Forgeron Cellars
If you’re a fan of chardonnay, your ship has come in — and docked at Forgeron Cellars. Early on, winemaker and co-owner Marie-Eve Gilla insisted that Forgeron Cellars make chardonnay. At the time, this decision was somewhat controversial; after all, Walla Walla is mecca for big, intense reds. Fortunately, for the other 50-plus investors in Forgeron, she got her way. Today, if you ask the locals where to find great chardonnay, they would steer you to Forgeron. With chardonnay production at 1,400 cases a year to meet demand, those same investors are celebrating Marie-Eve’s success.
Forgeron’s chardonnay is made from Columbia Valley grapes, using neutral French oak to create luscious “variety expressive” chardonnay. The fact is Marie-Eve happens to hail from the part of France that’s famous for its chardonnay: Burgundy, where the white wines of Chablis and Côte de Beaune enjoy a bit of a reputation. When I taste her chardonnay, my mind immediately goes into “foodie” mode with thoughts of chicken, seafood and summer salads. Priced in the mid-$20 range, her exquisite chardonnay is an affordable luxury.
However, if you are a devotee of red wines, Forgeron Cellars will not disappoint. After all, three-quarters of the wines produced at Forgeron are red — bold, layered, fruit-forward explosions with lingering finishes. In fact, it’s Marie-Eve’s Bordeaux blends, her syrah and her barbera that get many a visitor to join the winery’s Anvil Wine Club — that, and the fact that the wine club offers a number of primo benefits.
Colorful flags adorn the winery entrance and serve as a landmark for WineTrail seekers. As you step into Forgeron’s tasting room, you will most likely find yourself in the presence of a dog; the Lab’s name is Salsa. A Mexican crew working in one of the vineyards discovered the lost dog and fed her tortilla chips. When Marie-Eve came to the dog’s rescue and offered her a home, she named her Salsa.
Forgeron’s winery/tasting room was once the site of a blacksmith’s workshop, hence its name, which is French for “blacksmith.” Rumor has it that horseshoes were discovered during the renovation of the former blacksmithy. As you are swirling, sipping, and yakking with the friendly staff, you might just ask to see one of the horseshoes. Some of the good luck it has brought Forgeron is bound to rub off.
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Forgeron Cellars was featured in WineTrails of Washington as part of the Walla Walla Downtown WineTrail on page 448!
