This year, Fall Release Weekend is November 3 - 5, so the November issue of the Review oF Washington will be previewing wines that will be poured that weekend, including ones from Abeja, Aluvé, Neher Family, Valdemar Estates, Rotie Cellars, Dossier and College Cellars. From other parts of the state, there will be reports on Longship Cellars and Convergence Zone Cellars.  Affordable Sparkling Wines We enjoy having "bubbly" every now and then. French Champagne is always a treat, but there are times that call for a more affordable sparkling wine. But some are better than others. There's Ita ..read more

Besides apples and grapes, one of the biggest crops in the Yakima Valley is hops which are used to flavor beer and ales. They are flower buds which are flower buds which impart a myriad of aromas and flavors such as bitterness, sweetness, citrus, pine, There is a world wide market for hops. Besides the U.S., much is exported. In Spain, 35% of the beer is made with Yakima Valley hops. Much of these hops are distributed by Haas, a German company with a branch in Yakima that Lynn's niece's husband works for. On September 8th, Micah Cawley took us on a tour of hops harvesting. We met in front of ..read more

Harvest 2023 Under Way As of today, the 2023 wine grape harvest is well under way. Much of the white grapes are already undergoing fermentation and a lot of reds are coming in. Winemakers are liking what they are getting. There is some concern about acid levels dropping, but that can be managed. The weather outlook looks good for the next ten days. So growers are hoping for an early harvest completion, avoiding last year's rush to finish during a dropping temperatures in October. More later.... Valdemar Estates Opens Pintxo in Woodinville Valdemar Estates tasting Woodinville tasting room has ..read more

The belief that Rosé wines are for Summer and should be drunk by Labor Day is widespread. Many wineries and retailers are having the 2022's on sale. But there are advocates who claim that Rosés can be drunk year around. My answer to both camps is yes and no. There is something to be said for drinking Rosés while they are fresh and lively, and in some cases, after some bottle age. Here's my rundown what to drink now and what can be consumed later. Drink Now Cabernet Franc Rosés - Most Cab Franc Rosés are lightly extracted with pale colors. Some age better than others, but usually are best in S ..read more

Looking Ahead to October Now that the heat wave is over and the grape harvest under way, here's what we have coming up for October. In the October issue, there will be reports on Mongata, Gramercy Cellars, Neher Family, Kontos Cellars, Saviah Cellars, Vital, Brook & Bull and Armstrong Family. We will also be introducing Hawkins Cellars on Underwood Mountain in the Columbia Gorge and Cultura Wines in Zillah in the Yakima Valley.  More New French Wines Here are some new wines we've tried lately. N.V. Maison Fortant Rosé Brut ($10.99 - Grocery Outlet) - This is a super buy in a pleasant ..read more

In my Blog posting of 2 August, which was hastily put together, I meant to say more than that the Chateau Ste Michelle 40% cutback in wine grape purchases over five years was not good news but not really bad either. Since them there have been a lot more comments about the announcement. On Facebook, one commentator posted a circle with Ch Ste Michelle in it with a slash across. Another claimed growers were blindsided (I believe †he growers should have seen cutbacks on the horizon and prepared for them). For winemakers, this makes for an opportunity to pick up grapes from 30 to 40 year-old ..read more

Here's a roundup of wines from around the world that we've tasted recently. 2021 Château Fouquet Saumur Blanc ($26 - The Thief, Walla Walla) - This Loire Valley white is produced from Chenin Blanc. It displays a brilliant gold color and attractive aromas of Anjou pear, Crenshaw melon, grapefruit, honeysuckle, meadow flowers, clover and whiffs of white incense. The flavors are deliciously ripe and well textured, with notes of grape and pear skins and riverside minerals. The back picks up poor William liqueur, melon rind and grapefruit peel, followed by a crisp, juicy finish. 18.5/20 points. 20 ..read more

Looking Ahead to September Now that the August issue of the Review of Washington Wines is now on line, here's what we're working on for September. There will be some summer and early fall releases from the Walla Walla Valley, including ones from The Walls, Golden Ridge, Reininger/Helix and Va Piano. Next week, we will drive over to the Tri Cities to visit Convergence Zone (recently moved from North Bend) Batholomew, and Longship. Also featured will be the Mark Ryan Family wines and others from Downtown Walla Walla including Guardian Cellars and Gard Vintners. In the Highly Recommended section ..read more

Recent Washington Wine News Auction of Washington Wines Honor Roll For the Auction of Washington Wines in August, the following wine industry members have been named to the 2023 Event's Honor Roll. Ted Basler - Lifetime Achievement Award - To the former Chateau Ste Michelle Chief Operating Officer for his contributions for over 40 years. Marty Clubb - Award of Distinction - To the Managing Winemaker of L'Ecole No 41. Emerging Leaders Becca De Kline - 4 Feathers Wine Services Devyani Gupta - Winemaker, Valdemar Estates Michelle Moyer - Enology Professor, Washington State University Ashley Trou ..read more

Here are several wines we've been drinking along with the ones going in the August issue of the Review of Washington Wines which goes on line July 25. More New 2022 Rosés 2022 Underwood Rosé Wine, Oregon ($13.99 - Safeway) - Produced from undisclosed varieties, this is an amiable Pride Rainbow Rosé. It shows a copper-pink color and attractive aromas of strawberry, pink peach, watermelon, tangerine, pink roses, cherry blossoms, honeysuckle and pink incense. The flavors are captivating, with pink fruits that are accented by grape skins, cherry stones and minerals. The back picks up fraise and p ..read more