REMINDER: January's Virtual Tasting is the Columbia Crest Grand Estates Cabernet. The tasting will take place on Thursday January 28th starting at 7pm. Read more about it here.

A round-up of stories on Washington wine from January 15^th to 21^st.

For your reading pleasure, the Winter edition of Wine Press Northwest is now available on-line (Note: It’s in an on-line reader).

From around the world

The Sydney Morning Herald writes that New Zealand winery Villa Marie has formed an export partnership with Ste. Michelle Wine Estates.

From around the country

Wine Spectator writes about the fire at Arbor Crest’s Cliff House (skip past the Mariah Carey story). They also write about fifteen 'spectacular' reds from Washington.

The North Dakota High Plains Reader writes about ice wine with a callout to Covey Run.

WineBusiness.com writes that the number of US wineries has increased to 6,223. California has about half of them and Washington about one in ten.

From the blogosphere

The Oregon Wine Blog writes about Crayelle Cellars.

Through the Walla Walla Grapevine writes about Tranche Cellars 2004 Red Wine.

Beyond the Bottle writes about disclosing wine ingredients. Thad also writes about Nefarious Cellars viognier.

Woodinville Wine Update writes about the possibility of Covey Run opening a tasting room in Woodinville. Shona also writes about Maison Bleue leaving their tasting space in Woodinville, Tempest Sol, and Woodinville wineries who tweet.

Yak Yak Wine writes about the McCrea Cellars 2007 Mourvedre.

WINO Magazine does Part IV of a Walla Walla roundtable.

WAWineman writes about the 2004 Columbia Winery Red Willow Syrah and 2008 Red Willow Sangiovese. He also writes about the Alexandria Nicole Cellars 2007 Grenache.

The Wine Muse writes about the Renegade Wine Company.

Wine and Beer of Washington State writes about the 2007 Icicle Ridge Merlot.

Wine Peeps writes about Washington Riesling with callouts to Eroica, Trust Cellars, Poet’s Leap, Nefarious Cellars, Cave B, and Columbia Crest. They also check out Efeste’s 2008 Evergreen Riesling and try merlots from Januik and Fielding Hills.

Waddle Journal writes about barrel tasting in Walla Walla.

Wine the Blog writes about Gilbert Cellars.

Pour Wine Review writes about the 2007 Waving Tree Sangiovese.

General Wine Thoughts writes about Walla Walla wines with callouts to Woodward Canyon Winery, L’Ecole No 41, Gifford Hirlinger, Beresan Winery, Balboa Winery, Basel Cellars, Trio Vintners, Kontos Cellars, Dunham Cellars, Cavu Cellars and Waterbrook.

From the locals

KNDO reports on construction of a distillery in eastern Washington which will be owned by Joe Tefft of Tefft Cellars.

Writing for the Seattle Times, Paul Gregutt writes about box wines.

Woehler writes about the Covey Run Quail Series.

The Bellingham Herald writes about Idaho’s Pend d'Oreille Winery using Washington grapes for their wines.

The Walla Walla Union Bulletin writes about Queensryche’s Geoff Tate bottling his wine at Three Rivers Winery.

That’s all folks!