I am pleased and humbled to announce that Washington Wine Report is again a finalist for 'Best Single Subject Wine Blog' from this year's Wine Blog Awards. Finalists are chosen by a panel of judges (see the list of judges here) with the final awards based on public and judges' votes. Friend and fellow local blogger Jameson Fink (JamesonFink.com) is also a finalist for "Best Writing On A Wine Blog." My congratulations to him and to the other finalists.

For me, it's the journey, not the destination. However, for those interested in voting, you can do so here until May 24th at 11:59pm...somewhere. Read more about the Wine Blog Awards here.

Folks, I had to close down last week's poll on Washington's signature grape as the Blogger poll widget loses votes faster than Florida! I have subsequently relocated the poll to my Washington Wine Report Facebook page. See the poll results and vote here:

www.facebook.com/wawinereport 

The choices:

A round-up of stories on Washington wine from May 8th to May 14th.  Read previous round-ups here.

From around the country...

San Jose Mercury News writes about O Wines.

Tasting through a large set of Washington wines, I am always struck by the diversity of grapes produced here. Here’s a list of varieties that I’ve come across from the Evergreen State this month:

The May Virtual Tasting wine is the L'Ecole No 41 2012 Chenin Blanc. This wine retails for $14 and is fairly widely available. The tasting will take place on Thursday May 30th from 7-8pm Pacific.

What you need to do to participate is:

1. Buy this month’s wine from a local retailer or from the winery.

2. Tweet your comments about the wine on Twitter between 7 and 8pm Pacific on the specified date using the hashtag #lecole41. For those on Twitter, follow me @wawinereport.

A round-up of stories on Washington wine from May 1 to May 7. Read previous round-ups here.

From around the country...

The Anchorage Daily News writes about the 2010 Hedges CMS.

The Pensacola News Journal writes about Duck Pond rehabilitating Merlot's poor public image.

Today’s Fresh Sheet – new and recent releases – includes wines from Mark Ryan Winery, Sleight of Hand Cellars, Convergence Zone Cellars, Kevin White Winery, Mosquito Fleet Winery, Wind Rose Cellars, Kerloo Cellars, JB Neufeld, and Tranche Cellars.

Pic of the Vine is a monthly image from photographer Richard Duval. See previous images here. 

While there's not an official start to Washington's wine touring season, we do know how to recognize the signs. Spring release celebrations are in full swing, barrel tastings are coming and for resident photographer Richard Duval, there's nothing quite like bud break to signal wine fun has begun.

"Prowling around Chelan during Spring Release took me to the vineyards of Nefarious where this burst of growth caught my eye," he said. "Like groundhogs, when we see bud break, we know it's time to come out of our winter burrows and start planning wine country adventures."

Click on the picture for a larger image. Enjoy!

The May/June issue of Edible Seattle has an article I wrote on Cadence titled, "Time in the cellar - The patient rhythms of Cadence Winery." See a list of locations to purchase a copy here. Also, the May issue of Wine Enthusiast has my first reviews for the magazine as well as a short article on Erik Chapman of Seattle's Sun Liquor complete with cocktail recipe. Read the latter here.

Enjoy!

A round-up of stories on Washington wine from April 22nd to April 30th.  Read previous round-ups here.

From around the country...

At the New York Times, Eric Asimov writes about terroirist Kevin Pogue and Walla Walla wine.

Cleveland Plain Dealer writes about the Renegade Wine Co. 2012 Columbia Valley Rose. 

The La Crosse Tribune (La Crosse, WI) writes about the Hogue Genesis Meritage 2007.

What follows is a guest post by Andy Perdue of GreatNorthwestWine.com. 

While Riesling is not Washington's No. 1 grape - barely - it is the white wine that most defines the state.

This is driven by Chateau Ste. Michelle, Washington's oldest winery and the world's single largest producer of Riesling at more than 1 million cases.

But Chateau Ste. Michelle is not the only Riesling player in Washington. Hogue Cellars, Pacific Rim Winemakers, Charles Smith, and even Ste. Michelle siblings Columbia Crest and Snoqualmie make significant amounts of Washington Riesling.

Below is a summary of posts for April 2013.

Summary of posts for March 2013

Bloomberg bloviates about a few Washington wines, little else

Old school! Recent print publications

Bud break in eastern Washington

It tough times, we continue the search for good, inexpensive wines with a baker’s Five Wines Under $15.

A round up of stories on Washington wine from April 15th to April 21st.  Read previous round-ups here.

From around the country...

The Coloradoan.com writes Happy Hour: Charles & Charles red blend a great table wine to keep on hand.


