Oregon ranks third in the number of wineries and fourth in wine production in the United States. In its relatively short 40-year history, the Oregon wine industry has evolved into a world-class wine region. With Oregon’s 16 AVA’s (American Viticultural Areas) found in both warm and cool climates, Oregon winemakers are able to produce wines from over 70 different grape varieties. However, Pinot Noir is the variety that propelled Oregon onto the worldwide wine stage and is still what many people think of when it comes to Oregon wine. While Oregon wine is far from a one-trick pony, Pinot Noir is still the queen. Over 12,000 acres of vineyards in Oregon are planted to Pinot Noir and production of Pinot Noir is over three times the next leading variety, Pinot Gris. As you will see in the lists below, we tasted more Pinot Noir than anything else at the event.

Unwine’d was a huge success, especially for a first-time event. By the time the doors opened to the public at 3pm, the line wrapped around the outside of the Left Bank Annex building. Once inside, attendees were treated to great wines and yummy food. Kudos to the Oregon Wine Board and Jamie Peha of Peha Promotions for a job well done!

Considering the time and gas money attendees saved not having to travel around the state visiting tasting rooms and making appointments, the $50 ticket was money well spent. Hopefully, those who attended discovered some favorite new wines and wineries and will make plans to travel to the wineries to visit and taste again. There is nothing like spending a long weekend in wine country.

Between the three days I spent in Oregon wine country on a media tour in March and attending Unwine’d last weekend, it has been a pleasure to immerse myself in all things Oregon wine and get to know so many key players in the Oregon wine industry.

With 100 wineries pouring three to five wines each, we were not able to taste wine from every winery at Unwine’d. Instead, we tried to taste wines from a good representative sample of the participating wineries. We hope you enjoy the following lists that show some of our favorite wines and wineries of those we did taste at the event.

Overall Favorite Wines (Highest Quality Ratings):
2007 Amity Winemaker’s Reserve Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $40, Quality: 4.5, QPR: 5
2009 Archery Summit Looney Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge, $85, Quality: 4.5, QPR: 5
2009 Archery Summit Arcus Estate Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills, $100, Quality: 4.5, QPR: 5

Best Wines <=$20:
2009 Cooper Mountain Chardonnay, Willamette Valley, $18, Quality: 4, QPR: 5
2010 Sokol Blosser Estate Rosé of Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills, $18, Quality: 4, QPR: 4
2010 Dobbes Wine by Joe Chardonnay, Oregon, $14, Quality: 3.5, QPR: 5
2010 Montinore Estate Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $20, Quality: 3.5, QPR: 5
2010 Dobbes Wine by Joe Pinot Gris, Oregon, $14, Quality: 3.5, QPR: 4

Best Value Regardless of Price (Quality >=4 and QPR=5):
2007 Amity Winemaker’s Reserve Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $40, Quality: 4.5, QPR: 5
2009 Archery Summit Looney Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge, $85, Quality: 4.5, QPR: 5
2009 Archery Summit Arcus Estate Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills, $100, Quality: 4.5, QPR: 5
2009 Cooper Mountain Chardonnay, Willamette Valley, $18, Quality: 4, QPR: 5
2008 Argyle Brut Sparkling Wine, Willamette Valley, $27, Quality: 4, QPR: 5
2010 Montinore Estate Reserve Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $28, Quality: 4, QPR: 5
2010 Lachini Pinot Port, Willamette Valley, $28 [375ml], Quality: 4, QPR: 5
2009 Van Duzer Estate Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $30, Quality: 4, QPR: 5

Top 10 Favorite Wineries (in alphabetical order):
Adelsheim Vineyard
Amity Vineyards
Archery Summit
Argyle Winery
Lachini Vineyards
Phelps Creek Vineyards
Sokol Blosser Winery
Stoller Vineyards
Van Duzer Vineyards
Watermill Winery

If you were at Unwine’d, we’d love to hear what some of your favorites were. And if you missed the event, I encourage you to enjoy some Oregon wines during the month of May and throughout the year.

Cheers!

