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Avennia
United States - Washington

Marty Taucher and Chris Peterson (Seattle Magazine’s 2017 Winemaker of the Year and International Wine Report's 2023 Washington State Winemaker of the Year) got together in 2009, at first only to review Marty’s draft of a winery business plan. Peterson was ready to take the next step in his winemaking career. The timing was perfect and together Marty and Chris founded Avennia, with focus on their shared fundamentals: “mutual respect, complimentary skill, and a love of great wine”. The name Avennia was inspired by the Roman name for the city of Avignon, which signifies the heart of Old World wine making. Using naturalist vigneron methods, putting a great deal of thought into vineyard sites (down to specific blocks), and taking winemaking style, vine age and climate into consideration, Avennia wines express a key tenant of the Old World: wines that move seamlessly from start to finish with a delicate balance of fruit, acid, tannin, and oak, with no single aspect dominating another. The finest Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Grenache and Mourvèdre grapes from Yakima and Columbia Valley are sourced, native yeast is used to ferment, and they are bottled unfined to keep as much unique characteristics as possible. The intricacies of blending, from different blocks to different grape types, are as paramount as vineyard selection. In order to achieve the finest texture and balance possible, extensive blending trials are extensively used. True to Avennia’s Old World inspiration, the “less is more” approach allows the fruit to speak for itself, in a voice that is “proudly Washington”.

Reviews and News

Avennia - Jeb Dunnuck 2019

Avennia - Jeb Dunnuck 2019

jeb dunnuck logo 250"Winemaker Chris Peterson continues to fashion some of the most impressive wines in the State. These are always more classical in style and show plenty of acidity and structure in their youth, yet they blossom with just short term cellaring and are brilliant wines."
- Jeb Dunnuck (April 2019)

 

Avennia - Jeb Dunnuck 2018

Avennia - Jeb Dunnuck 2018

jeb dunnuck logo 250"I continue to consider Chris Peterson’s Avennia estate to be one of the best in Washington State and he’s been making world-class wines for a number of years now. He releases two white wines: A Sauvignon Blanc called Oliane and a Rhone blend of Roussanne and Marsanne called La Perle. The reds are broken up into a Rhône/Bordeaux groups, with the Rhônes including a Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre blend called Justine, and two single-vineyard Syrahs, the Le Corbeau from Mays’ Discovery Vineyard in Horse Heaven Hills and the Arnaut from Dick Boushey’s Boushey Vineyard on the western side of the Yakima Valley. The Bordeaux releases are built around the appellation blends and include the entry-level Gravura, Valery (Merlot dominated), and Sestina (Cabernet Sauvignon dominated). In addition, Peterson also makes a pure Cabernet Franc from Champoux Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills and a pure Cabernet Sauvignon from very old vines in the Red Willow Vineyard. As I hope these reviews show, these are brilliant wines readers need to seek out..” - Jeb Dunnuck (April 2018)

 

Avennia - Chris Peterson - Winemaker of the Year 2017 - Seattle Magazine

Avennia - Chris Peterson - Winemaker of the Year 2017 - Seattle Magazine

12th Annual Washington Wine Awards Winners Are In.
Honoring the best in Washington wine, from all-star vineyards to the top bottles.seattle magazine

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Producer Details
Founded
2009
Location
United States - Washington
Wine Production Area
United States - Washington - Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley
Owners
Marty Taucher & Chris Peterson
Winemaker
Chris Peterson