The Wine Knows

Fans of Walla Walla's Bunchgrass Winery probably should stop in this weekend because Roger Cockerline is retiring as soon as the 2005 vintage is sold.

Cockerline, a retired educator who started the small-production winery in 1997, is in his mid-60s and has decided to move on. He produced a few gallons from the 2006 vintage for personal consumption.

Cockerline, whose winery is along the highway west of town, told me this morning that he expects the 2005 vintage to be sold within the next couple of weekends - Spring Release is this weekend, and the Walla Walla Balloon Stampede follows on its heels, so lots of visitors will be traveling down the Highway 12 in the next 10 days.

Bunchgrass has always focused on red wines from Walla Walla Valley fruit. Cockerline's two main wines are Cabernet Sauvignon and Founder's Blend, which is a Cabernet Franc-based blend (with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon). Bunchgrass rarely makes more than a few hundred cases per vintage.

In 2003, Bunchgrass's 2000 Cab earned a Platinum in Wine Press Northwest's best-of-the-best Platinum Judging. In 2004, Cockerline stayed true to his Walla Walla Valley roots and made almost no wine, thanks to the lack of fruit because of the devastating winter freeze that year.

Even if you don't plan to buy any Bunchgrass wine, take a few minutes to stop by and say hello to Cockerline. He's one of the nicest people in the business.