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McCrea Cellars | Rainier, WA 98576 |
www.mccreacellars.com
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11515 Eagleview Lane Rainier, WA 98576 (206) 938-8643 Fax : 206 932-6562 Email: mccreawine@aol.com
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We've pioneered Rhone varietals in Washington for over two decades. In partnership with several dedicated growers, we began with a vision, believing that these grape vines would succeed in an unproven region. Today ten varietals thrive, an unprecedented achievement in our State. The wines from these plantings have exceptional quality and accurately reflect the distinctive flavors of their Rhone Valley predecessors. Our story is not about a winery alone, but about relationships with inspired growers who believe in our passion and were willing to take risk. Our first Rhone wine came from an old Grenache planting in the Columbia River Gorge. In 1990 we planted Syrah next to the Grenache, ultimately producing the State's first Rhone-style blend, naming it "Tierra del Sol." From this site we released our first Syrah from the 1994 vintage in December of 1996, receiving exceptional recognition and reviews. This was the second Syrah ever produced in Washington State. In 1994, Jim Holmes, owner of Ciel du Cheval, planted both Syrah and Viognier. Also that year, we planted Syrah with Dick Boushey at what we now call the "Grande Cote", with first production in 1997 of the Ciel and Boushey Syrahs as well as the Viognier. When released, the reception of these wines by the trade and media was extremely supportive and scores were very good. Also, the Viognier was a first in the State. In 2000, Jim planted Mourvedre, Counoise, Roussanne and two additional clones of Syrah. From these vines we released the State's first Counoise and created a new Southern Rhone-style blend named "Sirocco", comprised of Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah and Counoise. In 2003 he added Grenache. Then in 2004, Dick planted Marsanne, Grenache Blanc, Picpoul and Cinsault at a site very near the "Grande Cote." Most of the cuttings for this vineyard were obtained from Tablas Creek Vineyards whose parent company is Chateau Beaucastle in Chateauneuf-du-Pape. The Ciel du Cheval Mourvedre, Counoise and Roussanne are also Beaucastle stock. A modest beginning with Grenache in 1989 has grown to over two dozen acres of ten Rhone varietals. Since the original plantings, we've now established a fourth wonderful source with Joe Hattrup who owns Elephant Mountain and Sugarloaf Vineyards, located at the western end of the Yakima Valley. From there we source Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre and small amounts of Counoise and Cinsault. Championing these grapes has required perseverance and careful site selection to assure their survival in Eastern Washington's cold winters. The State's volcanic, glacial soils, combined with the arid, desert climate provide an ideal setting for complex, fruit-driven wines. We're very proud to be at the forefront of this remarkable adventure. McCrea Cellars is owned and operated by two couples. Doug and Kim McCrea have their home at the winery site with their two sons, Kevin and Kalen. Sales and Marketing Manager Susan Neel lives in West Seattle with her husband Bob who serves as our operations manager and chief engineer. |
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Alternate Tasting Rooms:
........116 5th Avenue SE ........Olympia, WA 98951 ........ Open ... Info & Map ... Info & Map-2 ........ ........, ........ Open ... Info & Map ... Info & Map-2 . |
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Winemaker Doug McCrea |
I've been asked, "Why do you make Rhone varietal wines?" Something about the flavors of this family of grapes simply resonates in me beyond any other varietals. I'm drawn to their warm and rich personality, as well as to the indigenous grapes of Spain that are the origin of several Rhone varietals. Our family often enjoyed wine with dinner in my birthplace, New Orleans, and I find they particularly complement a wide array of foods with their easy-going nature and Mediterranean flair. I am drawn to a wine that connects to my primal nature. Rhone wines are like liquid soul food, they're rustic, inviting and hedonistic." Outside of winemaking, Doug McCrea is an accomplished classical and jazz musician having specialized in woodwinds. Upon leaving New Orleans, he attended college in the San Francisco Bay Area where he developed a career as an educator and professional musician. During that time he made many journeys to the wine country of Napa and Sonoma at a time when the California wine industry was just beginning to flourish. Doug moved to Washington State in 1980 and began to experiment with small lots of wine. He realized the State had excellent potential for producing exceptionally high quality wines after becoming familiar with some of the products of the founders of today's industry. While working at two early Woodinville wineries, Doug learned the technology of winemaking and developed "hands-on" experience. In 1988, he founded McCrea Cellars and the rest is Rhone wine history. "My winemaking philosophy is simple. Wine is fundamentally created in the vineyard. A winemaker senses the grapes' subtle flavors, nurturing and expanding these elements. Then, like musical improvisation, my personal expression results from many decisions throughout the development of the wine, beginning at crush and culminating in the final blends. Both music and winemaking possess a common bond, the opportunity to release creativity." As the late Jacques Perrin of Chateau Beaucastle once said "Do not search in a wine for the reflection of an exact science! The formulas of scientific enology are only a thin competition which does not know how to respect the mysteries of eternal creation." This is the great enigma of artistry, whether heard in a work of Mozart or captured in a crystal wineglass. |