Unwine’d 2012: Highlights from Oregon Wine’s Big Event was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Our selection criteria include:

• A very good Quality rating of >=3.5 stars (out of 5)
• A price tag of <=$15
• Must be widely available

The Crusher is produced by Don Sebastiani & Sons. The Sebastiani name has been synonymous with quality winemaking in California for over 115 years. Sourced from Merwin Vineyard in the Clarksburg AVA, The Crusher is a tribute to the fundamental relationship between the grower and the winemaker. Winemaker Greg Kitchens joined Don Sebastiani & Sons in 2001.

“100% sourced from the Merwin Vineyard in the heart of the up and coming Clarksburg appellation, our 2011 Rosé of Pinot Noir is rose petal pink in the glass, displaying a fragrant bouquet of wild strawberry, apricot and rose hips notes. A nicely balanced mélange of tangerine, strawberry and subtle Key Lime flavors follow, leading to a crisp palate cleansing finish. Vibrant, racy acidity and a light to medium body make this a wonderfully versatile food wine as well as a great summertime sipper.” –Greg Kitchens, winemaker

2011 The Crusher Rosé of Pinot Noir (Merwin Vineyard, Clarksburg, California): Pale pink. Aromatic with watermelon, raspberry, and strawberry on both the nose and palate. Dry and light to medium-bodied with lively acidity and a long, refreshing finish. A nice wine to enjoy on the porch as the weather gets warmer.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $10.99; Available elsewhere, $9 to $14

A Wine for Tonight: 2011 The Crusher Rosé of Pinot Noir was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

When researching what wines might be served with moussaka, it was no surprise that Greek wines were recommended. However, I wanted to pair this meal with Washington State wines, so I looked in both What to Drink with What You Eat and The Food Lover’s Guide to Wine by Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page to see what other wines are recommended with moussaka or Greek cuisine. I decided to pair the meal with a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Rosé so we selected the 2008 Novelty Hill Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2010 Chinook Cabernet Franc Rosé. Both wines were very good; however, the rosé was the unanimous choice as the best pairing.

We’d love for you to share in the comments what you would have paired with this meal. And, as always, we welcome your suggestions for challenging wine pairings for us to try in the future.

Bon Appétit!

2010 Chinook Cabernet Franc Rosé (Yakima Valley, Washington): Pale, pinkish salmon in color. Aromatic with strawberry, raspberry, and floral notes on the nose. Watermelon and raspberry come through on the palate. Dry and light to medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Well-balanced with a long, refreshing finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington), $14.99

2008 Novelty Hill Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, Washington): Deep, purplish red. Nice nose with black cherry and leather aromas. More black cherry as well as spice and oak come through on the palate. Medium to full-bodied with lively acidity, medium tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Full Pull Wines (Seattle, Washington), $19.99; Available elsewhere, $17 to $30

Challenging Wine Pairing: Greek Moussaka was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Calling upon Taittinger’s knowledge of producing quality Champagne in France, Domaine Carneros has established itself as a world-class sparkling wine house in the United States. Domaine Carneros produces three styles of sparkling wine: Brut, Brut Rosé, and Blanc de Blancs. Recently, we had the opportunity to taste their Brut Rosé Cuvée de la Pompadour in a blind samples tasting. A blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, this Brut Rosé is excellent and a great representation of the quality sparkling wine that Domaine Carneros produces.

The Domaine Carneros Brut Rosé Cuvée de la Pompadour is named for Madame de Pompadour, the mistress of Louis XV, who is credited with introducing Champagne to the court at Versailles.

“Champagne is the only wine a woman can drink and remain beautiful.” –Madame de Pompadour, namesake of the Domaine Carneros Brut Rosé Cuvée de la Pompadour

So when you are selecting sparkling wines to enjoy during the rapidly approaching holidays, I encourage you to give Domaine Carneros, and particularly this Brut Rosé, a try. And if you are ever in the Napa Valley, consider a visit to their beautiful chateau.

