Terra Blanca Winery

I’ve spent some time sipping wine in old barns, dark basements and converted garages.
Wineries often pop open their first tasting rooms in just about any space they can find/afford. There’s a lot of charm to be found in off-label buildings. They can make you feel like you’re onto something secret and undiscovered. I’ve always found that appealing in a wine.

But there’s also a lot of charm in a fabulous chateau. Beautiful surroundings don’t necessarily make the wine taste better, of course, but they can certainly make me feel glamorous, and I’ve always found that appealing in a winery. Of course, I also like good wine in a winery. And I’m really happy when I stumble into good wine served in a beautiful chateau.

So let me introduce you to Terra Blanca Winery and Estate Vineyard.

This is one boffo tasting room,

with an alluring Mediterranean appeal,

 and some stunning views.

That’s the back side of the Horse Heaven Hills in the background, across the valley from Red Mountain, where Terra Blanca is planted. This tiny little AVA (Washington’s smallest) produces some huge wines, as I’ve mentioned before. Terra Blanca’s wines have attracted a loyal following and many awards. The massive manse grabs a lot of attention, but the real story is in the vineyard. Owner and winemaker Keith Pilgrim has planted more than 60 different varieties or clones that aren’t found anywhere else in the state. He’s searching for the best his vineyard can produce. Terra Blanca bottles around 32,000 cases a year of distinctive Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Chenin Blanc, as well as a premium blend called Onyx. The estate also yields Bordeaux varieties like Malbec, Petite Verdot and Cabernet Franc, along with a sampling of Sangiovese, Dolcetta and Barberra.

Pilgrim says the Cabernet is spectacular (this is Red Mountain, after all), but he’s also been pleasantly surprised by the intensity of the Marsanne, a grape that usually thrives in cooler climates.

In all Terra Blanca wines, look for what Pilgrim calls the Red Mountain signatures -- a chalkiness on the front of the palate before you taste the tannins on the roof of the mouth; a candied orange flavor, like Grand Marnier; and in Cabernet, a violet perfume opening up into the whole range of black fruits, moving very quickly into black cherry, blackberry and chocolate aromas.

Hungry yet? Wait, there’s more. Pilgrim says he has unearthed a lot of different flavors in various Syrah clones, from wild blueberry and huckleberry, to white pepper, and on to leather, tobacco and bacon fat.

Mmmmm. You had me at bacon fat. And chocolate. All at the same time.  Like this:

(This beautiful confection, created by the magicians at Tee & Cakes in  Boulder, Colorado, has nothing whatsoever to do with Terra Blanca wines, other than it captures in one very real mouthful the flavors Cabernet Sauvignon evokes.  Fun, yes?  But not available at Terra Blanca's tasting room.) 

Instead, you can enjoy complementary tastings of your choice of three wines, or choose a $5 flight (a white flight, Red Mountain reds, Winemaker’s choice, or a Dessert flight). The $5 fee is refundable with a purchase of wine.