Sean P. Sullivan - Washington Wine Report

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In tough times, we continue the search for good, inexpensive wines.

After a long wait, the 2011 harvest is underway in Washington State. Over the coming weeks, I will provide periodic updates on what is picked, where, and when as well as thoughts on the growing season from the state’s growers and winemakers.

TONIGHT! September's Virtual Tasting is tonight from 7-8pm. Read about how to participate here.

Today’s Fresh Sheet – new and recent Washington wine releases – includes wines from Purple Star Wines, Pandora Cellars, Laurelhurst Cellars, and Pomum Cellars.

Reminder: September's Virtual Tasting is this Wednesday from 7-8pm. Read about how to participate here.

As I wrote in a previous post, the November ballot in Washington State features another liquor privatization initiative, Initiative 1183. I am interested in hearing the thoughts of people across the three tiers - wineries, distributors, and restaurateurs - on what they see as the positives and/or negatives for their industries and for consumers about the proposed changes. I am particularly interested in the changes related to the wine industry, specifically:

Reminder: September's Virtual Tasting is this Wednesday from 7-8pm. Read about how to participate here.

Pictures from last week's trip to eastern Washington where harvest is getting underway. Includes shots from Red Willow, Evergreen, Wahluke Wine Company, Clifton Hills, Cave B, and Canoe Ridge. Click on the pictures for larger images. Enjoy!

A round-up of stories on Washington wine from September 15th to 21st 2011.

From around the country…

ESPN writes about Drew Bledsoe of Doubleback.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes about good wine under $10 with a callout to House Wine.

The Chicago Daily Herald writes about rediscovering Chardonnay with a callout to Airfield Estates.

Below is Part II of a report from the Walla Walla Valley including wines from Cayuse Vineyards, Leonetti Cellar, Reynvaan Family Vineyards, Gramercy Cellars, and Corliss Estates. Download a .pdf version of this report here. Read Part I here.

Cayuse Vineyards

Walking through Cayuse Vineyards with Christophe Baron, both his passion and his attention to detail become immediately clear. As he walks and talks about his vineyards Baron picks up any small item that does not belong there, anything that is out of place.

It is this attention to detail that has made Baron’s wines among the best in the world. It is this attention to detail that, again, led Baron to bury canes at his vineyards last year. While he had to cut many of his vines back to the ground this spring due to last November’s freeze, Baron still looks to produce a fairly full crop again this year due to this precaution. In contrast, many vineyards in the rocks region of the Walla Walla Valley were, again, completely wiped out.

What follows is a section of Part II of the 2011 Walla Walla Valley report. Look for the full report in an upcoming post. Read Part I here.

As the first modern day winery in the Walla Walla Valley, Leonetti Cellar celebrates its 34^th vintage this year. During this time, the winery’s history of success and accolades is nearly unparalleled. The new releases continue to build on Leonetti’s elite reputation.

Chris Figgins assumed head winemaking responsibilities from his father, Gary Figgins, in 2000. Since that time he has completed the winery’s transition to using all estate fruit from the Walla Walla Valley for its wines. The results thus far have been impressive.

September's Virtual Tasting wine will be the 2009 Boomtown Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine retails for $15 and is widely available. The tasting will take place Wednesday September 28th 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. Post your comments/tweets on the wine between 7 and 8pm using the hashtag #boomtown. For those on Twitter, follow me @wawinereport.

Hope you will join us!

A round-up of stories on Washington wine from September 8th to 14th 2011.

From around the world…

Indian Wine Academy writes about Washington wine.

Sommelier India writes about the Washington Wine Commission visiting.

For those who missed last Friday's Weekday show on KUOW 94.9FM, here is a link to the show. Mike Veseth, author of the book Wine Wars and the blog The Wine Economist, Richard Kinssies of Seattle Wine Outlet, and I discuss Washington wine and touch on some global wine trends.

From the linked page above, select one of the 'Listen to Weekday' options to hear the show.

Enjoy!

What follows is a Focus Report on Betz Family Winery. Download a .pdf version of this report here. Read previous Focus reports here.

The Washington wine world was stunned last spring when industry icon Bob Betz announced the sale of Betz Family Winery. Some foresaw the winery’s demise in a storyline that went like this - quality would go way down, production would go way up, and prices would soar.