NV Domaine Carneros Brut Rosé Cuvée de la Pompadour (Carneros, Napa Valley, California): 58% Pinot Noir and 42% Chardonnay. Pale pinkish salmon color. Small, fairly fast bead of bubbles. Very aromatic with strawberry, peach, and floral notes on the nose. Strawberry, raspberry, citrus notes, and a hint of spice come through on the palate. Dry and medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Well-balanced with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $35; Available elsewhere, $28 to $50

Domaine Carneros: Napa Valley Sparkling Wine by Taittinger was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

For this month’s challenging wine pairing, I decided to prepare hot dogs and some complementary side dishes beyond the usual choices of chips and baked beans. We enjoyed a meal of hot dogs with mustard and relish condiments, green bean salad, hominy salad, and almond crunch bars for dessert. It was delicious, if I may say so myself!

I truly believe that there is a wine to pair with every food, even hot dogs. And, my trusty guide for pairing food and wine, What to Drink with What You Eat by Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page, came through once again with recommendations. We selected the 2009 Dr. Loosen Riesling Kabinett Blue Slate and the 2010 Conde de Valdemar Rosado. Both wines were very good; however, the Riesling was the consensus favorite both for sipping and with the meal. However, the rosé paired really well with the dessert; it really brought out the toasty and salty notes in the almond crunch bars. On a side note, if you like chili on your hot dogs, you might consider a red wine such as Zinfandel.

We’d love for you to share in the comments what you would have paired with this meal. And, as always, we welcome your suggestions for challenging wine pairings for us to try in the future.

Bon Appétit!

2009 Dr. Loosen Riesling Kabinett Blue Slate (Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany): Pale to medium greenish yellow. Aromatic with minerality, pear, and white peach on the nose. White peach, Granny Smith apple, and mandarin orange come through on the palate. Off-dry to medium sweet and medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Well-balanced with good mouthfeel and a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Esquin Wine Merchants (Seattle, Washington), $17.99; Available elsewhere, $15 to $25

2010 Bodegas Valdemar Conde de Valdemar Rosado (Rioja, Spain): 85% Garnacha and 15% Tempranillo. Hot pink in color. Nice nose with cherry, raspberry, and strawberry aromas. Reminds me of Ocean Spray cran-raspberry on the palate. Dry and medium-bodied with lively acidity and a long finish. Gets better the longer its open.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Esquin Wine Merchants (Seattle, Washington), $9.99; Available elsewhere, $5 to $13

Challenging Wine Pairing: Hot Dogs was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

This is the time of year when we turn our attention to rosé wines. In fact, many wineries only make small quantities of rosé wines to be released during the summer months. Rosé is French for “pink” and is used to describe wines of that color. Rosés are generally made from red grapes; however, unlike typical red wine production, the skins are removed from the juice after only a couple of days. This limited skin contact gives rosé its light pink color and is the reason that rosés are lighter-bodied than most red wines. Rosés can run the gamut from dry to sweet. Too many people think pink wines are all sweet. Not so. For me, the dry rosés are more serious and interesting.

The consensus favorite was the 2010 Barnard Griffin Rosé of Sangiovese. It is one of the most well-known and widely available Washington State rosés. I look forward to its release each year. Rob Griffin and his wife Deborah Barnard founded Barnard Griffin Winery, located in Richland, Washington, in 1983. Rob moved to Washington State in 1977 to be winemaker for Preston Wine Cellars when there were under ten wineries in the entire state. Shortly after founding Barnard Griffin, Rob left Preston and went to work for Hogue Cellars as winemaker and general manager. In 1991, Rob left Hogue to devote his full time and energy to Barnard Griffin. The current winery and tasting room were built in 1996. Barnard Griffin’s current annual production is approximately 75,000 cases.

When the sun is shining and you’re looking for a refreshing beverage to enjoy on the deck, don’t forget to give rosé wine a shot.