From around the blogosphere...

Paul Gregutt shares Eric Asimov raids my cellar part two – the winner.

The following article was written by Ryan Messer. Read other articles from Messer here.

Over the years, I have stepped foot in hundreds of wineries, tasting rooms, or co-ops in Washington State. Each time, the person working at the tasting room truly makes or breaks the experience and can even impact perceptions of the wines. Here are three people who have stood out for positively influencing my experiences over the years.

The first person I think of is Steve Wells of Gramercy Cellars. Appropriately titled "Director of Awesome" on the winery’s website, Steve is one of those people you are instantly drawn to. He was a sommelier in New York City before moving to Walla Walla to dive into the other end of the wine business. Steve is knowledgeable but is also down to earth and seems as comfortable sharing stories about family and friends as he is describing the leather, white pepper or citrus in the glass. His polished dome and bearded face remind me of a white Isaac Hayes - and he's cool enough to probably pull off his own rendition of "Shaft".

The April Virtual Tasting wine is tonight! The wine is the Renegade Wine Co. 2012 Rosé. This wine retails for $10 and is widely available. The tasting will take place from 7-8pm Pacific.

What you need to do to participate is:

1. Buy this month’s wine from a local retailer or from the winery.

2. Tweet your comments about the wine on Twitter between 7 and 8pm Pacific using the hashtag #renegadewine. For those on Twitter, follow me @wawinereport.

The Washington wine industry is all about small, family wineries, and one winery that puts a particular emphasis on this point is Sonoris Wines.

Sonoris winemaker Hillary Sjolund started out as a premedical student at U.C. Davis. One of the prerequisites was to take a class in the agricultural division. Sjolund’s choice? Introduction to Winemaking. It would be a fateful decision.

The Tasting Note Database has been updated to the present date. See an explanation of the fields here.

Enjoy!

A round up of stories on Washington wine from April 8 to April 14.  Read previous round-ups here.

From around the country...

The Western Farm Press reports on the quest for the perfect wine serving temperature.


From around the blogosphere...

Paul Gregutt writes an opening farewell. He also writes that it’s time to wake up and smell the rosés and  Eric Asimov raiding his cellar.

The April Virtual Tasting wine is the Renegade Wine Co. 2012 Rosé. This wine retails for $10 and is widely available. The tasting will take place on Wednesday April 24th 7-8pm Pacific.

What you need to do to participate is:

1. Buy this month’s wine from a local retailer or from the winery.

2. Tweet your comments about the wine on Twitter between 7 and 8pm Pacific on the specified date using the hashtag #renegadewine. For those on Twitter, follow me @wawinereport.

For years, many Washington wineries have shied away from screwcaps and other alternative closures. While some, including Hogue, Syncline, Northwest Totem Cellars, and Dusted Valley Vintners have gone all in, others have steered clear or only put their white wines or lower end reds under screwcap. Count winemaker John Bigelow at JM Cellars among the few who have taken the leap.

Bigelow first began thinking about using screwcaps after meeting with writer Paul Gregutt back in 2008. After estimating his rate of corked wines at one to three percent, Bigelow was asked by Gregutt if that was an acceptable level. “I told him the answer is definitely, ‘No,” he recalled. Bigelow soon began to consider alternatives.

A round up of stories on Washington wine from April 1 to April 7.  Read previous round-ups here.

From around the country...

Wines and Vines writes about the Northwest focusing on wine profiles.

Bloomberg writes that Washington wines pack a high alcohol wallop and little else (read my response here).

Beverage Daily.com writes that US wines talk to the Chinese, with an American twang: Maryhill Winery.

Pic of the Vine is a monthly image taken by contributor Richard Duval. See previous Pic of the Vine images here.

April’s Pic of the Vine is part riveting image, part ‘welcome to the neighborhood’ from photographer Richard Duval as another Walla Walla winery opens a Woodinville tasting room. Last month, Castillo de Feliciana Vineyard & Winery took over the former mead distiller building situated between Hollywood Hills and Matthews Estate.

Castillo’s Walla Walla home is a favorite photo subject of Duval. “Capturing the vineyard against the stark white of the Spanish styling makes for a strong image,” he notes. “I got lucky here – a hazy day that provided soft light on the early spring vines just inching toward their full green.” Click on the picture for a larger image.

A round-up of stories on Washington wine from March 22nd to 31st 2013. Read previous round-ups here.

From around the world…

Journal UK writes that Washington is a happy place for grapes.


From around the country…

Wines and Vines writes about development heating up at Red Mountain.

Savannah Morning News writes that Washington is homed to skilled winemakers.