L'Ecole N° 41

Still an education

Although others have done it, it's hard to imagine thinking, "Hey, let's retire and open a winery." It's hard work, not the relaxed golden years. But L'Ecole N° 41 was a retirement project for Baker and Jean Ferguson when they founded the winery in 1983 in Walla Walla. It was the third winery in Walla Walla and the 20^th commercial winery in Washington state.

Jean was the winemaker. She graduated from WSU's home economics program with a good palate from cooking and her love of food and wine. She dove in and negotiated for grapes, ran lab tests, cleaned steel tanks, keeping the winery moving forward. She took a University of California Davis course and was the first female winemaker in Walla Walla. Their very first merlot (1983) won a gold medal from the Pacific Northwest Enological Society; it was the only gold medal issued that year. Jean passed away in 1998.

Baker selected varietals, working with Chas Nagel and Walter Clore to find those that would flourish in the Columbia Valley. He handled marketing and sales, and was a big part of getting the Walla Walla Valley named an official AVA in 1984. He was in WWII and spent two years in a German prison camp, then had a career in banking at Baker Boyer Bank, founded by his great grandfather. He retired as president of the bank. He was also very involved with Whitman College. Baker passed away in 2005.

The winery is located in the Frenchtown school (originally a log cabin built in 1870, then rebuilt at its current location in 1915, Lowden School District 41). The French Canadians were the first to plant European vinifera grapes in the area. The schoolhouse operated from 1915-1974, then remained empty for three years. In 1977, Baker and Jean purchased it and started the winery in 1983, adding a third floor so they could live above the winery. The tasting room is in the lower-grades classroom, which still has the original light fixtures, floors and some windows. The tasting room includes a table from the Baker Boyer Bank and a replica of the bank's clock. Next to the tasting room is the former upper-grade classroom, with one remaining chalkboard. The former third floor living area is used for offices. Downstairs is the former school gymnasium/lunchroom/auditorium, with the original drinking fountain, and a Christmas mural painted on the wall by one of the last classes.

Baker and Jean's daughter Megan and her husband Marty Clubb, along with their adult children Riley and Rebecca, now own the winery. Marty and Megan met at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Sloan School of Management. They had business careers in San Francisco, but often returned to help Jean and Baker with harvest. In 1989, they returned full-time and Marty became manager and winemaker. He has dedicated himself to the industry in many ways (president and director of the Washington Wine Institute and a board member of WineAmerica). With partners Norm McKibben and Gary Figgins, they were viticulture pioneers. In 1997 they began expansion of Seven Hills Vineyard to its current 230 acres. Marty helped found the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance, was president for six years, and worked to develop the Walla Walla Community College Center for Enology and Viticulture. Marty is now managing winemaker. Megan recently retired from Baker Boyer Bank as President/CEO and remains on the Board of Directors as Chair.

L'Ecole started with 1000 cases and has increased their volume relatively slowly over time. "It's always about the quality," explains Tasting Room Manager Ben Dimitri. The Chenin Blanc started in 1987 from Jean's love of Vouvray. Their Columbia Valley wines have a varietal focus. These wines now include Syrah, Semillon, Chenin Blanc, and Frenchtown Red Wine. Walla Walla wines are terroir driven, and include Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Semillon, Chenin Blanc, and Frenchtown Red Wine. Walla Walla wines are terroir driven with a primary focus on their two estate sites, Ferguson Vineyard and Seven Hills Vineyard. Notable wines include their three single-vineyard Bordeaux blends: Estate Ferguson (Ferguson Vineyard - Ferguson Vineyard, Estate Perigee - Seven Hills Vineyard, and Apogee - Pepper Bridge Vineyard.

Photo by Tom Mehren

All wines are crushed, pressed, made, barreled, and stored on site. Their library includes bottles of nearly every wine produced, some of which are available for purchase on a limited basis. L'Ecole wines are available at the winery, to their wine club members, and at lecole.com. Wines are also available throughout the United States and in over 20 international markets.

Ferguson, a new vineyard, was planted in 2008. The first vintage, 2011 Estate Ferguson (57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc) was entered into the Decanter World Wine Awards and won the International Trophy for best Bordeaux Blend over £15. This was notable for two reasons. First, getting such impressive fruit from a new vineyard is amazing and promises even better wine to come. Second, Steven Spurrier, Chairman of Decanter World Wine Awards, staged the influential "Judgment of Paris" Tasting of 1976, when California wines (a Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon) were ranked above prestigious wines of Burgundy and Bordeaux. This kind of ranking brings even more attention to Washington wines, and L'Ecole specifically. "Once the award was given, we sold out within 24-36 hours," says Ben. "The next vintage sold out within a month."

Photo by Tom Mehren

The School is still a place of learning. For the owners/winemakers, in the lab and vineyards. For guests, a wealth of history of the area and schoolhouse. And the most important lesson: the consistency and quality of L'Ecole wines. It's a "must include" on your next Walla Walla visit.

L'Ecole N° 41
41 Lowden School Road
Lowden, WA 99360
509-525-0940

www.lecole.com

Photos courtesy of L'Ecole unless otherwise noted

Connie Adams/May 2016