Great NW Wine: Wild Goose in BC tops U.S. competition

Published: Tue, 05/15/18

Wine of the Week

Mt. Hood Winery 2015 Scorched Earth Vineyard Grenache,
Columbia Valley

The McDermott family collaborates with acclaimed vineyard manager Lonnie Wright on Scorched Earth Vineyard in Dallesport, Wash., and Hood River winemaker Rich Cushman crafts the wine for the Bickford family's Mt. Hood Winery project.

Bright and fresh aromas of cherry and strawberry include an enticing hint of cedar that supports the fruit. The palate is silky smooth, offering a velvety texture that provides the flavors to match the nose, plus a twist of fresh pipe tobacco, making every sip a delight.

This won a gold medal and best of class at the sixth annual Cascadia International Wine Competition. It was one of 10 gold medals awarded during the judging to wines made by Cushman.

Price: $28

Production: 101 cases

Alcohol: 14.3%

Winery website

Value wine
of the Week

W.B. Bridgman 2016 Riesling, Columbia Valley

Yakima Valley attorney/winemaker W.B. Bridgman is credited with the first plantings of Chardonnay in Washington a century ago. In 1988, merchant Harry Alhadeff and winemaker Brian Carter combined to launch a brand dedicated to Bridgman in Sunnyside, and Seattle-based Precept revived the brand and has since established a relationship with Total Wine & More to further it. This 2016 Riesling is yet another example of how well suited this Germany white grape is to Washington state. Aromas of fruit cocktail, rosewater and lychee make their way to the palate in a rather elegant fashion. A blend of lime and orange acidity provides perfect balance to the 2.4% residual sugar that comes across more dry than sweet.

Price: $15

Production: 2,132 cases

Alcohol: 11.2%

Winery website

Rising Stars at the Clore Center

PROSSER, Wash. – The Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center provides an introduction to discover some of Washington’s newest up-and-coming winemakers at the third annual Rising Stars on Saturday, May 19.

Sip and savor 30 of the state’s youngest brands. Patrons also will be able to purchase bottles.

Cost is $55 for general admission from 1-4 p.m. The fee includes unlimited tastings, appetizers, wine glass and program. Tickets are transferable in advance, but not refundable.

The lineup includes Ancestry Cellars, Bontzu Cellars, Callan Cellars, Chris Daniel Winery, Co Dinn Cellars, Damsel Cellars, Elephant Seven, Eternal Wines/Drink Washington State, Lagana Cellars, Love That Red Winery, Vino La Monarcha/Palencia Winery, Monte Scarlatto, Radix Wines, Rocky Pond Cellars, The Wines of Sagemoor, Schooler Nolan Winery, Sin Banderas, T2 Cellar, TruthTeller, Tucannon Cellars, Wautoma Wines, Wit Cellars and Blended Learning by Washington State University.

Events calendar

Check out our revamped events calendar, which shows what is happening in the wine countries of Washington, Oregon, British Columbia and Idaho.

Have an event? Please visit this link to add it.

Wild Goose uses Pinot Gris
to soar again at Cascadia

The Wild Goose Vineyards 2017 Pinot Gris from British Columbia's Okanagan Valley took top honors at the sixth annual Cascadia Wine Competition, an international judging in Washington’s Columbia Valley.

Maryhill Winery in Goldendale, Wash., won 14 gold medals at the largest judging of Pacific Northwest wine staged in the U.S. Eleven Idaho producers combined for 19 gold medals, and Stephen Reustle of Reustle-Prayer Rock Vineyards in Roseburg, Ore., won seven gold medals.

32nd annual IPNC offers tickets to Passport, Salmon Bake

Pinotphiles unable to commit to the entire International Pinot Noir Celebration, one of the West Coast’s most educational, entertaining and delicious wine festivals, can now purchase a la carte tickets for the July 27-29 weekend on the campus of Linfield College in the heart of Oregon’s Willamette Valley.

Organizers have opened up the virtual ticket window for two events with a history of selling out — the Sunday Passport to Pinot ($125) as well as the festive Salmon Bake ($225).

Taste Washington attendance grows by 15%, tops 8,200

Taste Washington broke several records this spring, highlighted by overall attendance of 8,202 to cement its status as the largest single-region wine and food festival in the United States.

The 21st year of Taste Washington grew its total attendance by 15 percent as this year’s Grand Tasting drew 6,750 wine lovers, an increase of nearly 1,000 for the two-day pouring. The Washington State Wine Commission collaborations on the festival with Visit Seattle, the official destination marketing organization for Seattle and King County

Bourcier turns College Cellars education into La Rata Wines

This year marks the 15th anniversary of Walla Walla Community College’s enology and viticulture program, and Elizabeth Bourcier was in the first graduating class. She continues to make quiet, steady waves in the industry and recently launched La Rata Wines in Milton-Freewater, Ore.

