devyani Isabel Gupta, who has been with the winery since its beginning, is now Valdemar’s head winemaker and viticulturist.

Wine details: 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot, and 4% Syrah, aged 19 months in French oak, 29% new and 71% used. Sourced from Stone Valley, Pepper Bridge, Seven Hills, Dionysus, Klipsun, and Lefore vineyards.

Flavor profile: Smooth and fresh, with aromas of blackberries, plum, and cocoa, and savory, dark fruit flavors. It is a very graceful and elegant Cab.

Recommendation: Enjoy anytime over the next four or five years. It would pair well with meats, such as filet mignon, or a flank steak, but could also go with heartier vegetable dishes.

Background: After decades of work as a real estate developer and time spent travelling the world with his family, David Dufenhorst and his wife Michelle bought land in Orondo, Washington, north of Wenatchee, and began planting what eventually grew to 125 acres of estate vineyards along the Columbia River. They established Rocky Pond Winery in 2013 and today grow 24 different grape varieties in three vineyard sites. John Ware is president of the winery, providing knowledge and guidance from his 20-plus years of experience at Quilceda Creek. The wines are made by Elizabeth Keyser, former assistant winemaker at Hall Family Wines in Napa. The founders of Rocky Pond were instrumental in getting AVA status for Rocky Reach, which was certified in 2022. Its geology is unique in Washington, with granite cobblestone terraces, crystalline bedrock, and high silica and quartz mineral content.

Wine details: 51% Malbec and 49% Cabernet Sauvignon from their estate Rocky Reach and Double D vineyards, both in the Rocky Reach AVA. Rocky Reach was first planted in 2018 and gets regular afternoon winds from the Columbia River that moderate the temperature during the growing season. Double D, first planted in 2013, has windblown sand and silt soil over cobblestone. The wine was aged 20 to 22 months in 35% new oak. 1,295 cases made.

Flavor profile: Dark, well structured, and complex, with inviting texture and flavors of black currant and cherries and hints of spice and cocoa. The Cab and Malbec are perfectly balanced and reflect the unique terroir of the Rocky Reach AVA with fresh minerality, focus, and fine tannins.

Recommendation: Enjoy anytime over the next five years. It is a versatile wine that could pair with a wide variety of foods. Grilled meat with chimichurri sauce comes to mind.