Adrienne Chenin Blanc | Past, Present, & Future

As the harvest season unfolds, there’s palpable excitement in the air here at EFESTĒ as we eagerly await the arrival of our first grapes of the season—Chenin Blanc. Harvesting the Adrienne Chenin Blanc is always a special occasion, marking the beginning of a new vintage filled with so much potential! Following our naming traditions, Adrienne is named for one of Helen and Daniel Ferelli’s granddaughters. The journey of our Adrienne Chenin Blanc is one steeped in history and brimming with excitement as we look to the future.


 

A Brief History

Chenin Blanc, originally from the Loire Valley of France, made its way to Washington State in the late 20th century. Although plantings began in the 1980s, it was during the 2000s that the grape truly gained traction. The

unique climate of Washington, characterized by warm summers and cool evenings, provides the perfect conditions for Chenin Blanc to thrive, resulting in a diverse array of styles—from dry to sparkling.

Today, Washington’s Chenin Blanc is celebrated for its vibrant acidity and fruit-forward character. Our Adrienne Chenin Blanc is sourced from the Columbia Crest Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA in Columbia Valley. This region is known for its rolling hills and well-drained sandy soils, which create ideal conditions for grape growing. With a semi-arid climate characterized by warm summers and cool evenings, the AVA allows for a wide range of grape varietals to flourish, including our Adrienne Chenin Blanc.

2022 Adrienne Chenin Blanc

Our third vintage of Adrienne Chenin Blanc, harvested from vines planted in 1979, benefits from their age, and contributes to its smooth, refined character. The wine offers vibrant tropical fruit and melon flavors, blending complexity with an easy-drinking quality. It stands out as one of the most balanced wines of the ’22 vintage, perfect for pairing with summer snacks and enjoying with friends!

The Winemaking Process

Our Adrienne Chenin Blanc is crafted using 100% Chenin Blanc grapes, aged in a concrete egg. This unique aging technique enhances the wine’s natural texture and minerality while promoting gentle sediment mixing. The result is a wine that preserves its fresh fruit character and introduces subtle, stony nuances.

Reviews and Accolades

We are proud to share that our recent vintages have received notable acclaim, including:

• 2022 – International Wine Report: “Chenin Blanc from old vines planted in the early 1980s, sports a medium lemon core with a silvery rim in the glass. Notes of cinnamon-spiced apples, tropical fruits, sea breeze, and lanolin present themselves nicely in the glass. Dried herbs and pear notes hit the mid and back palate on the finish. A lovely wine that will drink wonderfully chilled during the summer months.”— 90 Points
• 2022 – Owen Bargreen: “Beautifully textured, this was stored in a concrete egg before bottling. Ripe pear and cantaloupe notes combine with stony and nutty undertones. Delicious now, this will easily hold for another five plus years. Drink 2023-2029.”— 92 Points
• 2020 – Wine Enthusiast: “With grapes coming from vines planted in 1980, the aromas intrigue, with notes of spice, almond skin and wet stone. The palate is lively and flavorful. A vein of lemony acidity runs through it.”— 90 Points
• 2020 – Owen Bargreen: “The ‘Adrienne’ was formerly sourced from the ‘Rothrock Vineyard’ and now is sourced from the Willard Farms Vineyard, which is old vine Chenin Blanc that is tucked in between apples and hops. The texture here is seriously great with layers of honeydew melon and kiwi, with orange blossom and wild mushroom undertones. This finishes very long. Gratifying to enjoy now, this has another seven years ahead of it. Drink 2021-2028.”— 92 Points
• 2019 – Wine Enthusiast: “This is a variety change for this wine. Coming from vines planted in 1970, the aromas are light, with notes of herb, honey and mineral. The palate shows an appealing sense of precision, detail and balance. The bright acidity of the variety shines throughout.”— 90 Points

A Look to the Future

As we celebrate the current vintage, we’re also looking forward to an exciting future. In 2025, we will introduce our very first estate-grown Adrienne Chenin Blanc from our Oldfield Estate Vineyard. With our own grafted vines, we’ll have complete control over every aspect of the winemaking process, ensuring that Adrienne Chenin Blanc captures the true essence of our unique terroir.

This transition to estate-grown grapes represents a new chapter for EFESTĒ, and we can’t wait to share this new wine with you in a couple of years. We believe that the 2025 vintage will be a true reflection of our dedication to quality and our passion for Adrienne Chenin Blanc!

Join us on This Journey

As we embark on this journey with Adrienne Chenin Blanc, we invite you to join us. Whether you’re a long-time admirer or new to EFESTĒ wine, we look forward to sharing each step of this adventure.

Visit our tasting rooms in Woodinville or Seattle, or buy online to enjoy the current 2022 vintage of Adrienne Chenin Blanc!

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