Amber Lane and Annette Bergevin have created quite the sensation here in lil’ old Walla Walla. And that sensation has a name: Bergevin Lane Vineyards. High scoring wines, a great facility to accommodate increasing production, and “a good time!”
You can tell a lot about a place by the tasting room. I don’t mean the architecture or design. I mean the energy of the place. Is it upbeat or mellow? Austere or campy? Or is it boring? What? I don’t think boring and Bergevin Lane should ever be in the same paragraph, let alone sentence again. Nothing boring here. Especially not with this group.
It used to be the girls… Amber, Annette, and Virginie Bourgue, a Frenchwoman who was given a job as winemaker at this new Walla Walla winery. Replacing Virginie when she moved on to Cadaretta is the charming Steffan Jorgensen. Originally from Denmark, Steffan has a variety of experience in the wine industry from various points on the globe including Chile, France, and California. But what I like most about Steffan, besides his adorable grin, is his consistently good wine!
I asked Amber and Annette what their production goals were, looking beyond today. They said emphatically that the focus was on quality. They are willing to grow with demand, but plan on continuing their growth “moderately.” Bergevin Lane is already in 19 states, which requires a lot of travel and maintenance.
I’ve heard that Gary Bergevin (Annette’s dad) asked you to join him here to do this winery. How did all this happen?
Both: We asked him!
Apparently in January of 2002 they decided they wanted to do this winery project, made a move, and within a few short months it was the real deal. They instantly signed up for a marketing contact and Elizabeth Slater helped them with the business and marketing plan. Boom. It happened.
Several years in now, they’re doing very well! Awards, high scores, articles and interviews, and a few changes too. For example…
There is a new label coming out on the 2007 Calico White. They showed a preview.
I asked about label choices and they said it’s important that there be a label they can connect to. They know it takes about three years for marketing change to happen, and they’re willing to work with that to have a product they feel connected to on all levels. (Sounds a lot like integrity to me.) They wanted something a fun and modern.
Did you know they held a naming contest for the wine? They loved the wining entry for several reasons: Calico cats are female; the winery is female run. A Calico cat is three colors and the Calico wines are blends. And here’s my favorite bit. Look at the cat on the label. Do you see the female silhouette?
There are plenty of articles where you can read all about the history of the winery, what they’ve produced, how much, and the like. But what really fascinates me about Bergevin Lane is the people who created it. These partners are driven, bright, generous, and intent on success (which I think they’ve already found).
And here’s the thing, I can’t help but really really like them. Not just because they do cool stuff like bring Raining Jane to town to do a concert at T Maccarone’s, but because they’re genuinely interesting folks. All of them. Amber, Annette, Steffan, and Julie in the tasting room.
If you had to break down the experience of someone’s visit to your winery to one word, what is it that you want people to take away (besides wine, of course).
Amber: Quality and happiness. “Value” seems like Thriftway, so I won’t say that. One word? I’ll say happiness.
Annette: A great experience. I want people to have a great experience.
(Julie pokes her head in the room and they ask her.)
Julie: Fun!
Annette: I change my vote. I’m with Julie. Fun.
And they all smile.
What wine are you personally excited about right now in this area?
Annette: Syrahs! Washington Syrahs. They can be fruity and spicy or earthy and gamey. They’re versatile and you don’t know what you’re going to get. And I love viogniers.
What’s your favorite thing about what your gig, having a winery in Walla Walla?
Amber: The people!
Annette: Cool people, and great opportunities.
Amber: And the wine is the connection.
Wine, they say, is a human connection. It evolves. It lives. And here, it has a good live it seems. You can feel it the moment you walk through the front door. Just wait until you taste the wine! (My favorite is the Princess Syrah.)
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