Ask Our Winemaker Anything

Ask Our Winemaker Anything: Marcus Rafanelli Answers Your Questions

By Marcus Rafanelli, Winemaker | September 2024

We recently invited you to submit your wine-related questions for our winemaker, Marcus Rafanelli, and we’re excited to share his insightful answers! From pairing suggestions to understanding which varietals thrive in Washington, Marcus offers his expertise and passion for winemaking. Let’s dive into his responses below!

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What Drives My Passion for Winemaking?

Marcus: “Winemaking is a lifelong journey of discovery and creation for me. Each year brings new challenges and opportunities to refine my techniques and improve consistency. Despite nearly 20 years in the field, I feel like there’s still so much to learn about different winemaking methods, varietals, regions, and food pairings. The most rewarding part, however, is sharing a bottle of wine that my team and I have crafted with friends and family over a home-cooked meal. It’s in these moments that all the hard work and passion truly come to life.”

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Would you ever consider making a port from one of your full-bodied wines?

Marcus: “Port is such a fun style, but currently, we aren’t planning on making one. Back when I was teaching at Walla Walla Community College, I crafted a fortified wine using Barbera grapes, which was a fun project. For now, though, we’re staying focused on our signature bold reds, like our Estate Syrah and Apogee Bordeaux Blend.”

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What grapes are in the 2022 Frenchtown Red Wine?

Marcus: “The 2022 Frenchtown Red Wine is a delightful blend that includes all of our red wine varieties. It spends about 10 months in the barrel and is always the first red wine of the vintage to be released, offering a preview of the future wines from that year. The blend consists of 72% Bordeaux varieties (39% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot, and 1% Malbec) and 28% Rhone varieties (17% Syrah, 8% Grenache, and 3% Mourvèdre).”

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I make chèvre from goat milk. Which of your wines should I pair with it?

Marcus: “Chèvre is such a creamy and tangy cheese that it pairs beautifully with both our whites and reds. For a crisp, refreshing contrast, try our Old Vine Chenin Blanc. If you’re feeling adventurous, pair it with our Right Bank Blend (Cabernet Franc + Merlot). The herbal and fruity notes will balance the tanginess of the chèvre.”

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Which grape varietals are best suited to Washington’s climate?

Marcus: “Washington is an amazing place to grow grapes, and we can successfully ripen over 75 different varietals here. The classics like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah excel in our climate, but I also love working with Grenache and Mourvèdre. On the white side, our Semillon and Chenin Blanc consistently produce outstanding results.”

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Has the smoke from Canada affected your grapes?

Marcus: “Luckily, the smoke this season didn’t have a significant impact on our vines. While smoke can be a challenge, this year’s grapes are looking great. We always keep a close eye on wind patterns and conditions during wildfire season, but the 2023 vintage is shaping up beautifully.”

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How does a “Miracle Growing Season” such as 2022 affect your blending trials of Apogee, Perigee, and Ferguson compared to a warmer, more rapid growing season like 2021?

Marcus: “The growing season, whether it is a “Miracle Growing Season” like 2022 or a warmer, faster one like 2021, doesn’t significantly alter our blending trials for Apogee, Perigee, and Ferguson. Consistency in our approach is key to producing consistently excellent wines. Our team conducts multiple tastings, starting in early February with samples from neutral barrels to avoid oak influence. We grade the wines, then taste them blindly a few weeks later to ensure unbiased evaluations. This process involves creating and refining a blending chart through extensive tastings, including those with new oak. Vintage variations offer us a new beginning each year, and we aim to leverage all our winemaking expertise to craft the finest wine from each vintage. This is where I believe L’Ecole truly excels!”

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When you arrive at the office, are you very demure, very mindful, or both?

Marcus: “Working at one of Washington’s most esteemed wineries requires me to be both demure and mindful every day. I strive to craft the most elegant and refined wines while being conscious of the vineyard’s origins, the growers’ efforts, and the enjoyment of our loyal customers.”

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How long can your wines be aged?

Marcus: “Our whites are best enjoyed on release and for several years after that. Our reds are also enjoyable on release, will begin entering their prime drinking window around the 5-year mark, and will age very well for 10, 15, or even 20 years or more. My advice? It’s better to enjoy a bottle a little too early than a little too late!”

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If you were in your 70s and wanted to save a couple of bottles of red wine, which ones would you choose for your anniversary?

Marcus: “For an anniversary celebration in your 70s, I believe a large format bottle is ideal. Nothing says celebration like a big bottle! I also believe that newlyweds should consider purchasing a magnum (or larger) of their favorite, well-crafted red wine. These bottles have the most longevity in the cellar due to the less oxygen-to-more wine ratio, slowing down the aging process. My recommendations from L’Ecole would be Cabernet Sauvignon, Apogee, Perigee, and Ferguson. With so many options available, wine is highly subjective, making it a delightful challenge to find a bottle from the vintage year of your marriage. Good luck on your quest!”

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We celebrated our 40th anniversary at Metropolitan Grill with your 2020 40th Anniversary Red Wine. We had such a fabulous experience, that we had to pass on more complimentary Dom Pérignon champagne!

Marcus: “This is exactly why I love making wine – creating special memories for people and they choose our wine over Dom Perignon! Congrats to 40 years and cheers to many more!”

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More Questions? Keep Them Coming!

That wraps up this round of Q&A with Marcus. We’re always happy to hear from our fans, so keep your questions coming, and we’ll make sure to get them in front of our Winemaker. Until then, enjoy a glass of L’Ecole wine and maybe try some of the new pairings Marcus suggested!

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Explore Our Wines

Ready to taste the wines Marcus has been talking about? Visit our online shop or plan your next trip to our historic Schoolhouse in Walla Walla to experience our wines firsthand.

Ask Our Winemaker Anything