As we officially open the Wine Bloggers Conference on Friday, our panel of wine executives from local Walla Walla wineries will discuss the current state of grape growing and wine making in the Walla Walla Valley. Thanks to a truly unique combination of climate, character, charm and culture, the Walla Walla Valley has become home to one of the finest wine regions in the nation, with 120 wineries and 2,800 acres of grapes. Now is your chance to ask the questions about the local region, so email us with your questions prior to the panel and we will try to get them answered!
Annette Bergevin
General Manager & Founding Partner, Bergevin Lane Winery
Annette Bergevin loves the wine business—everything about it. The craft of winemaking. The almost magical way it makes any meal or moment memorable. Good friends to drink it with—and sell it to, too! Her family has deep roots in the Walla Walla Valley, over 150 years! A fifth-generation Walla Walla native, co-founding Bergevin Lane Vineyards in 2002 was the fulfillment of a long-time dream, one that started with her father. “In my younger days he would share amazing wines from his collection,” she says. “That’s when I discovered how wonderful the wine world could be.”
Since founding Buty Winery in 2000, Nina Buty has helped to define the vision for the winery’s acclaimed blends, the philosophy that guides their creation and the aesthetic sensibility that informs every aspect of Buty. In addition to the big picture elements that have shaped the success of Buty, Nina has been responsible for establishing Buty’s sales program, opening its Walla Walla tasting room, and building the Buty mailing list and Friends of the Beast Wine Club. Today, Nina oversees every aspect of the winery, working side-by-side with a handpicked team that includes acclaimed winemaker Chris Dowsett and Iegendary consulting winemaker Zelma Long. In the winery, she is instrumental in the evaluation of all wine lots, and the selection of the final blends. At the same time, Nina also oversees Buty’s sales, marketing and public relations programs, with a focus on developing strong and lasting relationships with customers, trade partners, and the Walla Walla Valley community.
Muriel Kenyon
General Manager, Otis Kenyon Wine
I moved to Walla Walla in 2005 to learn more about the wine industry. Little did I know that the small wine making project my parents started the year before would keep me in the valley for 14 years and counting. After working for and learning more about the wine business at Pepper Bridge Winery, I moved full time to Otis Kenyon Wine in 2007. We opened up our downtown tasting room in time for Spring Release 2008 and expanded to Woodinville in 2010. I have been traveling across the country to share the Walla Walla Valley and the Otis Kenyon Wine story ever since. The wine community in the Walla Walla Valley is truly special and I could not have asked for a better place and people to work alongside.
Ashley Trout
Owner/Winemaker, Vital Wines and Brook & Bull Cellars
See you in Walla Walla!