A 2023 "Winery to Watch" "Across the board, her wines are lean, crunchy, low alcohol jewels, bristling with energy and nerve." —Patrick J. Comiskey
“It takes a lot of guts to open a winery during the pandemic. This tells you a lot about Kelsey Albro Itämeri.”
2022 Les Collines Vineyard 1 of 2 Sémillon Walla Walla Valley 93 points, Critic’s Choice, "Itä is one of the wineries leading the charge for a resurgence of this seldom-seen variety...It’s a classic offering of Sémillon, equally resonant in feel and flavor."
In this episode of The Black Wine Guy Experience, host MJ Towler welcomes Kelsey Itämeri, the owner and winemaker of itä wines. Tune in to learn about Kelsey's compelling journey and her philosophy behind designing a life filled with passion and purpose.
How Winery Incubators Are Making the Industry More Accessible -- “For a lot of people, it’s really scary to start a business,” says Kelsey Albro Itämeri, who launched her Walla Walla Valley winery itä Wines in 2019.
While the region is best known for its reds—cabernet sauvignon and syrah The Best of Walla Walla in particular—fresh-faced local vintners are also having success with white varietals. “There is so much to be excited about in Walla Walla right now, including that more white wines are being made in the valley,” says Kelsey Albro Itämeri of Itä Wines.
Where Are Washington’s Woman Winemakers? -- "Itä Wines was born in 2019, but Itämeri’s creations already command impressive scores and an outsize amount of attention. "
Winemaking and Wanderlust -- "Kelsey Albro Itameri had long imagined starting her own winery, with a blue label and grapes sourced from the Blue Mountain foothills, where her parents own a farm. It was a dream, she says, the kind you have while vacuuming your house."
Washington - New Labels and Old Vines
Weekend Wanderings: Walla Walla "We highly recommend visiting SMAK Wines and itä wines; both are female-owned and making waves in the wine industry."
"Want a taste of the future? High in acidity and lower in alcohol content, winemaker Kelsey Albro Itämeri offers a new style of wine emerging from Walla Walla."
These Women Are Producing Some of Washington’s Best Wines