| Modern day Italian winemakers in the Walla Walla area following in their ancestors footsteps | | | | By: Nick Tomassi | << back  Page 2 of 2 |
Other Italians who got to Seattle often came after a short stop in California. They found to their delight that it was quite possible to enjoy the benefits of city and country life at the same time. They could make good wages in construction and in the mills and, following Italian family tradition, have gardens, rabbits and chickens in the yards of the single family homes that even working men could afford in this still spacious city.
They arranged with their family and friends in California to send train boxcar loads of Zinfandel grapes from places like Lodi, so they could make their homemade wine. Bringing grapes in by the boxcar apparently continues to this day. In fact, during grape harvest in Eastern Washington, grapes by the truckload are known to find their way to the Seattle Tacoma area for the Italian home winemakers.
Finally, a word about the producers of Italian varietals that can be found on store shelves today:
Sangiovese producers include Leonetti Cellar, Walla Walla Vintners and Yellowhawk Winery in Walla Walla, Andrew Will Winery, Vashon Island, Tefft Cellars, Outlook, Columbia Winery, Woodinville; Nebbiolo: Tefft Cellars, Cavatappi Winery, Kirkland; Barbera: Columbia Winery, Cascade Cliffs, Wishram, Woodward Canyon, Lowden; Dolcetto: Woodward Canyon, Morrison Lane, Walla Walla. The list is probably not complete, but they show the most notable producers.
About the Author:
Nick is a Connecticut Yankee, transplanted to the Pacific Northwest by a tour in the Air Force. Childhood in Connecticut with a huge Italian extended family taught him about good food, great wine and Italian opera. Approaching retirement as a civilian Test Engineer for the Navy, he returned to his love of wine and food, learning about what the Northwest had to offer. He is a freelance wine, beer, spirits and food writer for various publications, and teaches wine classes on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State.
Website URL: www.tomassiwinecabinet.com
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