2019 Louwala Columbia Valley, Washington Syrah

More recently, they’ve become more and more influential in the state of Washington. These are men and women who embrace wine grape varieties that trace their history to the Rhone region of France.

Syrah is perhaps the most famous of the red Rhone grapes. It’s a spicy, rich, complex varietal that can be transformed into big, dark, intensely concentrated wines. Like the vast majority of wines crafted in Washington, the 2019 Louwala Syrah hails from the Columbia Valley, which is home to nearly 60,000 acres of wine grape vineyards.

There, the vineyards are planted predominately on south-facing slopes, increasing solar radiation in summer and promoting air drainage in winter. Following the 2019 harvest, perfectly ripened Columbia Valley Syrah grapes were placed in the capable hands of acclaimed winemaker Gordon Hill, who transformed them into a wonderfully complex and delicious Rhone-style wine.