Whatcom County Wineries Expand With The Addition of Legoe Bay

Whatcom County’s newest winery, Legoe Bay Winery, is located just a short walk north of the ferry landing on scenic Lummi Island.

Karl Malling and his partner, Susie Wirth, were perfect hosts during a recent visit, and Susie’s buffet spread would have been worth the trip alone. I’d like to think she was trying to do up a “pamper the wine columnist” routine, but apparently this is pretty standard procedure for many island guests. If that’s the case, start making your reservations for a visit. There’s no guarantee on the food, of course, but you will be treated to picturesque views along with a tasting of some pretty nice wines.

Allowance should always be made for newer wineries, but Malling, who shares winemaking duties with Larry Smith, are off to a fine start with their first releases. My favorites included the 2005 Viognier, ridiculously low-priced at only about $10. This is a lighter style viognier, with some nice tropical aromas and a clean finish, which makes it a perfect white wine for summertime quaffing.

Also worth noting is the 2005 Reefnet Red (about $13), a blend of cabernet, merlot, cabernet franc and syrah. The wine is nicely understated on all levels, with hints of dark fruit, spice and bittersweet chocolate on the finish. Throw in just the right amount of acidity and tannins for a bit of structure and you’ve got a well-balanced wine that will pair well with a variety of foods. The wine was awarded a silver medal at this year’s Northwest Wine Summit.

Other current releases include a 2005 Chardonnay (about $10) and a 2005 Syrah (about $14). You should be able to find most Legoe Bay wines at Whatcom County Haggen stores.

A tasting room is in the works and plans are to have it open to the public later this year. In the meantime, private tastings are more than welcome and can be scheduled by phoning Wirth at (206) 940-3023.