Visit Historic Schoolhouse N^o 41
...where the past joins the present in a quality wine-tasting experience

As legend has it, the raising of grapes and production of wine in Southeastern Washington began with French Canadian employees of the Hudson Bay Company post at "Frenchtown" during the 1820s.  Frenchtown became today's Lowden, Washington, and the tradition of winemaking continues.   Lowden's L'Ecole No 41 honors and preserves the area's historic winemaking tradition with the production of premium handcrafted, varietal wines, as well as with its choice of locations and its winery name.          L'Ecole, French for "the school," opened its winery in 1983, in the basement of the old 1915  Schoolhouse No 41.  They became just the third winery in the Walla Walla Valley.  In 1996, production was expanded with the addition of a state-of-the-art production facility, while the winery's laboratory and red-wine barrel aging took over the basement.            Located on the main floor of the school house, L'Ecole's tasting room preserved the schoolroom character by incorporating the original chalkboards, light fixtures, fir floors and moldings into its finished character.          Keeping company with L'Ecole's barrels in the cellar is a Christmas pageant mural and child-size drinking fountain left from a bygone era.  Offices and an oversized meeting room also echo uses of schooldays past.  Even the label for most L'Ecole wines incorporates the schoolhouse theme.          While its location enhances the pleasure of a visit, it is its handcrafted premium varietal wines that render L'Ecole No 41Winery unforgettable. Consistently recognized for their rich and flavorful, full-bodied character those wines have a reputation that rests solidly on  many years of producing wines using a hands-on traditional approach and a dedication to obtaining the highest quality fruits possible.  Vineyard investments and longstanding relationships with distinguished growers in the Walla Walla and Columbia Valleys reflect a commitment to the environmentally sustainable viticultural management so important to premium wines.           Maintaining its original focus on Merlot and Semillon, L'Ecole also produces quantities of highly recognized Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Chenin Blanc, as well as awarding-winning red and white blends.  As its production of wine varietals and blends increase, so too did its space for barrel-storage.  In the fall of 2003, L'Ecole completed the construction of a new concrete tilt-barrel storage facility that accommodates its current inventory of more than 2,000 French and American oak barrels.  In the spring of 2004, an additional 1.3-acre vineyard was planted to Cabernet Sauvignon next to the winery where L'Ecole visitors can observe and learn about the care of a working vineyard.          The winery is open to the public for tasting seven days a week, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, except on major holidays.  Call first for tours.   Featured L'Ecole No 41 Wines 10% or Wine Club Discount will be calculated on purchases of 12 or more current release bottles. Join L'Ecole's Wine Club, Vins de L'Ecole.  For more details and to sign up click here.
2009 "Walla Voila" Chenin Blanc Columbia Valley 100% Chenin Blanc Released: April 2010 $14.00  [Order] Tasting Notes:  L’Ecole Nº 41 has produced this old vine, Vouvray style Chenin Blanc since 1987. Jean Ferguson, L’Ecole Nº 41’s founding winemaker, loved this wine and crafted her version of Vouvray through cold fermentation to enhance the fruity and floral esters.  Pronounced with a French accent as ‘Walla Voila’ or here it is!!, this regional, whimsical pun captures the lively and vibrant flavors of this varietal. Winemaker Comments:  "This fresh, tart and delightfully fruity Chenin Blanc shows Asian pear, perfumed honeysuckle and orange blossom aromas with flavors of apple, apricot, and grapefruit on a crisp mineral, lightly sweet finish." 2008 Semillon Columbia Valley 89% Semillon, 11% Sauvignon Blanc Released:  September 2009 $13.00   [Order] Gold Medal - 2010 Dallas Morning News Wine Competition Wine Enthusiast - 90 pts Tasting Notes: Remarkably brilliant with rich fruit and balanced acidity, this wine shows fragrant citrus blossom, lemon and floral aromas, with melon, pear, lychee nut and key-lime flavors on a honeysuckle mineral-rich finish Winemaker Comments:  "Few Semillons show their richness and complexity as those produced in Washington State. Our cool harvest nights help to ensure crisp natural acidity, making this a wonderful food pairing wine. Try it with a goat cheese appetizer, spicy seafood or your traditional Thanksgiving turkey and dressing." 2008 Columbia Valley Chardonnay 100% Chardonnay Wine Enthusiast - 88 points $19.00   [Order] This wine is a blend of three distinguished vineyards:  52% Schmitt Vineyard; 36% Evergreen; 12% Bacchus.	Once again, Wine & Spirits magazine selected L'Ecole as one of the Top 100 Wineries this year.  The winery has received this honor eight years in a row earning L'Ecole No41 a place among the 30 wineries that comprise Wine & Spirits Hall of Fame.)
