But what I really craved was a good wine. I looked over the list, considering a bottle, but thinking it would be smarter to order by the glass. The meal as a whole could pair with a variety of wines. What did I really want? Red. A smooth, balanced, yummy red wine.

May 1, 2009 is the official release date of the Abeja 2007 House Red (formerly Beekeeper’s Blend), yet much to my delight, T. Maccarone’s is already serving it by the glass. One of the perks of living in Walla Walla—potential early release.

I’ve been a fan of Abeja for years and the House Red is just as good as I hoped. Smooth, solid (as in well balanced), and full of love. Although not the most pricey on the list, it was exactly what I craved. I ordered another glass.

The Abeja red table wine is a cabernet sauvignon based blend with some merlot, cabernet franc, and malbec. Each vintage has slight variations, but I’m excited to say the 2007 is as good as any I’ve tried. It’s drinking beautifully right out of the gates—or hive. Those bees must be happy. Don’t let the name change fool you, this House Red is the same wonderful wine you’ve come to expect from Abeja.

I left feeling happy, well spoiled and thrilled to live just a few miles from Abeja, a source of great content. Look for this wine after May 1. And for those of you coming to town for Spring Release 2009 (the first weekend in May), look for a lot of exciting new releases. It looks to be another good year.