Gramercy Cellars’ Master Sommelier Greg Harrington recently made the trip from Walla Walla, Washington to visit Osteria IL Centro to talk about the history of Gramercy Cellars while sharing some delicious wines with Osteria IL Centro Wine Club Members.
Prior to founding Gramercy, Greg Harrington spent his career overseeing a number of the most prestigious wine programs in the country, working for top chefs including Emeril Lagasse and Wolfgang Puck. Greg’s real passion however was not for cooking – it was for wine. “I felt like I had done everything I wanted to do in restaurants. I had previously met some wine makers in Walla Walla and have always loved Washington wines, so I ended up going out there for a tasting,” said Greg.
Greg ended up doing a tasting with Norm McKibbin – a founding father of Walla Walla’s wine industry. “At the tasting, Norm invited me to come back out to Washington to work harvest and learn how to make wine,” said Greg. After working harvest for a month, Greg decided this was indeed the career path for him.
In 2005 Greg followed his dreams and founded Gramercy Cellars with his wife, Pam. The 8,000-case winery located in Walla Walla, Washington primarily focuses on Rhône and Bordeaux varietals. When asked why he decided to settle in Washington Greg said, “You get the best of both worlds with Washington wines. You get the fruit of California, but you also get the earthiness of Europe.”
Gramercy is set apart from the other wineries in Walla Walla because of their involvement with farming. “Making outstanding wine is 100% all about the farming,” said Greg. “We are partnered with three estate vineyard managers who farm exactly to the specifications we’re looking for.”
Wine Club members spent a wonderful evening listening to Greg explain the interesting history of Gramercy Cellars while enjoying hors d’oeuvres prepared by Chef Jaime Salgado and tasting extraordinary Gramercy wines including:
- Olsen Vineyard Rosé ‘18
- Lower East Syrah ‘16
- The Third Man Grenache ‘16
- Lagniappe Syrah ‘15
- Cabernet Sauvignon ‘15
Ready to be part of our next wine tasting? Join the OIC Wine Club and be the first to know about our next tasting event! You’ll also receive many other member benefits including exclusive discounts and seasonal specials. The best part? Membership is complimentary – so why not join today?
View photos from the evening in the gallery below.
