Taste Washington

In times like these, it is always great to find phenomenal wines for strong value, especially in the low to medium price ranges.  While Washington will always be an amazing super-premium wine producing region, it also boasts some of the finest wines between $10 and $20 in the world.  Don’t believe us?  Well, we would like to prove it by “challenging” what many consider to be the greatest wine producing country on earth, France, to a friendly taste-off.  Gary Werner will chose 5 different grapes that do well in both regions, then pick one Washington version and one French version at the same price…and see which one is “le value!”

Speakers: Jamie Brown, Fred Dexheimer, MS, Charles Smith, Gary Werner, Juan Munoz Oca

Wines:
2008 Charles Smith Wines “Kung Fu Girl” Riesling, Columbia Valley
2006 Wines of Substance Cabernet Franc,Columbia Valley
2006 Columbia Crest H3 Merlot, Horse Heaven Hills
2006 Milbrandt Vineyards and Winery “Traditions” Syrah, Wahluke Slope
2007 Dopf & Iron Riesling, Alcase
2006 Breton “Trinch!” Bourgeuil, Loire Valley
2005 Chateau La Freynelle Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux
2007 Saint Cosme Côtes-du-Rhone, Rhone Valley
2006 Chateau Le Breuil Rennaissance, Médoc, Bordeaux

Over the years, a sign of a Cabernet sauvignon’s greatness has always been its ability to develop increasing complexity of flavor and structure with age.  In theory, Washington State’s versions have all the stuffing – power of fruit, plentiful tannins, balancing acidity – to do so at supreme levels.  Here is proof!  Taste through 5 of our state’s most age worthy examples from the vaunted 1999 vintage and their present day counterparts to see what a decade can do with our world-class offerings from Betz Family Winery, Chateau Ste. Michelle, Columbia Winery, Hedges Family Estate and Woodward Canyon.

Speakers: Bob Betz MW, Patrick Comiskey, Doug Frost MS/MW, Tom Hedges, Jorge Hernandez, Rick Small, Joshua Maloney

Wines:
1999 and 2006 Betz FamilyWinery “Père de Famille” Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley 
1999 and 2006 Chateau Ste. Michelle Cold Creek Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley
1999 and 2006 Columbia Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley
1999 and 2006 Hedges Family Estate Red Mountain Reserve, Red Mountain
1999 and 2006 Woodward Canyon Winery ”Artist Series” Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley

Food and Wine Magazine’s hugely successful Best New Chefs Awards have featured numerous Seattle representatives over the years.  In 2008, some of them participated in a fun “What Chefs Want to Know About Wine” article for the country’s leading gastronomy magazine.  F&W’s Ray Isle has invited a similar panel back to see which New Washington Wines these local food luminaries from our very own top-notch restaurant scene love – and which artisanal local foodstuff they pair best with.
Speakers: Ray Isle, Nelson Daquip
Chef Johnathan Sundstrom, Chef Jason Wilson, Chef Ethan Stowell

Wines:
2007 Mark Ryan Viognier, Red Mountain
2006 a’Maurice Malbec, Columbia Valley
2007 O’Shea Scarborough “Klipsun Vineyard” Semillon, Red Mountain
2005 Pursued by Bear Cabernet Sauvignon, Columba Valley
2006 Sheridan Vineyard Cabernet Franc, Yakima Valley
2006 Vin du Lac “LEHM” Dry Riesling, Columbia Valley

“Müller-Thurgau…” “Gesundheit!” Looking to taste wines beyond the usual suspects grown East of the Cascade Mountains?  Expand your wine tasting palate?  Our closest Seattle neighbors have one of the most distinct and delicious growing regions in the state. Join Ron Irvine, author of The Wine Project: Washington’s Winemaking History, and Sara Schneider of Sunset Magazine to explore the stunning and unique offerings from producers tendering wines from grapes like Riesling, Müller-Thurgau, Madeleine Angevine, Siegerrebe and Pinot noir grown in the Puget Sound AVA!

Speakers: Ron Irvine, Greg Osenbach, Chris Primus, Bruce Naftaly, Sara Schneider, Ben Weinberg

Wines:
2007 San Juan Vineyards Siegerrebe
2007 Whidbey Island Vineyard and Winery Siegerrebe
2006 Hollywood Hill Vineyards Pinot Noir
2007 Lopez Island Vineyards Madeline Angevine 
2006 Bainbridge Island Vineyards and Winery Müller Thurgau 
2006 Vashon Winery Chasselas Dore
Whidbey Island Vineyards and Winery Island White
2006 Bainbridge Island Vineyards and Winery Siegerrebe Late Harvest Botrytis

With the wine world consistently focusing on where the grapes are grown as being one of the biggest keys to quality in a wine, this in-depth look at one of Washington’s most established vineyards will provide the chance to taste what everyone is talking about.  Bruce Schoenfeld of Travel and Leisure Magazine will pilot Patricia Gelles, owner/grower of Red Mountain’s famed Klipsun Vineyard, alongside leading national wine authorities and 3 world-class winemakers who utilize her grapes on a search for the through-line of “flavor of place on earth”…in the wine glass!

Speakers: John Bigelow, Patricia Gelles, Paul Gregutt, Mike Januik, Bruce Schoenfeld, Michael Jordan MS

Wines:
Januik Winery Barrel Sample
2006 Januik Winery Klipsun Vineyard Merlot, Red Mountain 
JM Cellars Barrel Sample 
2006 JM Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain 
DeLille Cellars Barrel Sample 
2006 DeLille Cellars Chaleur Estate Rouge, Yakima Valley 
Plus: 2 mystery wines! One from Klipsun, one not.  After investigating a line up of Klipsun based wines, can you tell which is which?