2024 L'Ecole Old Vines Chenin, Yakima Valley, Washington

In 1983, Jean and Baker Ferguson founded L’Ecole N° 41 as a retirement project — the third winery established in Washington’s Walla Walla Valley — in the historic Frenchtown Schoolhouse that still adorns the label today. From their earliest days, they held fast to one belief: that Washington wines could rival the best of the Old World. In 1989, their daughter Megan joined the winery with her husband, and what had been a deeply personal family project evolved into one of the most esteemed and respected wineries in the Pacific Northwest — without ever losing the soul of the schoolhouse it was born in. Three generations of the Ferguson family are now actively involved in multiple aspects of the winery. Megan has kept her parents’ legacy, dream, and success alive and thriving — and when you walk into L’Ecole today, you still feel it: a small schoolhouse energy, the excitement of a first day, and the unmistakable sense that Washington wine’s best chapter is still being written.

L’Ecole has produced this old vine Chenin Blanc since 1987. The vines themselves were planted in 1979 in the Yakima Valley — one of the few pioneering vineyards in Washington State, grown when almost no one believed Washington could produce wines worth drinking. Today, this Vouvray-style Chenin is one of the most quietly extraordinary whites in the collection: expressive aromas of Asian pear, crisp Granny Smith apple, and honeysuckle accented by subtle notes of starfruit and beeswax. Lemon curd, magnolia blossom, and jasmine on the palate, balanced by a touch of flinty minerality. Bright, vivid, and energetic, finishing with a mouthwatering vibrancy that lingers. A wine L’Ecole keeps in limited and local markets — a testament to their pioneering spirit and a taste of past, present, and future all at once.

Wine Details & Tasting Notes

Tasting Notes: Expressive aromas of Asian pear, crisp Granny Smith apple, and honeysuckle with subtle notes of starfruit and beeswax. Bright and layered on the palate — lemon curd, magnolia blossom, and jasmine balanced by a touch of flinty minerality. Vivid, energetic, and mouthwateringly vibrant on the finish.

• Origin – Yakima Valley, Washington State, USA (old vines planted 1979; one of Washington’s pioneering vineyards; Vouvray-style Chenin Blanc production since 1987)
• Producer – L’Ecole N° 41; third-generation family-owned estate (est. 1983 by Jean and Baker Ferguson; third winery in Walla Walla Valley); Megan Ferguson (co-owner; Jean and Baker’s daughter; joined 1989 with husband; steward of family legacy and independence); female co-owned; historic Frenchtown Schoolhouse; limited and local market release
• Varietal – Chenin Blanc (100%; old vines)
• Style – Dry white wine (Vouvray-style; aromatic; mineral-driven; old vine; vibrant)
• ABV – 13.5%

Food Pairing

The Asian pear, apple, honeysuckle, lemon curd, jasmine, and flinty minerality of this Yakima Valley old vine Chenin Blanc make it a naturally elegant and food-versatile white that rewards both casual sipping and serious pairing. Pairs beautifully with pan-seared halibut, grilled scallops, and steamed mussels — the mineral-driven acidity and fruit vibrancy are a natural match for delicate seafood. The honeysuckle and magnolia blossom aromatics make it a wonderful companion for Asian-inspired dishes, chicken with ginger and lemongrass, and Thai green curry. Also excellent alongside creamy goat cheese, brie, and soft-ripened cheeses where the brightness cuts through richness. A natural for Club selections, summer entertaining, and any dinner table where you want a white wine that surprises and rewards in equal measure. Serve at 46–50°F.

Occasion

This is your go-to Washington Chenin Blanc — the bottle for Club selections, thoughtful gifting, and sharing with the white wine enthusiast who appreciates old vine character, pioneering Pacific Northwest winemaking, and a three-generation family estate that has never once compromised its independence or its soul. A limited and local market release available here — and one of the most quietly rewarding bottles in the entire collection at $23.

Wine Producer / Historical Notes

L’Ecole N° 41 was founded in 1983 by Jean and Baker Ferguson in the historic Frenchtown Schoolhouse in Walla Walla Valley — the third winery established in the region and one of the earliest to assert that Washington wine could rival the Old World. Their daughter Megan joined in 1989 with her husband, transforming the retirement project into one of the Pacific Northwest’s most respected family estates — while preserving every bit of the small, personal, schoolhouse spirit that Jean and Baker built. Today, the second and third generations of the Ferguson family are actively involved in the winery. Megan’s stewardship has ensured that L’Ecole has never sold out to large corporate production, never left the family helm, and always maintained the sense that Washington wine’s most exciting moments are still ahead. This old vine Chenin Blanc — produced since 1987 from vines planted in 1979 — is the purest expression of that pioneering spirit.

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