I’ve been watching the progress of the Otis Kenyon Wine tasting room move along by stopping in at Village Wines to do a tasting or two. I just received a press release with some more information on Otis Kenyon and that they intend on opening sometime in the middle of April.
Walla Walla Winery Brings its Sizzling History and Award-Winning Wines West of the Cascades in April
WOODINVILLE, Wash.—(March 9, 2010) — Otis Kenyon Wine will unveil its Woodinville tasting room in April, providing the greater Seattle-Eastside environs easy access to their award-winning vintages.
The new tasting room will be situated in Apple Farm Village, a complex located at 14525 148th Ave. N.E., near the landmark Hollywood School on the west side of 148th Avenue.
In making the trek to Woodinville Wine Country, Otis Kenyon is joining the ranks of many other Walla Walla-based tasting rooms, such as Dusted Valley Winery, Gifford Hirlinger and the soon-to-open Pepper Bridge Winery. Last year alone, Woodinville generated $2.8 million revenue in wine production and welcomed 13 new tasting rooms; up to 10 more are expected to open in 2010.
The area is experiencing such rapid growth, space has become increasingly limited. When the 958 square foot tasting room became available at Apple Farm Village, even a bit off the beaten track, owners Stephen Kenyon and Deborah Dunbar jumped at the opportunity.
“The new tasting room will never replace the historic look and feel of our Walla Walla tasting room or the experience of touring in wine country,” said Kenyon. “However, Woodinville has a lot to offer as far as convenience and wine tourism traffic. We look forward to introducing Otis Kenyon Wine to the community.”
The tasting room will be open and ready to welcome the over 4,000 oenophiles set to descend on the area for the ninth annual Passport to Woodinville wine event scheduled for April 17 and 18. Otis Kenyon will offer four of its award-winning red wines, including the 2006 Merlot ($30), which landed a coveted spot on Paul Gregutt’s 100 Top Washington Wines list and the 2007 Matchless Red ($23), which has gained a cult following due to its cheeky reference to the incendiary Kenyon family history, which involves arson, estrangement and redemption.
Nearly a century ago, dentist James Otis Kenyon achieved notoriety by burning down a rival’s office. Fifty years after the legendary arson and his subsequent estrangement, grandson Stephen Kenyon reunited the family before James passed away at the ripe old age of 101.
“No doubt about it, this family legend has enflamed our passion for wine-making,” said Kenyon. “The new tasting room will allow us to continue to tell the story and gain further exposure to those who wouldn’t normally head over to Walla Walla.”
Otis Kenyon is located at 23 E. Main St., Walla Walla, Wash., and at 14525 148th Ave. N.E., Suite 111, Woodinville, Wash. and is named in tribute to four generations of Otis Kenyons. Established in 2004, the winery is dedicated to producing delicately structured and affordable wines under the direction of Winemaker Dave Stephenson. The two vineyard sites are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. Walla Walla tasting room hours are Thursday through Monday from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Woodinville tasting room hours are Friday through Sunday noon to 5 p.m. For more information visit www.otiskenyonwine.com. Follow us on Twitter at @otiskenyonwine and on Facebook.
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