Forget about the music, the barrel-making demonstrations and the outdoor massages in the middle of a vineyard.

At Tamarack Cellars owner Ron Coleman said the draw is what’s in the barrels.

“We just made great wine again,” Coleman said, explaining why he believes his crowds were up from the previous Spring Release weekend.

Though the entertainment factor was minimal for his and the next-door wineries, Revelry and Mannina, the crowds were plentiful, especially when a bus loaded with Pasco tourists were dropped off.

“It comes in waves. This is a big time of year, a busy season … We had a very good, busy Thursday and Friday. So it has been a very good weekend,” Coleman said.

One of the reasons the tour buses like to stop in front of Tamarack, Mannina and Revelry wineries is because all three are a short walk from each other.

At Revelry Cellars, a downpour sent a covey of the Pasco tourists rushing through the door to get out of the rain. What followed was a mad rush for glasses and pourings, and the crowd slowly meandered into the overflow room, where food was served.

Next door at Mannina, the roll-up door was kept open, revealing a stunning view of the Blue Mountains over green wheat fields.

More than 100 wineries are expected to participate in Spring Release activities. Many will offer food and some will provide live music to draw in crowds.

Over in the vineyards of Tero Estates and Flying Trout wineries, 52015 Seven Hills Road, Milton-Freewater, pastries and massages are part of the program today.

A master barrel-making demonstrations will also take place today at Watermill Winery, 235 E. Broadway, Milton-Freewater, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Most wineries will extend their normal operating hours today, and some will even be open early and late on Monday.

It’s that time of year again, when we make our lists and we check them twice, trying to find out which wines are naughty or nice.  That’s right.  It’s Spring Release in Walla Walla!

We love our wine tourists from near and far.  We want you to get the most of your Spring Release Weekend.  Now, you have probably heard all of these tips from me before, but here are some easy Do’s and Don’ts to ensure a great weekend for you and everybody.

Do hydrate-hydrate-hydrate. Drink lots of water and your head will thank you for it.

Do eat a big breakfast.  This isn’t the time to be all dainty and munch on a granola bar.  You are going to need some fuel to contain the wine so make it a biscuits-and-sausage gravy-kind of breakfast. Okay, if you insist, make it a Kobe beef striploin, foie gras hash browns and quail eggs paired with espresso.  But you get my point.

Do step away from the fragrance.  You may not be able to smell yourself, but everyone in the tasting room can, making their Merlot taste like grandpa’s “Old Spice.”

Don’t forget a designated driver.  And seriously, even if you have a designated driver, what is the point of visiting 15 wineries in one day?  Even after five wineries the palate begins to fatigue after several tastes and you become obnoxious.  So pimp the ride, but un-pimp the ‘tude.

Do keep your cell phone ring off and if you must keep it on so your Secret Service people can keep track of you (because we know how important you are), at least keep it on vibrate.  And if you must talk on your phone, please take it outside so your call doesn’t distract from the tasting room ambiance.  Nobody wants to hear about how many poo-poos Johnny made in his diaper.

Do keep an open your mind to wine. Seriously. Don’t be turning your nose up at the tasting room staff when they ask if you would like to try a chardonnay, riesling or a pretty pink rosé. Taste it. Who knows? You might even like it. And it’s okay for real men to drink rosés. Really.

Do join a wine club.  There are many great wine clubs in the Walla Walla Valley offering affordable memberships with discounts and special one of a kind releases.  It’s also a great way to get in on some fabulous wine club events that will leave long lasting memories.

And one more thing.  In the words of  Robert Fulgham’s All I Really Need To Know I Learned in Kindergarten :  Share everything, play fair, don’t hit people, put things back where you found them, clean up your own mess, don’t take things that aren’t yours, hold hands when you cross the streets, say you’re sorry when you hurt somebody, wash your hands before you eat and flush.

Have a great time in the Walla Walla Valley!

Drink wine from one barrel while you watch another being made.

As part of its Spring Release festivities, Milton-Freewater’s Watermill Winery will host a master cooper who will demonstrate the art of barrel-making Sunday.

Douglas Rennie, a master cooper with Napa’s Sequin Moreau, will make a barrel on the patio as visitors stop in for wine.

The event at 235 E. Broadway Ave. runs 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Watermill will be “popping the corks” on four new releases that day as well as 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

This year I am only going to remind you of three things:

1. Review, memorize and apply the poem by Robert Fulghum, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten
2. Open your mind to wine. Seriously. Don’t be turning your nose up at a member of the tasting room staff when they ask if you would like to try a Chardonnay, Riesling or a pretty pink rosé. Taste it. Who knows? You might even like it. And it’s okay for real men to drink rosés. Really.
3. Have a wonderful time in our valley and make some great memories. There is so much to do this year! And for some ideas, check out the Walla Walla Wine Alliance or with Heather at Walla Walla Wine News.

Cheers!
C~

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It was the second annual Feast Walla Walla located in the beautiful and historical downtown Walla Walla. Inside the large tent, bringing tourists and locals together, there was an assortment of talented winemakers, chefs and artists showing their best and allowing us a taste or two – - or three… Proceeds from this fabulous event went the Downtown Walla Walla Foundation to continue their hard, and much appreciated, work.

Once we walked into the tent, we were given an etched glass commemorating the event, a plate to hold our “feast” and several tokens. The tokens were used towards nibbles and noshes and glasses of wine. Okay, so what was my favorite nosh? They were all my favorites! I sampled scallops wrapped in duck prosciutto, clam chowder, stuffed mushrooms with crab, crepes, Spanish Manchego cheese, chocolate, sweet potato gnocchi, and – and more! But I gotta tell ya – - the all-time swoon worthy was the crepes stuffed with beef tenderloin and chipotle dressing from T. Maccarone’s. And what wine did I drink?
Well, what wine didn’t I drink? I sampled wines from Flying Trout Wines, Cadaretta Winery, Va Piano, Sapolil Cellars, Forgeron Cellars, Lowden Hills, Morrison Lane, Mannina Cellars, Spring Valley Vineyards and – and – even more! I even sampled cool and refreshing hard cider from Blue Mountain Cider Company! Whew!

And now, after all of that fine food and glorious wine from Feast Walla Walla Past, I’ve been resting up the ol’ tastebuds because just around the corner is Spring Release Weekend, May 1-3. And once again I will be getting goose bumps thinking about all of the new vintages from fruits of many labors past and the bill o’ fare of fine food offerings. And when it is all over, it will seem like a wonderful dream, and thank goodness a dream where I wasn’t standing naked in the middle of a street or a winery or…