Washington Wine - Le Vin Nouveau

Olympic Cellars Releases Their First Wine of the 2004 Harvest

PORT ANGELES, WA (PRWEB) November 11, 2004 -- Olympic Cellars, a boutique, women-owned and operated winery in Port Angeles, Washington will release their first Nouveau wine, a 2004 Syrah and their Cranberry Jubilee during the Passport to Autumn Wine Tour, November 11 -- 14. We hadnt planned on making a Nouveau wine, but when you have a visiting winemaker from France helping you out with harvest and bottling, we wanted to do Le Vin Nouveau" (the new wine) so Benoit wouldnt be homesick," said Sara Gagnon, winemaker for Olympic Cellars. Benoit Murat is from Toulouse, France. His studies & work experience were in Sauternes and Bordeaux. He is now getting regional experience in the U.S. (Port Angles, WA) and then will work in Australia and South Africa.

The Nouveau celebration started as a local event in Beaujolais, France around 1395 to celebrate the end of the harvest. Traditionally the new wine was made with the Gamay grape and was released the 3rd Thursday of November. The celebration eventually spread around the world and today it still brings people together to taste and celebrate the first wine of the season."

Another anticipated release from Olympic Cellars, is the Cranberry Jubilee! This Cranberry-Chardonnay wine has sold out prior to Thanksgiving the last two years. It was an experiment the first year...Sara only made about 20 cases and it was all gone in less than a week. Last year we had a waiting list, so this year weve made about 80 cases. Hopefully this time, well get some too, commented Kathy Charlton, owner of Olympic Cellars. "

Olympic Cellars Nouveau Syrah is light, fresh & fruity. The Cranberry Jubilee marries the full body of the Chardonnay with the slightly sweet and tart Cranberry wine. Both wines are best enjoyed now and can be cellared for up to a year. Served chilled, each of the wines pair wonderfully with turkey and the traditional flavors of the Holiday table.

Olympic Cellars is housed in an historic 114 year-old-old barn on Highway 101 between Port Angeles and Sequim, Washington. Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2004, it was the first winery on the Olympic Peninsula. It annually produces about 3,200 cases of handcrafted wines; the highly La Dolce Vida and Working Girl brands and the Dungeness artist series.

Find out more about Olympic Cellars upcoming events and awards by logging on to the winerys Web site at www.olympiccellars.com or calling 360-452-0160 for more information.

Media contacts:   Kathy Charlton, Owner
Olympic Cellars Winery / (360) 452-0160
kathy@olympiccellars.com / Cell: (360) 808-0206
Label graphics & pictures available on request

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