New owner Steve Griessel, who purchased the winery with his wife Bridgit, acknowledges hearing those concerns. “I think there’s a lot of fear,” Griessel says. “People think, ’Who are these people? Are they going to screw this thing up?’” The answer to the first question is Steve and Bridgit Griessel. The answer to the second question is no.

Note: I will be speaking on Weekday on KUOW 94.9 FM today at 9am about globalization of the wine industry and Q13 at 5:30pm about the Seattle Metropolitan Top 100 list. Tune in!

Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the polls, another liquor privatization initiative is on the ballot this November.

Initiative 1183 is brought to you by the same folks who brought you Initiative 1100 one year ago. It is, in some respects, a greatly simplified and streamlined version of 1100. The concise description of the initiative reads as follows:

Note: I will be speaking on Weekday on KUOW 94.9 FM this Friday at 9am about globalization of the wine industry and Q13 that same day at 5:30pm about the Seattle Metropolitan Top 100 list. Tune in!

A round-up of stories on Washington wine from September 1^st to 7^th.

From around the world…

Hospitality Biz India writes about the Washington Wine Commission seeking Indian importers.

From around the country…

The Washington Post writes about screwcaps with a callout to Hogue Cellars.

LA Weekly talks with Jean-Francois Pellet of Pepper Bridge and Amavi Cellars.

The following post was written by Carrie Simon. Simon is the founder of Washington Wine 9, a custom trip planning service for travelers to Washington State’s wine country.

The season’s not over yet! In fact, one might argue it is just beginning! With harvest around the corner, this is the time of year wine country kicks into full gear – all hands on deck!

Indeed, more often than not it is hands, not feet, involved in harvest. Often when grapes are harvested they are +/-50 degrees Fahrenheit. Stomping them will freeze your toes in no time! Yet even visitors who want to experience harvest hardware - de-stemmers, crushers, fermenting tanks and more - have one big challenge to overcome: no one knows when harvest will arrive until the moment it does! In other words, there tends to be a lot of waiting around, especially in years like this when harvest is later than usual; only Mother Nature knows when exactly harvest will begin.

A round-up of stories on Washington wine from August 22nd to 31st.

From around the country…

The Washington Post writes about Washington Riesling.

Wine Spectator writes about the 2011 growing season.

The Cannon Beach Gazette writes about K Vintners.

St. Louis Today writes about Chenin Blanc with a callout to Hestia Cellars.

It seems you can’t name anything in this country without tripping over someone who has something obliquely similar and whose lawyers threaten trouble (US Olympic Committee versus Olympic Cellars anyone?). I mean seriously folks, stop the madness! Such it is that Grand Rêve Vintners – one of the most exciting wineries to emerge from Washington recently – has changed its name to Force Majeure Vineyards.

Below is a summary of posts for August 2011.

Summary of Posts for July 2011

Maison Bleue – The Stuff of Dreams

Tasting Note Database updated

2011 Auction of Washington Wines

Washington wine round-up July 22nd to 31st 2011

Fresh Sheet August 10th 2011

Newer Posts Older Posts Home

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Sean P. Sullivan is the editor of Washington Wine Report and a contributing editor at Wine Enthusiast magazine, covering Washington and Idaho. He has been writing about and reviewing Washington wine since 2005.

