AntoLin Cellars

AntoLin Cellars is a small winery in downtown Yakima that I literally stumbled upon during this year's Spring Barrel Tasting. I noticed a Tasting Room Open sign in an unfamiliar place and went inside. It took no more than a couple of sips for me to realize I had found something worth remembering. After watching the results of wine competitions throughout the year I feel that I am not alone (see end of article for Awards and Recognitions).

Anthony (Tony) and Linda Haralson started AntoLin Cellars in 2007 because "Our passion is winemaking and our dream is to share the fruits of our passion." The winery is aptly named as it celebrates the partnership they both enjoy.

Linda and Tony Haralson (by Beverly Killion)

Tony was born just outside Davis, California, and moved to Yakima, Washington, at the age of 7. His great-grandfather came from the village of Chassagne located in the wine-centric Bourguignon region of France. Whether a person who is born and raised in major Californian and Washington wine areas, and with family roots in the heart of French wine country has an advantage over the rest of us is still up for discussion. So far Tony has successfully made a favorite hobby into a full-blown award winning winery in only a few short years. Perhaps he does!

Tony graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in Pharmacy in 1991. He originally thought that "being a pharmacist would make winemaking easy" but he soon found out that this was not necessarily the case as "a large part of winemaking involves art and sensorial perception as well as science."

For a decade prior to opening AntoLin Cellars, the Haralsons made wine, visited vineyards, completed the certificate program in winemaking at UC Davis, and drew conclusions. Tony realized that "great wines come from great fruit" and "the best way to understand how to grow a fine wine is to plant a vineyard of my own." This grape knowledge has also proven to be an invaluable tool when working with, and purchasing from the vineyards he sources the varietals not grown at Glacier Estate Vineyard.

Each bin contains ¾ ton of grapes which makes 2 barrels each making 50 cases.

Tony mashing Malbec grapes (by Jim Rawson)

Linda loves to cook, so the upcoming holidays will be a very tasty time. For Thanksgiving there will be the traditional roast turkey accompanied by her special cranberry sauce. Her secret is to use fresh/frozen cranberries combined with a whole ground up orange, enough sugar to just balance the acidity, and her own mix of holiday spices. For this year's wine Tony plans to select the AntoLin Cellars 2009 Merlot, "The acidity of the wine compliments the turkey and the fruit finish of the wine is seemingly increased."

For Christmas, the traditional dinner is prime rib with the 2009 Syrah. "This wine has an intensity of dark fruits and a balanced char from the barrels that compliments the meat."

Other holiday pairings enjoyed by Tony and Linda are Viognier with spicy seafood dishes using halibut or shrimp, and the Riesling with a combo plate of apples, pecans, and a nice mellow cheese.

AntoLin wines can be found in Yakima area restaurants, at the winery, and Wine World in Seattle. Current suggested retail prices range from $14 for Riesling to $24 for Syrah.

November 2012

---

Awards and Recognitions

• Wine Press Northwest was the first to notice AntoLin Cellars.
• December 2011, Outstanding! Best Buy! 2010 Glacier Estate Riesling.
• December 2011, Recommended 2010 Viognier.
• Paul Gregutt in The Seattle Times followed in April with a Recommended 2010 Viognier in his article "Viva, Washington's Improving Viognier," and in May a Recommended for the 2010 Riesling in "Look to Washington for Value on Good Wine."
• The 2012 Seattle Wine Awards brought three medals: 2010 Riesling gold, 2010 Viognier bronze, and 2009 Syrah silver.
• The 2012 Washington State Wine Competition was a landmark moment for Tony. He sent four wines and each medaled: 2010 Viognier gold, 2009 Syrah gold, 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon silver, and 2009 Merlot bronze.
• A few weeks later at the 2012 Sunset Magazine International Wine Competition, the 2010 Viognier again won gold.
• 2010 Viognier 93 points and "Editor's Choice Award" - 2012 Wine Enthusiast Magazine.
• 2010 Riesling 92 points and "Best buy" - 2012 Wine Enthusiast Magazine.
• 2009 Syrah 88 points – 2012 Wine Enthusiast Magazine.
• Recently Paul Gregutt selected AntoLin Cellars 2010 Viognier 47^th in his top 100 NW wines for 2012. "Certainly one of the best Washington State Viogniers I have ever tasted."

---

Penny Rawson has been a restaurant critic and caterer. She now does culinary public relations through her company Penny Rawson Public and Media Relations and writes about restaurants and wines.

---

We've worked hard to upgrade this site. Click here to notify us of any problems we need to correct.

---

---

SUBSCRIBE FREE

Subscription has its privileges - Each month Seattle DINING! publishes new features on new restaurants, food and beverage news from around the Northwest and special events. Don't miss out on these informative stories.

Sign up today for your FREE subscription and you'll get a notification each month when the new issue comes on line. You'll also be the first to find out about special Seattle DINING! events.  What are you waiting for? Sign up now!

 Click here to sign up now!