Discover Walla Walla

Autumn is my favorite time of the year in Walla Walla. There is something in the Walla Walla air that cannot be duplicated. It's the combination of crisp mornings, leaves changing color, the stubble left behind in the surrounding wheat fields and the sweet smell of fruit fermenting at the wineries. It is also the time of the year I think about returning to my kitchen and bringing out the heavy pots for some serious cooking. And of course, serious cooking means serious wines.

I thought it only fitting to celebrate the Autumnal Equinox and my return to the kitchen burners by treating myself to the matinee, "Julie & Julia." The movie was an entertaining memoir about Julie Powell, a foodie who blogs about Julia Child and Powell's experiences of cooking through Child's classic book, "Mastering the Art of French Cooking." I returned home from the movie inspired. I immediately wanted to prepare my favorite recipe of Boeuf Bourguignon, try my skills at coq au vin, bake a tarte tatin made with apples from the local orchards, and most of all flip a buttery omelet into the air. But of course, with good French-style food, one must have good French wines. And not only a diverse wine that compliments food, but a confident wine that can stand alone, such as a merlot-based wine from Pomerol or St-Émilion or better yet, from the shared latitude of Bordeaux - - a Merlot from the Walla Walla Valley.

In fact, the Merlots produced from Walla Walla grapes remind me of Autumn. In these Walla Walla grown wines, I often smell notes of petrol, burning leaves, wheat stubble and dark fruit cobblers. The palate lingers with rich flavors of chocolate covered cherries, dark roasted coffee, and baking notes of walnuts and vanilla. What makes these wines even more special, if you live in Walla Walla or visiting the area, you do not have to go far to obtain the beautiful wines that are a reminder of things to come: comfort foods and entertaining at home. The wineries of Five Star Cellars, Fort Walla Walla Cellars, L'Ecole No 41, Mannina Cellars, Northstar, Pepper Bridge, Seven Hills, Skylite Cellars, Uriah of Spring Valley Vineyards, and Walla Walla Vintners are just a handful of some of the fragrant and earthy merlots produced from Walla Walla vines.

Let the crisp night air and falling leaves guide your way back to the kitchen after a summer of outdoor entertaining. There is still fresh produce to be found at the Walla Walla Farmer's Market and of course, never a shortage of wine in the valley. Look for hearty recipes that include wine or create a new recipe from one of your favorites with the addition of wine. And whatever you do, when cooking with wines from Walla Walla, don't forget to pour a glass of wine for the chef, the sous-chef and the dishwasher. In the words of the great Julia Child, "Bon Appétit!"