Tasting Notes:  This elegantly balanced Chardonnay shows robust acidity and purity of fruit with subdued tropical fruit, orange blossom and Asian pear flavors and subtle mineral nuances that gain complexity on a long, robust finish. Winemaker Comments:  Some of the best Chardonnays in Washington State are grown in the slightly cooler growing conditions of Yakima Valley and in the northern latitudes of the Columbia Valley. The Schmitt Vineyard (Yakima Valley) provides ripe tropical fruit, while Evergreen (latitude 47 on the Columbia River) contributes crisp acidity and minerality. The old vines at the warmer Bacchus Vineyard provide a nuance of ripe pear on this Burgundian style Chardonnay. Vinification:  The fruit was lightly whole-cluster pressed to tank and allowed to settle. The juice was then racked off of the solids into mostly second and third year French oak barrels, then barrel fermented. 50% of the wine was aged sur lie for several months. 2008 Recess Red Columbia Valley 42% Merlot, 27% Syrah, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Grenache, 2% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc Released: January 2010 $17.00   [Order] Tasting Notes: After the last bell of the day has rung and work is put away, everyone needs to take time to relax and enjoy life’s treasures. We have the perfect wine for these moments, Recess Red. You are never too old for Recess! Winemaker Comments: "This hearty red wine is in part comprised of the hard press fractions of each of our vineyard lots, including some of our best vineyard sites. As a result, many customers view this table wine as the bargain from L’Ecole Nº 41 (formerly known in the Pacific Northwest as Schoolhouse Red)." 2007 Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 100% Cabernet Sauvignon Released:  November 2009 2006 vintage made the San Francisco Chronicle's Top 100 list! $39.00   [Order] Tasting Notes:  Its elegant, old world structure and dense, dark fruit flavors show blackberry and plum with flavors of cassis, dark cherry, earth and savory herbs on a beautifully balanced finish. Winemaker Comments:  This complex and elegant Cabernet Sauvignon reflects the diversity of terroir in the Walla Walla Valley from vineyards planted in wind-blown loess (our Estate Seven Hills Vineyard and Loess Vineyard), ice-age flood silts (Va Piano Vineyard and Pepper Bridge Vineyard) and basalt river rock (Yellow Jacket Vineyard).  These prestigious vineyards are certified sustainable and Salmon Safe. Vinification:  Each vineyard lot was hand harvested ripe and gently crushed into one-ton stainless steel fermenters. The must was inoculated with yeast and punched down by hand during fermentation to maximize fruit extraction. When fermentation was complete or we were otherwise satisfied with the level of tannin and flavor extract, the must was gently pressed. After settling, the wine was racked to 100% small oak barrels with approximately 40% new oak, and then barrel aged 22 months with five rackings. 2008 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Syrah Walla Walla Valley 100% Syrah Released:  June 2010 $36.00   [Order] Tasting Notes:  This Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Syrah is loaded with dark spicy complex aromas of leather, tobacco, anise and cola. The rich mid-palate shows flavors of ripe plum and dense blackberry that give way to a concentrated and unrelenting earthy mineral finish.  Aged 18 months in 100% small oak barrels, approximately 30% new oak. Winemaker Comments:  This Estate Syrah is a blend of three distinct blocks from Seven Hills Vineyard: 1/3 Block 11 (relatively flat terrain), 1/3 Block 26 (north slope) and 1/3 Block 27 (south terrace).  Planted with the Espequette or Phelps clone, each block contributes unique characteristics. L’Ecole Nº 41 is a partner in the 220 acre Seven Hills Vineyard, along with Pepper Bridge Winery and Leonetti Cellar. Vinification:  Each lot was hand harvested ripe and gently crushed into one-ton stainless steel fermenters. The must was inoculated with yeast and punched down by hand during fermentation to maximize fruit extraction. When fermentation was complete or we were otherwise satisfied with the level of tannin and flavor extract, the must was gravity fed into the press. After a gentle pressing, the wine was racked to tank and allowed to settle. The wine was then racked to 100% small oak barrels, with approximately 30% new oak, and was barrel aged 18 months with four rackings. 2007 Pepper Bridge Vineyard Estate Apogee Walla Walla Valley 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 6% Malbec, 4% Cabernet Franc Released: June 2010 $49.00   [Order] Tasting Notes:  Boldly aromatic,this mature wine has aromas of cinnamon and nutmeg, earthy hints of sweet tobacco and leather, and smoky dark fruit packed with chocolate, mint and cherry fruit on a richly balanced and integrated finish. Winemaker Comments: Apogee is the point in the orbit of the moon that is the greatest distance from the earth; the farthest point or apex.  This name reflects all that we were trying to accomplish with the wine, reaching the ultimate in quality. Vinification:  The handpicked grapes were gently crushed and de-stemmed into small, one-ton stainless steel fermenters. The must was fermented with Pasteur Red and Cepage Cabernet yeast and gently punched down by hand two to three times daily. At the ideal balance of tannin and fruit extraction, the must was gently pressed and transferred to tank to settle. The resulting wine was aged 22 months in 100% small oak barrels with approximately 50% new oak. The wine was racked five times, then bottled unfined and lightly filtered to preserve its natural flavors. 2007 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Perigee Walla Walla Valley 60% Cabernet Sauvignon; 30% Merlot; 10% Cabernet Franc Released: May 2010 $49.00   [Order] Tasting Notes:  Perigee exemplifies our Seven Hills Estate Vineyard’s characteristic cedary, richly structured elegance. Polished with perfumed aromas of exotic spice, velvety blackberry and silky black cherry fruit, this wine has an earthy, chalky, minerality which exudes power and grace on a spicy pepper finish. Winemaker Comments: Perigee is the closest point to the earth in the moon’s orbit. Closeness to the earth is an attractive attribute for Seven Hills Vineyard, since the wine is known for its earthy structure and suggests the environmentally sound and sustainable viticultural practices we utilize. Vinification:  The handpicked grapes were gently crushed and de-stemmed into a combination of small, one-ton stainless steel fermenters, and 5 ton, open-topped fermenters. The must was fermented with Pasteur Red and Cepage Cabernet yeast and gently punched down two to three times daily. At the ideal balance of tannin and fruit extraction, the must was gently pressed and transferred to tank to settle. The resulting wine was aged 22 months in 100% small oak barrels with approximately 40% new oak. The wine was racked five times, then bottled unfined and lightly filtered to preserve its natural flavors. To review and order L'Ecole wines, merchandise or wine gifts: Link to the winery's online Wine Shop Email your order FAX your order to 509-525-2775 Call in your order to 509-525-0940                     Copyright © 1997 - 2010  Susan R. O'Hara. All rights reserved. Last revised: 07/16/2010