Victor Palencia owns Palencia Wine Co. in Walla Walla. His 2014 Grenache won best in show at the 2017 Walla Walla Valley Wine Competition. (Photo by Andy Perdue/Great Northwest Wine)

Victor Palencia owns Palencia Wine Co. in Walla Walla. His 2014 Grenache won best in show at the 2017 Walla Walla Valley Wine Competition. (Photo by Andy Perdue/Great Northwest Wine)

Grenache shines at Walla Walla Valley Wine Competition

WALLA WALLA — Victor Palencia, a wunderkind of the Washington wine industry, paced the fifth annual Walla Walla Valley Wine Competition with five gold medals, led by his Palencia Winery 2014 grenache as best of show.

“Wow, I have been drinking that wine pretty aggressively,” Palencia said with a chuckle. “The grenache is doing really well, and I know the wine club took a big chunk of it. It’s all extremely humbling.”

A record number of 36 wineries combined to enter 125 wines in the competition that also serves as fundraiser for the viticulture and enology program at Walla Walla Community College. The judging is a collaborative effort by Great Northwest Wine and WWCC’s College Cellars.

Palencia, 32, was a part of the first graduating class from Walla Walla Community College, and he wasn’t the only Latin winemaker from the College Cellars program to shine at the June 13 judging. One of his classmates, Amy Alvarez-Wampfler, helped Sinclair Estate Vineyard lay claim to three double gold medals for red wines from the 2013 vintage and best red blend for its 2013 Vixen. She joined her winemaking husband, Daniel Wampfler, at Abeja after the 2015 crush.

Johnson Ridge — formerly Walla Faces — has the acclaimed Chris Camarda as its consulting winemaker, however the day-to-day winemaking is handled by Victor de la Luz, who is continuing his education with a few classes at College Cellars.

“I call him ‘Victor Two,’ ” Palencia chuckled. “I’m so excited for him.”

Adamant Cellars won the award for best white wine, a scintillating 2016 Albarino from Gateshead Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley near Pepper Bridge Vineyard. It marked Devin Stinger’s fifth commercial vintage with the white Spanish grape.

“When people have been tasting all day around Walla Walla, it’s red, red, red,” Stinger said. “We’ve got crisp white wines to offer, and our wine club eats it up.”

Grantwood Winery, a tiny husband/wife operation west of downtown Walla Walla, came away with four gold medals, which included three best of class awards and two unanimous double golds.

Zerba Cellars also won four gold medals. Balboa and Beresan wineries, two brands that recently merged under Thomas and Amy Glase, combined to win four gold medals.

Here are the three top wines from the 2017 Walla Walla Wine Competition:

Palencia Winery 2014 Grenache Yakima Valley, $36: Winemaker/owner Victor Palencia has shown a touch with Rhone red varieties, as evidenced with this suburb grenache from the cooler Yakima Valley. Aromas of gorgeous high-toned red fruit, followed by nicely integrated black pepper, cherry cola, black currant and fresh-picked raspberries. Notes of fresh cedar and incredibly peppery. This won best red and best of show at the 2017 Walla Walla Wine Competition. (14.5 % alcohol)

Adamant Cellars 2016 Albarino Walla Walla Valley, $25: Each year, we are seeing more and more winemakers embracing this exciting Spanish variety, and with great results. This stunning example unveils aromas and flavors of lime zest, pear, apple and racy minerality, backed by perfect acidity. A perfect pairing with crab dip or any grilled salmon. This won best white at the 2017 Walla Walla Wine Competition. (13.6 %)

Browne Family Vineyards 2016 Grenache Rose Columbia Valley, $19: Grenache in all its forms is proving itself great in Washington, and this example from Browne Family is among the best we’ve tasted, thanks to compelling aromas and flavors of strawberry, a hint of cinnamon and nectarine. Mouthwatering acidity makes this a perfect wine all summer long. This earned best rose at the 2017 Walla Walla Wine Competition. (13.1%)

Eric Degerman and Andy Perdue run Great Northwest Wine, an award-winning media company. Learn more about wine at www.greatnorthwestwine.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Brandon Hailey of Cytrus, center, plays the saxophone during a headlining show at Madam Lou’s on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lynnwood-based funk octet Cytrus has the juice

Resilience and brotherhood take center stage with ‘friends-first’ band.

FILE - In this April 11, 2014 file photo, Neko Case performs at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif. Fire investigators are looking for the cause of a fire on Monday, Sept. 18, 2017, that heavily damaged Case’s 225-year-old Vermont home. There were no injuries, though a barn was destroyed. It took firefighters two hours to extinguish the blaze. (Photo by Scott Roth/Invision/AP, File)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Singer-songwriter Neko Case, an indie music icon from Tacoma, performs Sunday in Edmonds.

Sarah Jean Muncey-Gordon puts on some BITCHSTIX lip oil at Bandbox Beauty Supply on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, in Langley, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Bandbox Beauty was made for Whidbey Island locals, by an island local

Founder Sarah Muncey-Gordon said Langley is in a renaissance, and she’s proud to be a part of it.

Dominic Arizona Bonuccelli
Tangier’s market boasts piles of fruits, veggies, and olives, countless varieties of bread, and nonperishables, like clothing and electronics.
Rick Steves on the cultural kaleidoscope of Tangier in Morocco

Walking through the city, I think to myself, “How could anyone be in southern Spain — so close — and not hop over to experience this wonderland?”

chris elliott.
Vrbo promised to cover her rental bill in Hawaii, so why won’t it?

When Cheryl Mander’s Vrbo rental in Hawaii is uninhabitable, the rental platform agrees to cover her new accommodations. But then it backs out. What happened?

Byrds co-founder Roger McGuinn, seen here in 2013, will perform April 20 in Edmonds. (Associated Press)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

R0ck ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer Roger McGuinn, frontman of The Byrds, plans a gig in Edmonds in April.

Mother giving in to the manipulation her daughter fake crying for candy
Can children be bribed into good behavior?

Only in the short term. What we want to do is promote good habits over the course of the child’s life.

Speech Bubble Puzzle and Discussion
When conflict flares, keep calm and stand your ground

Most adults don’t like dissension. They avoid it, try to get around it, under it, or over it.

The colorful Nyhavn neighborhood is the place to moor on a sunny day in Copenhagen. (Cameron Hewitt)
Rick Steves: Embrace hygge and save cash in Copenhagen

Where else would Hans Christian Andersen, a mermaid statue and lovingly decorated open-face sandwiches be the icons of a major capital?

Last Call is a festured artist at the 2024 DeMiero Jazz Festival: in Edmonds. (Photo provided by DeMiero Jazz Festival)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Jazz ensemble Last Call is one of the featured artists at the DeMiero Jazz Festival on March 7-9 in Edmonds.

Kim Helleren
Local children’s author to read at Edmonds Bookshop

Kim Helleren will read from one of her books for kids at the next monthly Story Time at Edmonds Bookshop on March 29.

Chris Elliott
Lyft surprises traveler with a $150 cleaning charge

Jared Hakimi finds a $150 charge on his credit card after a Lyft ride. Is that allowed? And will the charge stick?

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.