From 1st to last in the group consensus rankings:

2010 Barnard Griffin Rosé of Sangiovese (Columbia Valley, Washington): Pale to medium pink in color. Nice nose with strawberry, raspberry, watermelon, and floral aromas. More red fruits as well as orange peel come through on the palate. Dry and medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Well-balanced and very refreshing with a long, lingering finish. An excellent summer sipper and also great with food.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington), $11; Available elsewhere, $10 to $13

2010 Mark Ryan The Vincent Rosé (Columbia Valley, Washington): 60% Syrah, 20% Grenache, and 20% Mourvedre. Very pale salmon color. Aromatic with orange peel and raspberry on both the nose and palate. Dry and medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a long, refreshing finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: QFC (Seattle, Washington), $12; Available elsewhere, $14

2010 Jones of Washington Rosé of Syrah (Columbia Valley, Washington): Medium pink. Aromatic with aromas and flavors of honey, strawberry, rose petals, and Red Vines. Off-dry and medium-bodied with lively acidity and a long finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Wine World (Seattle, Washington), $12

2010 Syncline Rosé (Columbia Valley, Washington): 33% Pinot Noir, 17% Grenache, 17% Cinsault, 15% Carignan, 9% Mourvedre, and 9% Counoise. Very pale salmon color. Nose is a bit tight at first. Strawberry, melon, and orange blossom come through on both the nose and palate. Dry and light-bodied with crisp acidity and a long finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 2 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: QFC (Seattle, Washington), $16; Available elsewhere, $18 to $19

2009 Flying Dreams Little Red Rosé (Columbia Valley, Washington): Deep ruby pink. Aromatic with plums and mineral notes on the nose. Cherry and plum on the palate. Dry and medium-bodied with lively acidity and a bitter finish. A bit hot on the back end.
Quality: 2.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: NR (not recommended)
Where to buy: Winery, $18

2010 Waters Rosé (Walla Walla Valley, Washington): 65% Syrah and 35% Viognier. Pale pinkish salmon in color. Interesting aromatics with hairspray, perfume, and floral notes on the nose. Light red fruit and perfume comes through on the palate. Dry and light to medium-bodied with lively acidity and a long, somewhat sour, finish.
Quality: 2.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: NR (not recommended)
Where to buy: Wine World (Seattle, Washington), $18; Available elsewhere, $16 to $18

Wine Tasting Dinner: Washington Rosé for Summer was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Jerk is a Jamaican cooking style where the meats are either dry rubbed or wet marinated with a number of ingredients including a mixture of spices such as allspice, nutmeg, cinnamon (just to name a few), garlic, and hot peppers. Today, the usual process is to prepare a hot spicy rub and cook the meat on the grill.

The full menu for this meal included the jerked chicken topped with sour cream and roasted raspberry chipotle sauce, tri-color cheese tortellini salad, pineapple beach bread, and key lime pie for dessert.

After referring to my favorite guide for pairing food and wine, What to Drink with What You Eat by Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page, we decided to go with a rosé and a sparkling wine. We enjoyed the 2010 Trust Cellars Cabernet Franc Rosé from the Columbia Valley in Washington State and the 2007 Argyle Brut Sparkling Wine from the Willamette Valley in Oregon. Both wines were excellent; however, the rosé was the consensus favorite with the meal while the sparkling wine was the favorite prior to having it with the food.

We’d love for you to share in the comments what you would have paired with this meal. And, as always, we welcome your suggestions for challenging wine pairings for us to try in the future.

Bon Appétit!

2010 Trust Cellars Cabernet Franc Rosé (Columbia Valley, Washington): Medium salmon-pink in color. Very aromatic with cherry, strawberry, and raspberry on the nose. More cherry as well as watermelon and pear come through on the palate. Dry and light to medium-bodied with lively acidity. Well-balanced and very refreshing with a long finish.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Wine World Warehouse (Seattle, Washington), $15.99; Available elsewhere, $17

2007 Argyle Brut Sparkling Wine (Willamette Valley, Oregon): 63% Chardonnay and 37% Pinot Noir. Pale, greenish straw yellow. Small, fast bead of bubbles. Nice nose with banana and apple aromas. Apple, pear, and a hint of pineapple come through on the palate. Dry, medium-bodied and crisp. Well-balanced with a long finish. An excellent bubbly.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Full Pull Wines (Seattle, Washington), $21.99; Available elsewhere, $19 to $29

