Itä – Reinventing Walla Walla Wines
How can a new startup micro-boutique compete with the big guys in W2? Here is one woman's creative approach.
One new winery garnering a lot of local buzz is itä, and owner/winemaker Kelsey Albro Itämeri paid me a visit a short while ago with a half dozen of her current releases. What impressed me immediately were the two different takes on Sémillon, a grape rarely found here. Surveying the whole portfolio, principally sourced from the Les Collines vineyard, I couldn't help but note that Kelsey, like some other recent arrivals on the scene, was breaking the boundaries of making the usual wines from the usual vineyards, and doing so in very creative ways.
I’ve posted a most interesting conversation with Kelsey along with reviews of six current releases from itä on www.paulgwine.com. Also a delicious Albariño at an affordable price from Abacela. More tasting Abacela tasting notes will go up here on Substack later this week. Please encourage your friends and co-workers to sign up for a free subscription!