She serves on the advisory board for the WWCC enology and viticulture program, where she’s been an advocate for the training of Hispanic workers. Her blend of Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon is produced at Cayuse Vineyards and sold exclusively through Seattle wine merchant/author Paul Zitarelli’s Full Pull Wines.

Seattle businessmen buy controlling interest in Abeja

Ken and Ginger Harrison recently announced they have sold majority interest in both the winery and the inn at Abeja. Seattle businessman Arnie Prentice becomes their partner in the winery. John Oppenheimer, founder and CEO of Seattle-based Columbia Hospitality, is majority owner of the inn.

The Harrisons, who will remain part of the ownership team and stay involved in the winery, noted that the husband/wife winemaking team of Daniel Wampfler and Amy Alvarez-Wampfler, as well as longtime innkeeper/chef Mary Besbris, will be retained.

Fujishin follows up Hot Brand buzz with Idaho winery award

A year ago, Fujishin Family Cellars was basking in the warm glow that came with being one of the U.S. wine industry’s top 10 Hot Brands, sparked by the interest in his Amatino - a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre.

This spring, Fujishin Family Cellars remains in the headlines as Wine Press Northwest magazine’s 2018 Idaho Winery of the Year. Martin Fujishin was raised on a family farm in the Snake River Valley, and during the past decade, he has developed into one of the state's most innovative vintners.

Leonetti Cellar family revisits Riesling under Figgins label

Few remember that the Figgins family in Walla Walla launched their iconic Leonetti Cellar brand — now famous for Cabernet Sauvignon — in 1978 with estate Riesling.

But when Chris Figgins, Leonetti's second-generation winemaker, began planting his Figgins Estate Vineyard east of town, he was concerned about a block that would be too cool to ripen red grapes. So planted Riesling. His first commercial vintage of 2011 is showing classic characteristics.

New wine reviews posted

We have posted several new reviews, including:

Ponzi Vineyards 2017 Pinot Gris,
Willamette Valley
Barons Winery 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley
Reustle-Prayer Rock Vineyards 2015 Timnah Bloc Estate Tempranillo, Umpqua Valley
Wit Cellars 2015 Cabernet Franc,
Yakima Valley
Patton Valley Vineyard 2014 The Estate
Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley
2Hawk Vineyard & Winery 2015 Tempranillo, Rogue Valley
Spangler Vineyards 2015 Khayam's Block Dolcetto, Umpqua Valley
Chris Daniel Winery 2014 Malbec,
Columbia Valley
Martin-Scott Winery 2015 Jones Vineyard Zinfandel, Columbia Valley
Skaha Vineyard 2017 Pinot Blanc,
Okanagan Valley
Cedergreen Cellars 2015 Gamay Noir, Columbia Valley
Siren Song Vineyard Estate and Winery
2014 Cézanne Sauvignon Blanc, Washington
Vine 46 Winery 2015 Latitude Red Wine, Washington
Henry Earl Estates 2015 Quintessence Vineyard Malbec, Red Mountain
Dowsett Family Winery 2015 Celilo Vineyard Gewürztraminer, Columbia Gorge
Tendril Wine Cellars 2013 C-Note Whole Cluster Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley
Rio Vista Wines 2015 Tempranillo,
Wahluke Slope
Rain Dance Vineyards 2015 Nicholas Vineyard Estate Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains
Simpatico Cellars 2015 The Bos Red Wine, Columbia Valley
Battle Creek Cellars 2015 Unconditional
Pinot Noir, Oregon
Cinder Wines 2016 Dried on the Vine Viognier, Snake River Valley
Stemilt Creek Winery 2014 Ascent Merlot, Columbia Valley
Eaglemount Wine & Cider NV Quince Mead, Puget Sound
Yamhill Valley Vineyards 2017 Estate
Rosé of Pinot Noir, McMinnville
Huston Vineyards 2016 Chicken Dinner White, Idaho
Angel Vine 2014 Les Collines Vineyard Zinfandel, Walla Walla Valley
Hillside Winery 2017 Muscat Ottonel, Okanagan Valley
Fletcher Bay Winery 2015 Kylee's Barrel Select Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley
Crayelle Cellars 2017 Albariño, Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley
Walla Walla Vintners 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley
Township 7 Vineyards & Winery 2015 Seven Stars Sparkling Wine, Okanagan Valley
Acrobat 2016 Pinot Gris, Oregon
Martin-Scott Winery 2015 Founder's Blend 50% Syrah/50% Petite Sirah, Columbia Valley
2Hawk Vineyard and Winery 2014 Limited Reserve Tempranillo, Southern Oregon
Succession Wines 2015 Familigia Vineyard Cabernet Franc, Ancient Lakes of
Columbia Valley
Eye of the Needle Winery 2013 Reserve Merlot, Columbia Valley
Joleté 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon,
Walla Walla Valley
Reustle-Prayer Rock Vineyards 2015 Timnah Block Estate Côt et Merlau Malbec-Merlot, Umpqua Valley
Rio Vista Wines 2016 Antoine Creek Vineyards Viognier, Columbia Valley

Read the reviews