The Wine Knows - The Wine Press Northwest blog

New Washington AVA under consideration

Tue, 13 May 2008 14:38:57 -0400

The federal government is taking comments (press release, PDF) on the establishment of a new American Viticultural Area in Washington's Yakima Valley.

The Snipes Mountain AVA would be the state's second-smallest appellation at 4,145. About 535 acres of vineyards already are planted in the proposed region, including some of the state's oldest. Included in the region is Harrison Hill.

Tony Rynders out as winemaker at Domaine Serene

Tue, 13 May 2008 12:59:37 -0400

Domaine Serene owner Ken Evanstad announced Monday that longtime winemaker Tony Rynders is out and Drew Voit, former associate winemaker, will oversee the operation until a new winemaker can be found.

Lack of corked wines in Riesling judging

Tue, 13 May 2008 11:03:06 -0400

During our judging Saturday of 116 Pacific Northwest Rieslings, we had just one corked wine. In fact, the far bigger problem was oxidation.

One might see this as a good trend that we found just one wine infected with TCA, the compound that makes a wine smell like a wet dog sleeping on rotting cardboard in a musty basement.

Hellams Vinyard

Mon, 12 May 2008 13:09:00 -0400

Jeff Hellam is the owner of Hellams Vineyard, a wine shop in La Conner, Wash., that specializes in Northwest selections.

Wine Press Northwest correspondent Jon Bauer recently caught up with Jeff at his wine shop and asked him to talk about some of his favorite picks from Washington.

Rieslings and the state of alternative closures

Sat, 10 May 2008 11:24:29 -0400

Going into our big Riesling judging today, I figured we would be able to get a sense of where the Pacific Northwest stands in alternative closures. With Riesling being a white wine that generally will be drunk in its youth, there would be a greater likelihood of alternatives such as screwcaps and synthetics.

How to break Riedel

Fri, 09 May 2008 13:01:07 -0400

I know better than to dry my crystal wine glasses by putting a cloth inside the glass then twisting the base.

I know better.

Breadth of Northwest Riesling production

Fri, 09 May 2008 12:17:53 -0400

One item of note as we prep for our Riesling competition this weekend: The noble white wine grape of Germany and Alsace is produced throughout the Pacific Northwest. In fact, I'm a bit amazed at how many various appellations are represented on wine bottles.

A problem with Rieslings

Thu, 08 May 2008 10:27:43 -0400

One of the versatilities with Riesling also is one of its perception problems with consumers. This came to light as I entered wine for our Riesling judging into our databases.

Very few Rieslings provide signals about whether the wine is dry, off-dry or sweet.

Is Riesling the greatest white wine grape?

Wed, 07 May 2008 14:47:25 -0400

The Wine Press Northwest crew is prepping for a Riesling judging this weekend, and I am salivating as I enter wines into our database.

While Chardonnay still is far and away the most popular white wine in America, I have to think that Riesling is the greatest.

NW wineries fare well at Riverside judging

Mon, 05 May 2008 23:54:53 -0400

On Sunday, I posted an item about Ste. Michelle's 07 Dry Riesling winning best white wine at the annual Riverside International Wine Competition, run by Dan Berger, an international wine judge, writer, author and columnist for Wine Press Northwest.

Ste. Michelle wasn't the only Northwest winery to do well amid the 2,500 entries.

Ste. Michelle Dry Riesling tops Riverside judging

Sun, 04 May 2008 22:46:53 -0400

Chateau Ste. Michelle not only makes the most Riesling in the world - but it also produces some of the finest. This was proven once again this afternoon in Southern California.

Ste. Michelle's 2007 Dry Riesling won the sweepstakes award for best white wine of the Riverside International Wine Competition, which concluded this afternoon.

Vineyard coming along

Sun, 04 May 2008 18:58:33 -0400

Today has been blissfully sunny and warm, with temperatures in the mid-70s and nary a cloud in the sky over Washington's Columbia Valley.

In my humble but growing backyard vineyard, nine of my 10 Brunello clone Sangiovese vines are leafing out quite nicely. The 10th is just finally showing full bud break but is a good two weeks behind the others. Odd. Nine of the vines are entering their fifth leaf, and the 10th (though not the one slow in leafing out) is a cutting from late 2006 that I planted last spring.

Walla Walla weekend

Sat, 03 May 2008 19:01:57 -0400

It's Spring Release Weekend in the Walla Walla Valley, when thousands descend upon the valley in eastern Washington and Oregon to visit nearly 100 wineries now open to the public.

The genesis of this event lies with Leonetti Cellar, the valley's oldest winery. Since the early 1980s, Leonetti has enjoyed cult-like status, and early May has been when its customers have come to the winery for its annual open house.

You and Bobby Flay

Fri, 02 May 2008 13:25:40 -0400

How would you like to hang with celebrity chef Bobby Flay in New York City? Flay and Columbia Crest are teaming up with a contest called "Flayvors of Washington." All you have to do is come up with an original recipe that uses ingredients from Washington state and is inspired by a Columbia Crest Grand Estates wine.

Leonetti tests alternative closure

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:38:30 -0400

Two years ago, Leonetti owner Gary Figgins judged the Northwest Wine Summit on Oregon's Mount Hood. I'd recently seen my first glass "cork" from Alcoa in a bottle of Sinnean. Over dinner, my buddy Hank Sauer and I showed the cork alternative to Gary. He was fascinated and wondered if he might be able to talk his son, winemaker Chris Figgins, into testing the closure.