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Red
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2008 Grenache
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Regular as of 05/15 |
Tastings by Appointment "The McCrea winery in Rainier is open for special events and by appointment only. McCrea wines can be tasted at the Olympia Wine Tasting Bar and at Urban Enoteca in Seattle.[" |
Red
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2009 Mourvedre
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Regular as of 02/17 |
Tastings by Appointment "The McCrea winery in Rainier is open for special events and by appointment only. McCrea wines can be tasted at the Olympia Wine Tasting Bar and at Urban Enoteca in Seattle.[" |
Red
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2011 Mourvedre
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Regular as of 05/14 |
Tastings by Appointment "The McCrea winery in Rainier is open for special events and by appointment only. McCrea wines can be tasted at the Olympia Wine Tasting Bar and at Urban Enoteca in Seattle.[" |
Red
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2008 Amerique Syrah
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Regular as of 01/12 |
Tastings by Appointment "The McCrea winery in Rainier is open for special events and by appointment only. McCrea wines can be tasted at the Olympia Wine Tasting Bar and at Urban Enoteca in Seattle.[" |
Red
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2008 Boushey Vineyard Syrah
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Regular as of 01/12 |
Tastings by Appointment "The McCrea winery in Rainier is open for special events and by appointment only. McCrea wines can be tasted at the Olympia Wine Tasting Bar and at Urban Enoteca in Seattle.[" |
Red
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2008 Cuvee Orleans
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Regular as of 01/12 |
Tastings by Appointment "The McCrea winery in Rainier is open for special events and by appointment only. McCrea wines can be tasted at the Olympia Wine Tasting Bar and at Urban Enoteca in Seattle.[" |
Red
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2009 Syrah
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Regular as of 02/17 |
Tastings by Appointment "The McCrea winery in Rainier is open for special events and by appointment only. McCrea wines can be tasted at the Olympia Wine Tasting Bar and at Urban Enoteca in Seattle.[" |
Red
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2006 Sirocco
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Regular as of 06/05 |
Tastings by Appointment "The McCrea winery in Rainier is open for special events and by appointment only. McCrea wines can be tasted at the Olympia Wine Tasting Bar and at Urban Enoteca in Seattle.[" |
White
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2010 Grenache Blanc
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Regular as of 01/12 |
Tastings by Appointment "The McCrea winery in Rainier is open for special events and by appointment only. McCrea wines can be tasted at the Olympia Wine Tasting Bar and at Urban Enoteca in Seattle.[" |
White
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2010 Marsanne
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Regular as of 01/12 |
Tastings by Appointment "The McCrea winery in Rainier is open for special events and by appointment only. McCrea wines can be tasted at the Olympia Wine Tasting Bar and at Urban Enoteca in Seattle.[" |
White
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2009 Picpoul
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Regular as of 01/12 |
Tastings by Appointment "The McCrea winery in Rainier is open for special events and by appointment only. McCrea wines can be tasted at the Olympia Wine Tasting Bar and at Urban Enoteca in Seattle.[" |
White
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2010 Viognier
The 2010 vintage was easily the coolest in the history of McCrea Cellars wines. A typical bud break was followed by an unusual... |
Regular as of 01/12 |
Tastings by Appointment "The McCrea winery in Rainier is open for special events and by appointment only. McCrea wines can be tasted at the Olympia Wine Tasting Bar and at Urban Enoteca in Seattle.[" |
White
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2010 Sirocco Blanc
A classic case of the whole is greater than the sum of the parts these four wines, all fermented in neutral French oak barrels, are interesting and distinctive by themselves ... |
Regular as of 01/12 |
Tastings by Appointment "The McCrea winery in Rainier is open for special events and by appointment only. McCrea wines can be tasted at the Olympia Wine Tasting Bar and at Urban Enoteca in Seattle.[" |
Rosé
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2011 Rose of Cabernet Franc
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Regular as of 02/17 |
Tastings by Appointment "The McCrea winery in Rainier is open for special events and by appointment only. McCrea wines can be tasted at the Olympia Wine Tasting Bar and at Urban Enoteca in Seattle.[" |
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