Challenging Wine Pairing: Jerked Chicken was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Our selection criteria include:

• A very good Quality rating of >=3.5 stars (out of 5)
• A price tag of <=$15
• Must be widely available

Rob Griffin and his wife Deborah Barnard founded Barnard Griffin Winery, located in Richland, Washington, in 1983. Rob moved to Washington State in 1977 to be winemaker for Preston Wine Cellars when there were under ten wineries in the entire state. Shortly after founding Barnard Griffin, Rob left Preston and went to work for Hogue Cellars as winemaker and general manager. In 1991, Rob left Hogue to devote his full time and energy to Barnard Griffin. The current winery and tasting room were built in 1996. Barnard Griffin’s current annual production is approximately 75,000 cases. Their Rosé of Sangiovese is one of the most well-known and widely available Washington State rosés. I look forward to its release each year.

“The 2010 boasts gorgeous melon, pomegranate and cherry fruit with hints of pineapple and rose petal. Dry and flavorful with a pleasant underlying minerality. Quite food-friendly, as well as a great stand-alone wine. Stock up on this delicious Rosé for all your summer get-togethers.” –Owner/winemaker Rob Griffin

2010 Barnard Griffin Rosé of Sangiovese (Columbia Valley, Washington): Medium bright pink in color. Nice nose with cherry, strawberry, and watermelon aromas. More red fruits as well as orange peel and strawberry Twizzlers come through on the palate. Dry and medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Very refreshing with a long finish. Gets better the longer it is open. An excellent summer sipper.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington), $10.99; Available elsewhere, $10 to $13

A Wine for Tonight: 2010 Barnard Griffin Rosé of Sangiovese was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Our selection criteria include:

• A very good Quality rating of >=3.5 stars (out of 5)
• A price tag of <=$15
• Must be widely available

Maryhill Winery, located in Goldendale, Washington, is perched on a bluff overlooking the Columbia River Gorge with Mt. Hood in the distance. Founded in 1999 by Craig and Vicki Leuthold, Maryhill’s production has grown from 4,300 cases in 1999 to over 80,000 cases today, making it the 15th largest winery in Washington State. The winery has a beautiful setting with gorgeous views, a 3,000-square-foot tasting room, and a 4,000-seat outdoor amphitheatre, which plays host to a summer concert series.

“Lighter in color than previous years and lighter on the palate, this wine is sure to keep Rosé lovers happy. Look for light hints of strawberry and occasional tropical aromas. On the palate you will enjoy lightly honeyed strawberries and thoughts of vanilla with a bit of minerality on the finish. Pair with creamy dips and spreads and creamy cheeses.” – Maryhill Winery

2009 Maryhill Rosé of Sangiovese (Columbia Valley, Washington): Medium salmon in color. Pleasant aromas and flavors of strawberry and orange peel. Medium-bodied with crisp acidity and a long finish. Very refreshing.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Received as sample, suggested retail $14; Available elsewhere, $11

A Wine for Tonight: 2009 Maryhill Rosé of Sangiovese was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

The festivities kicked off on Friday with the Washington Wine Restaurant Awards, picked up steam on Saturday with Education Day, and launched into overdrive on Sunday when the doors opened for the Grand Tasting.

Washington Wine Restaurant Awards

The purpose of the Washington Wine Restaurant Awards is to honor restaurants, sommeliers, and individuals that help promote Washington wines in restaurants. Judges evaluate restaurants on a variety of criteria, including wine list, service and staffing, promotions and overall wine philosophy. The Walter Clore Honorarium, given to an individual who has demonstrated dedication to the advancement of the Washington wine industry, was awarded to Maureen “Mo” Shaw of Ray’s Café in Seattle. The Washington Wine Restaurant of the Year is the most prestigious award, given to the restaurant that has promoted Washington wines above and beyond all others. This year’s winner was Canlis Restaurant in Seattle.

