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52 / the tasting panel / january–february 2010 coVer Story Holly Turner Winemaker, Three Rivers Winery, Walla Walla, WA having spent more than a decade as winemaker at Three rivers Winery in Walla Walla, Washington, holly Turner has witnessed an explosion of wine culture in Washington State and in Walla Walla valley in particular. Three rivers, located just a few miles southwest of Walla Walla's thriving town center, is poised to hit some new watermarks of its own. in February 2008, the winery became part of the Foley Family Wines portfolio and is now making its debut as a national brand. "Three rivers has a very solid regional following, and we're excited about seeing our wines reach a much larger audience," says holly, who has seen an astounding seventy percent leap in wine club sales with an emphasis on reserve wines over the last two years. "We are definitely evolving our consumers; they enjoy our rivers red as an everyday wine, but they are coming to the winery in search of our reserve and tasting room wines." That trip will be made even easier during the peak months of march through September with the expansion of nearby highway 12 and a new exit to the winery. Three rivers is well known for its single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon and merlot, sourced from Champoux vineyards in horse heaven hills, and for Cabernet Franc now sourced from the Weinbau vineyard in Wahluke Slope; both sites proffer concentrated varietal expression, vibrant acidity and underlying minerality that distinguish them from lesser vineyards. Flagship wine: Svelte, an aptly-named blend of Petit verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo and malbec that spends a lavish 28 months in new oak is tops on Turner's current list of favorite wines. The components of this regional blend are beautifully married by well-integrated oak for a wine that's as innovative and successful as holly herself. —D.P.W. PHOTO: DEBORAH PARKER WONG Holly Turner. Katy Leese Co-Founder, 585 Wine Partners, Sonoma Katy leese says her love of wine sprang from her close relationship with someone who works in wine—her husband dan leese was formerly President of Beringer Blass Wine estates. "it was a dream of ours to do something together in the wine business," she muses in retrospect. "We work well together ; it's a nice combination of the male and female attributes." Katy has grown gracefully into her busy role as director of Public relations and Packag- ing (among other tasks) at 585 Wine Partners, the company she co-founded in 2005 with dan and their partners, doug and Becky Walker. Katy's background as a professional interior designer gave her the right artistic eye to oversee the creation of the labels for the group's brands, which include freewheeling red Truck, russian river–based Picket Fence and zippy italian import Bivio. Katy's favorite project is the company's most eco-conscious brand, the all-organic green Truck. "We were very excited about the whole organic side of winemaking," says Katy, "and are completely committed to it now." having secured long-term contracts with three well- known mendocino County organic growers, Katy notes that 585 Wine Partners can now boast being the country's largest producer of wines made from organically grown grapes. The entire line-up of 585 Wine Partners brands will be transitioning this y ear to Saint-gobain eco Series bottles made from recycled glass (which also happen to be lighter, saving on shipping costs) as well as labels made from recycled paper. Flagship wine: " The green Truck Petite Sirah, mendocino County [SrP $12] is doing really well," says Katy. "This is a varietal that a lot of people are clearly in love with, but others are unfamiliar with. When you pour it in the glass, you say "Wow! look at that color!" —D.G. Katy Leese. PHOTO: RYAN LELY PHOTO: RYAN LELY