The Wine Knows

Eroica, the international Riesling collaboration between Ernst Loosen of the Mosel and Chateau Ste. Michelle of Woodinville, Wash., is a decade old.

Here is a video posted on YouTube by Desert Wind Winery in Prosser after it brought in its first load of Sauvigon Blanc from its estate vineyard on Washington's Wahluke Slope.

A report by the Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers indicates record crop of 155,000 tons of wine grapes this fall. That would be up from 145,000 last year.

If you had plans to show up at your local Washington state liquor store in August to find the usual great deals available during Washington Wine Month, you'll need to wait a month.

We have long touted the greatness of Barrister Winery, a boutique producer in Spokane, Wash. Since its first vintage, Barrister has been producing some of Washington's finest red wines, particularly its Cabernet Franc, which has won an astonishing number of awards.

I chatted Tuesday with Paul Champoux, owner and manager of famed Champoux Vineyards in Washington's Horse Heaven Hills.

For the past half-decade, a group known as the Washington Wine Ambassadors has worked diligently to promote Washington wine by volunteering at events. It has been a wonderful program and has operated under the umbrella of the Washington Wine Commission.

Tim Ray, our man in Spokane, attended Sunday night's Taste Washington event at the fabulous Davenport Hotel and took some photos, which we have posted here.

Dusted Valley Vintners of Walla Walla, Wash., known for its superior-quality Syrahs and other reds as well as its value Boomtown label, is opening a tasting room across the Cascade Mountains in Woodinville.

Apparently, our report last week that Ste. Michelle Wine Estates was planning to discontinue its Stimson Estate Cellars line struck a chord with wine lovers.

So much so that the Washington wine giant is reconsidering the move after an outpouring of calls and emails from consumers and retailers alike.