Education Day

Education Day featured eight seminars on a variety of topics. The seminars give attendees the opportunity to taste, discuss, meet, and learn from some of the biggest names in the Washington wine industry as well as a few notable guests from outside of Washington State. I attended the Common Ground seminar featuring Seven Hills Vineyard as well as one discussing Washington’s Singular Style.

Common Ground: A Seven Hills Vineyard Investigation
Shayn Bjornholm MS, the Education Director for the Washington Wine Commission, led this seminar focused on the Walla Walla Valley’s famed Seven Hills Vineyard. The panel featured Marty Clubb of L’Ecole Nº41, Jean-Francois Pellet of Pepper Bridge Winery, Drew Hendricks MS of Pappas Brothers, and Blake Gray of The Gray Market Report. Each panelist spoke about their thoughts regarding Seven Hills Vineyard, which was named one of the “Top Ten Vineyards in the World” by Wine & Spirits Magazine in 2004, and then Shayn Bjornholm led us through a tasting of wines from L’Ecole Nº41, Leonetti Cellar, and Pepper Bridge Winery. The common threads from winemaker comments about Seven Hills Vineyard were texture, tannin structure, vibrancy, and black fruits, especially black plums.

IN SEARCH OF: Washington’s Singular Style
Bruce Schoenfeld of Travel + Leisure Magazine moderated a stellar panel, which included Bob Betz MW of Betz Family Winery, Shayn Bjornholm MS, Sandy Block MW of Legal Seafoods, and Drew Hendricks MS. After tasting wines from Chablis in France, Ribera del Duero in Spain, and Barolo in Italy, which are very synonymous with a singular style from their region of origin, the panel then took the seminar attendees through a tasting of Washington wines and a discussion of whether or not Washington State has, or should have, a singular style. While no definitive conclusions were made, I will offer up three quotes from Bob Betz that I found particularly interesting:

Washington wine is “Old World structure and New World fruit”.

“Washington Syrah is what America should be drinking.”

“Consumers have a 2-point system (not a 100-point), Yum or Yuck.”

Grand Tasting

The Grand Tasting is the showcase event of Taste Washington. This year’s event featured over 200 wineries pouring their wines and over 50 restaurants serving small bites. With more than 700 wineries now open in the state of Washington, this event offers attendees the opportunity to try a large number of them in one place at one time. Considering the time and gas money you save not having to crisscross the state visiting tasting rooms and making appointments, the $125 for VIP tickets or $75 for general admission tickets is money well spent. Now, don’t get me wrong, once you attend an event like this and discover some favorite new wines and wineries, you will definitely want to make plans to travel to the wineries to visit and taste again. There is nothing like spending a long weekend in Washington wine country.

One of the best aspects of Taste Washington is that often you will find either the winemaker and/or winery owner pouring that winery’s wines. In addition to visiting with a number of people whose wines we have enjoyed in the past, we had the opportunity to try some wines from wineries whose wines we had not previously tasted. Our most exciting discovery was JB Neufeld Winery. Located in Yakima, Washington, JB Neufeld Winery is owned by Justin and Brooke Neufeld. While the JB Neufeld wines were new to us, we have long been fans of Gilbert Cellars for whom Justin is also the winemaker. A quick glance at the breakdown of wines we tasted at the Grand Tasting below shows that Justin’s wines also deliver serious bang-for-your-buck with the first three QPR: 5 wines being two wines from Gilbert Cellars and one from JB Neufeld.

My favorite wine from the Grand Tasting was the 2009 Betz Family Winery La Côte Patriarche Syrah, which will be released in the fall. The fruit for this wine comes from the 1986 Syrah block at Red Willow Vineyard, the oldest Syrah planting in the State of Washington. The name of this wine, which translates as “the founder’s slope”, is a nod to Red Willow owner/grower, Mike Sauer, and former Columbia Winery winemaker, David Lake, who planted those original Syrah vines.

Here’s a breakdown of the wines that we tasted during the Grand Tasting. Under each Quality heading, the wine name and region are listed along with price and QPR rating. Wines in bold type received a QPR rating of 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5).

Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
2009 Betz Family Winery La Côte Patriarche Syrah, Yakima Valley, $55, QPR: 4

Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
2007 Gilbert Cellars Allobroges Red Rhone-style Blend, Columbia Valley, $20, QPR: 5
2007 Gilbert Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Wahluke Slope, $28, QPR: 5
2008 JB Neufeld Artz Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain, $32, QPR: 5
2007 Dunham Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon XIII, Columbia Valley, $45, QPR: 5
2010 Nefarious Cellars Estate Viognier, Lake Chelan, $18, QPR: 4
2010 William Church Winery Viognier, Columbia Valley, $20, QPR: 4
2008 William Church Winery “2 Spires” Syrah/Cab Blend, Columbia Valley, $28, QPR: 4
2008 Hollywood Hill Vineyards Syrah, Rattlesnake Hills, $32, QPR: 4
2007 Laurelhurst Cellars Boushey Vineyard Syrah, Yakima Valley, $32, QPR: 4
2007 Adams Bench Reckoning Red Blend, Columbia Valley, $34, QPR: 4
2008 Hollywood Hill DIst83 Red Rhone-style Blend, Horse Heaven Hills, $34, QPR: 4
2008 L’Ecole Nº41 Estate Merlot, Walla Walla Valley, $37, QPR: 4
2010 Côte Bonneville Cabernet Franc Rosé, Yakima Valley, $30, QPR: 3
2007 Gilbert Cellars Petit Verdot, Wahluke Slope, $36, QPR: 3
2008 Nefarious Cellars Rocky Mother Syrah, Columbia Valley, $42, QPR: 3
2006 Côte Bonneville Carriage House Red Blend, Yakima Valley, $50, QPR: 2
2008 Andrew Will Sorella Red Blend, Horse Heaven Hills, $70, QPR: 1

Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
NV Treveri Cellars Blanc de Blanc Brut, Columbia Valley, $14, QPR: 5
2008 Gilbert Cellars Left Bank Red Blend, Wahluke Slope, $20, QPR: 4
2008 William Church Winery Bishop’s Blend Red Wine, Columbia Valley, $20, QPR: 4
2008 Dunham Cellars Lewis Vineyard Riesling, Columbia Valley, $20, QPR: 4
2007 Bridge Press Cellars Merlot, Walla Walla Valley, $30, QPR: 4
2008 JB Neufeld DuBrul Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Yakima Valley, $32, QPR: 4
2007 Laurelhurst Cellars Laurus Nobilis Red Blend, Columbia Valley, $28, QPR: 3
2009 Hollywood Hill Vineyards Pinot Noir, Puget Sound, $38, QPR: 3
2008 Nefarious Cellars Malbec, Snipes Mountain, $28, QPR: 2
2008 Adams Bench Reckoning Red Blend, Columbia Valley, $39, QPR: 2
2008 Cooper Wine Company Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain, $60, QPR: 2
2008 Cooper Wine Company L’inizio Red Blend, Red Mountain, $45, QPR: 1
2008 Andrew Will Two Blondes Vineyard Red Blend, Yakima Valley, $56, QPR: 1

Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
2009 Covey Run Sauvignon Blanc, Columbia Valley, $6, QPR: 5
NV Treveri Cellars Blanc de Blanc Extra Sec, Columbia Valley, $15, QPR: 5
NV Treveri Cellars Blanc de Blanc Demi-Sec, Columbia Valley, $17, QPR: 5
2007 Bridge Press Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley, $40, QPR: 3
2008 Laurelhurst Cellars Merlot, Columbia Valley, $24, QPR: 2
2009 Andrew Will Cabernet Franc, Columbia Valley, $28, QPR: 2
2008 Laurelhurst Cellars Cabernet Franc, Columbia Valley, $28, QPR: 2
2009 Icicle Ridge Winery Sangiovese, Washington State, $85, QPR: 1

Taste Washington 2011: Highlights from Washington Wine’s Signature Event was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.