Walla Walla 2015 – early, hot but good

Like many wine regions around the world, Walla Walla in Washington state had its earliest harvest on record in 2015. Even so, producers throughout the Valley are happy with wine quality and most especially with the region’s three most-planted varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. Early reports indicate that the vintage’s wines are already showing well overall. 

While both 2014 and 2015 were hot years, 2015 avoided the excessive heat spikes of the earlier vintage and allowed vines to adjust to high temperatures and continue a more...