Forgeron Cellars

Specialties

We specialize in sourcing the best grapes at the best sites from across Eastern Washington. Our French born winemaker trained in Burgundy and holds degrees in both viticulture and oenology. Come taste the difference!

Burgundian-​style Chardonnay

Rhôné-​style red and white blends

Zinfandel (yes! Washington Zinfandel!)

Primitivo

Malbec

Barbera

Cabernet Sauvignon

Merlot

Rosé of Sangiovese

Mourvèdre

Join us for a tour of our full production winery every Saturday at 1pm, right in downtown Walla Walla.

History

Established in 2001.

Our story begins in Walla Walla, Washington back in 2001. Two things really defined us: our decision to set down roots in downtown Walla Walla; winemaker, Marie-​Eve Gilla’s French roots, and viticulture and oenology training in Burgundy. We were the 23^rd winery in Walla Walla – now home to more than 100 wineries. Our new home was on the site of a turn-​of-​the-​Century blacksmith shop and thus the name Forgeron [FOR-​juh-​ron] which is the French term for «blacksmith», skilled artisans who work with their hands in an age-​old tradition – a perfect fit with our philosophy and the terms that define our difference: experience, credibility, curiosity, and passion.

Our logo and Forgeron label center around the Fleur-​de-​lis, symbolic of my French heritage and wine training in Burgundy. Designed to depict forged metal, we pay homage to our origins and the blacksmith shop here in Walla Walla. An anvil graces the label of our luxury tier ANVIL wines, and our value line of wines is called Blacksmith.

Meet the Business Owner

Marie-​Eve G.

Business Owner

Marie-​Eve Gilla, MEG for short

[MAH-​ree-​EV ZHEE-​lah]

Winemaker & Managing Partner

Born and raised in Paris.

Earned her Double Masters in Oenology and Viticulture at the University of Dijon.

Practical training in the wineries and vineyards of Burgundy.

Arriving in the United States in 1991, she worked at Argyle, Covey Run, and Hogue. Intending to stay for just a few months, she realized the incredible potential of the Northwest wine industry, eventually becoming a U.S. citizen in 2004. At Gordon Brothers, her 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, «Tradition,» gained international recognition at several blind tastings in San Francisco and Miami.

She became Forgeron Cellars’ founding Winemaker and Managing Partner in 2001. She is married to Gilles Nicault, the highly accredited Director of Winemaking and Viticulture at Long Shadows Winery. In 2013 Marie-​Eve was inducted into the Seattle Chapter of the prestigious Les Dames d’Escoffier International.