The post Hospice du Rhône hones in on Walla Walla Valley was written by Great Northwest Wine. By Barbara Robertson Stoney Vine Vineyard is an estate planting in The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater for Dusted Valley Vintners. (Richard Duval Images) When the internationally acclaimed Hospice du Rhône revealed its decision to stage its prestigious wine event in the Walla Walla Valley this year, it was met with excitement among lovers of Rhône varietals grown in the region. The choice reflects the organization’s commitment to growth, exploring and showcasing regions at the forefront of Rhône va ..read more

The post Sokol Blosser Winery 2022 Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Columbia Valley, $38 was written by Great Northwest Wine. Here’s a delicious wine that comes with a backstory of some savvy logistics. Second-generation winegrowers Alex, Allison and Nik Sokol Blosser use the phrase “We know Pinot,” but they also know how to respond in a moment of crisis. Those who grew Pinot Noir in the Willamette Valley freaked out early on in the 2022 vintage when the Northwest — on the eve of Tax Day — experienced a frost event that killed primary buds on many vines. Fearing the worst, Sokol Blosser reached o ..read more

The post Puget Sound tasting rooms offer experiences with wine was written by Great Northwest Wine. Tinte Cellars operates a winery and tasting room in Woodinville, but owners Tim Gamble and Teresa Spellman Gamble opened a satellite tasting room in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood. (Photo courtesy of Facebook) Tinte Cellars operates a winery and tasting room in Woodinville, but owners Tim Gamble and Teresa Spellman Gamble opened a satellite tasting room in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood. (Photo courtesy of Facebook) Tinte Cellars operates a winery and tasting room in Woodinville, but own ..read more

The post Valo 2020 Conner Lee Vineyard Right Bank, Columbia Valley, $50 was written by Great Northwest Wine. Few could have gotten into the vineyards that helped Michael Ruhland and Matías Kúsulas to achieve immediate acclaim for their young Valo project. Conner Lee, a comparatively cooler site near the Columbia Basin town of Othello, Wash., was planted in 1980 under the auspices of the late Walter Clore, and this bottling represents the vineyard’s second vintage under the ownership of growers Josh Lawrence and Tom Merkle. It’s a straight-forward blend inspired by the Right Bank in Bordeaux ..read more

The post Dineen Vineyards 2021 Estate Vintner’s Blend Red Wine, Yakima Valley $25 was written by Great Northwest Wine. This second-generation vineyard in the upper reaches of the Yakima Valley north of Zillah is one of the early adopters of the Sustainable WA program, and the 2021 vintage brought a different set of challenges via the “heat dome” event in late June when the Dineen family as the temperature in the vines reached 112. Their charming Bordeaux-driven blend of Malbec (21%), Cabernet Sauvignon (21%), Petit Verdot (21%), Cabernet Franc (20%) and Merlot (6%) receives a contribution of ..read more

The post Idaho winegrowers continue uphill battle along Eagle Foothills was written by Great Northwest Wine. Hailey Minder in Idaho’s Eagle Foothills has used her family’s 3100 Cellars project to emerge as one of the Pacific Northwest’s rising talents in sparkling wine. (Richard Duval Images) EAGLE, Idaho — Expertise, passion, talent and agritourism don’t always line up with a community’s land-use policy. The debate within Idaho’s Eagle Foothills American Viticultural Area revolving around farming, wine production, consumer engagement and property rights serves as an example of how cultural co ..read more

The post Cristom Vineyards 2021 Eola-Amity Hills Chardonnay, Eola-Amity Hills $45 was written by Great Northwest Wine. The Gerrie family and longtime winemaker Steve Doerner used Chardonnay to help launch Cristom Vineyards in 1992, and this flagship expression of Chardonnay remains emblematic of the Eola-Amity Hills, starting with the melange from eight vineyards — each within the American Viticultural Area and harvested by hand. Von Oehsen and Eola Springs make up nearly two-thirds of this blend of five clones including 548, a young and prized selection. Now with Daniel Estrin heading up the ..read more

The post Pike Road Wines 2021 Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton $50 was written by Great Northwest Wine. It makes sense that one of the Northwest’s most famous sites for Pinot Noir helped Austrailian winemaker Heather Perkin, the Campbell family and Pike Road Wines to earn a rare double gold and one of the highest scores for any wine last fall at the Great Northwest Invitational Wine Competition. Until the Campbells created the Pike Road brand, fruit from Shea was dedicated to the Elk Cove program, which is now 100% estate grapes. Perkin’s discrete use of oak — 18% new French barrels ..read more

The post Day Wines 2022 Vin de Days Rouge, Willamette Valley $27 was written by Great Northwest Wine. From her Day Camp facility near Dundee, Ore., Brianne Day creates this crowd-pleasing blend that’s primarily Pinot Noir with some of the flash that Pinot Meunier (8%) offers. The fanciful nose of raspberry, pomegranate and black pepper includes a bit of brown sugar and pork belly. Those are joined on the palate with a theme of bright cherry flavors that easy to appreciate because of the soft tannins and zippy finish. It’s a tribute to her vineyard relationships — which include Biodynamic ..read more

The post Convergence Zone Cellars 2021 Mistral Grenache, Red Mountain $33 was written by Great Northwest Wine. Scott Greenberg’s touch with Rhône varieties from the 2021 vintage continues to be proven in regional competitions, and it starts with his investment in top-shelf grapes. Here it is the Holmes family’s historic Ciel du Cheval Vineyard near Red Mountain’s Sunset Road, a harvest of Grenache on Oct. 7. Its light, brickish color carries aromas of potpourri, pomegranate and orange oil. The palate delivers freeze-dried strawberry, plum, orange peel and both black and hibiscus tea. Light-b ..read more