Northstar Winery in Walla Walla: A Fine Washington Merlot

Northstar, located in Walla Walla, Washington, aims to to make Merlots that can be considered among the world’s best, using fruit sourced from one of the world’s best regions for Merlot: Washington State. 

Merlot is the best selling red grape variety in America.  Merlot-based wines from Bordeaux’s Pomerol region are generally the most expensive and sought-after wines in the world.  Blending New World fruit with an Old World winemaking style, influenced by Bordeaux’s “right bank,” Northstar creates Merlots that are among the most highly acclaimed in the world.

David “Merf” Merfeld is Northstar’s winemaker and has been at Northstar since 2001. Famed California winemaker Jed Steele, Northstar’s consulting winemaker, has been involved with the winery since its first vintage in 1994.

Vineyard diversity is one of the keys to Northstar’s success.  For any given vintage, nearly two dozen unique vineyard blocks from around the Columbia Valley are sourced, with a dozen or so making it through the rigorous selection process into the final blend.  The majority of these vineyards are over 15 years old (vine maturity is important for Merlot and Cabernet grapes) and are farmed to our winemaking team’s specifications.