WALLA WALLA, Washington – Bergevin Lane Vineyard owner Annette Bergevin, along with winemaker Dave Harvey – both Washington State University Alumni – have teamed up with the WSU Alumni Association Wine Club to produce a limited edition, scholarship-supporting “Wine by Cougars” wine: “Cougar III”, a 2014 red blend from the Columbia Valley. Proceeds from the sale of this wine support scholarships at WSU for the next generation of wine-industry leaders as well as other important WSUAA initiatives.
More about the winemakers
Bergevin, a fifth-generation Walla Walla resident, fell in love with wine at a young age and moved back to Walla Walla in 2002 from California to start Bergevin Lane Vineyards with her father, industry veteran Gary Bergevin, and business partner, Amber Lane.
Harvey joined the winery in 2011 as the resident winemaker. He said the timing worked out perfectly because the winery he was working for was relocating and he didn’t want to move.
“People applied from all over the world,” Bergevin said. “Literally, multiple countries, and from all over the United States. Dave’s experience and salt of the earth demeanor stood out above the rest.”
Harvey’s skill set made the decision to hire him easy, Bergevin said. Harvey explained that he developed his winemaking skills through hands-on experience after graduating from WSU with a bachelor’s degree in clothing, interior design and textiles in 1988.
Owner Annette Bergevin will join winemaker Dave Harvey at Brelsford WSU Visitor Center, 150 E. Spring St., Pullman, to discuss their experience making Cougar III and the Walla Walla winery during a tasting from 2-4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14.
Coug vineyards, Coug scholarships
During “Meet the Makers of Cougar III,” Bergevin and Harvey will talk about their experience creating the wine as part of the WSU collector’s series. The inspiration for Cougar III, Harvey said, came from the number: he used three grapes, one each from the 3 WSU Alumni, Cougar-owned vineyards he works with – Bergevin Springs, Les Collines and Stone Tree.
The final blend – 38 percent cabernet sauvignon, 36 percent merlot and 26 percent malbec – resulted from a series of four in-house tastings of various combinations. Bergevin Lane produced 980 cases of Cougar III.
“For me, it’s a huge sense of pride,” said Bergevin, who graduated in 1986 from WSU with a bachelor’s degree in communications.
The best part, she said, is that the proceeds create scholarships for WSU students who plan to enter the wine industry, as well as important alumni association initiatives.
“I hope this is a legacy that continues for years,” she said. “It’s such a great opportunity and it really helps out these kids.”
The tasting will feature 1-oz. pours of Bergevin Lane’s 2014 Cougar III – the latest edition in the WSU Alumni Association’s Cougar Collectors’ Series – as well as 2014 Love-Struck Viognier and 2011 Moonspell Cabernet Sauvignon.
Tickets cost $5 and can be purchased at the door or reserved by contacting the visitor center at visitor@wsu.edu or 509-335-INFO (4636). Those tasting must be 21 or older. Identification will be verified. Tickets include a commemorative Brelsford WSU Visitor Center wine glass while supplies last.
For more about Bergevin Lane Vineyards, follow @bergevinlanevineyards on Facebook and @blvwine on Instagram and Twitter.
