The Wine Knows

I sit here in stunned awe. Or perhaps I should be used to this by now.

Barnard Griffin's 2007 Rosé of Sangiovese (Columbia Valley, $12) just won best of class for dry rosés and the sweepstakes award for the best pink wine in North America's largest wine competition.

That's the word coming out of Cloverdale, Calif., where the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition has just finished, according to Eric Degerman, Wine Press Northwest managing editor (and a competition judge).

This is the third vintage for Rob Griffin's dry rosé to win a big award right out of the chute at the Chron judging, and it's a great start to the Richland, Wash., winery's year.

Here are some more Northwest awards. We'll have more complete results later.

-- Best of class/other white varietes: Abiqua Wind Vineyards 2006 Early Muscat, Willamette Valley, $15.

-- Best of class/Cabernet Sauvignon: Dusted Valley Vintners 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley, $28.

-- Best of class/other red varieties: Kiona Vineyards Winery 2005 Lemberger, Red Mountain, $12.

-- Best of class/dessert and specialty beverages: Tualatin Estate 2006 Semi-Sparkling Muscat, Willamette Valley, $16.