The Wine Knows

My sources in Pomona, Calif., report that, unlike in prior years, results of the annual Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition will not be immediately released. Instead, they will be unveiled in mid-June during a special event.

However, the sources report that the best red is a Tempranillo (region unknown) and the best white is an Albariño (region also unknown). So Spanish varieties are the favorites with some of the country's top wine judges.

This knowledge will pretty much eliminate Washington wines being among the winners in these two major categories, although a bit of Tempranillo is grown in the Columbia Valley. Tempranillo and Albariño also are grown in tiny quantities in Oregon, though with greater renown, thanks to Abacela Winery.