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14 Hands 2010 Initiatives Abbey Page Abeja Adams Bench Airfield Estates Alder Ridge Alexandria Nicole Alternative Closures aMaurice Cellars Amavi Ambassador Ancestry Ancient Lakes Andrew Januik Andrew Will Anelare Angel Vine AntoLin Apex Cellars Ardor Arlington Road Cellars Array Ash Hollow Ashan Auclair Avennia Baer Winery Balboa Barnard Griffin Barons V Barrage Barrister Beresan Bergevin Lane Betz Family Winery Board Track Racer Bonair Winery Bookwalter Boomtown Boudreaux Cellars Brian Carter Bridgman Bunchgrass Winery Bunnell Family Buried Cane Buty Cadaretta Cadence Cairdeas Cana's Feast Candy Mountain Canoe Ridge Canon del Sol Cartel Wine Group Cascade Valley Wineries Castillo de Feliciana Castle Rock Winery Cave B CAVU Cayuse Vineyards Cedergreen Cellars Charles and Charles Charles Smith Wines Chateau Rollat Chateau Ste. Michelle Chelan Estate Chelan Ridge Chinook City Limits Cloudlift Cellars Clubhouse Cellars Co Dinn Col Solare College Cellars Columbia Crest Columbia Gorge Columbia Winery Concentric Wine Project Cooper Wine Company Corked Counter Corked Wines Corliss Estates Corvidae Corvus Cellars Cote Bonneville Cougar Crest Covey Run Covington Cellars Crayelle Cellars Cuneo Cellars CZ Cellars Darby Daven Lore DeLille Delmas Desert Wind Distant Bay DiStefano Domaine Pouillon Domaine Ste Michelle Donedei Double Canyon Doubleback Dowsett Family Winery DuBrul Vineyard Duck Pond Cellars Duckhorn Dumas Station Dunham Dusted Valley Dynasty Cellars Efeste Eight Bells El Corazon Eliseo Silva Elsom Cellars Ensemble Cellars Envious Cellars Erath Eritage Estrin Estates Eyrie Fall Line Falling Rain Fidelitas Winery Fielding Hills WInery Figgins Five Star Cellars Fjellene Flying Dreams Flying Trout For a Song Force Majeure Forgeron Full Pull Wines Furion Cellars Gard Vintners Giant Wine Co Gifford-Hirlinger Gilbert Glencorrie Goedhart Golden Ridge Goose Ridge Gordon Brothers Gorman Gramercy Cellars Grand Rêve Grosgrain Guardian Hard Row Harvest 2010 Harvest 2011 Harvest 2012 Harvest 2013 Harvest 2014 Harvest 2015 Harvest 2016 Harvest 2017 Harvest 2018 Harvest 2019 Hawks View Haystack Needle Heaven's Cave Hedges Family Estate Helix Hestia Cellars Hogue Cellars Hoodsport Hors Catégorie Horse Heaven Hills Horsepower Vineyards Hyatt Vineyards Idilico Intrinsic Isenhower Cellars Januik Winery JB Neufeld JM Cellars Jones of Washington Juliette's Dazzle K Vintners Kaella Winery Kerloo Kevin White Kiona Kontos Cellars Kyra Wines L'Ecole Lake Chelan AVA Lantz Cellars Latitude 46 North Laurelhurst Cellars Lauren Ashton Lawrelin Leonetti Cellar Liberty Bay Cellars Lobo Hills Locati Cellars Lodmell Cellars Lone Birch Lone Canary Long Shadows Lost River Winery Magnificent Wine Company Maison Bleue Manu Propia Mark Ryan Winery Maryhill Matthews Estate McCrea Cellars McKinley Springs Mercer Estates Michael Florentino Milbrandt Vineyards Modern Wine Project Monesia's Song Morrison Lane Mosquito Fleet Mountain Dome Naches Heights Naches Heights AVA Napeequa Vintners Native Sun Nefarious Nelms Road Nicholas Cole Cellars No Girls Nodland Northstar Northwest Wine Round-up Nota Bene Novelty Hill NW Totem Cellars NW VIne Project NxNW Obelisco Estate Olsen Estates OS Winery Otis Kenyon Ott and Murphy Owen Roe Pacific Rim Palencia Palouse Pamplin Pandora Parejas Passion Patterson Paul Gregutt Pendulum Pepper Bridge Phylloxera Pic of the Vine Plumb Cellars Pomum Cellars Pondera Portteus Pour Me Powers Proletariat Wine Company Proper Prospice Puget Sound Purple Star Quilceda Creek Ramseyer Vineyards Randall Harris Rasa Vineyards Red Diamond Red Mountain Red Willow Reininger Renegade Result of a Crush Rex Hill Reynvaan Family Vineyards RiverAerie Riverhaven Cellars RMV Cellars Robert Ramsay Robison Ranch Cellars Ross Andrew Rotie Royal Slope Rulo Winery Russell Creek WInery Rusty Grape Vineyard Ryan Messer Ryan Patrick Sageland Vineyards Saint Laurent Salida Wines Salmon Harbor San Juan Vineyards Sandhill Sapolil Cellars Savage Grace Saviah Cellars Scarborough Screwcaps Seattle Area Wineries Seufert Seven Hills Winery Shady Grove Winery Sheridan Silvara Silver Bell Silver Lake Winery Sineann Six Prong Skylite Cellars Sleight of Hand Smasne Cellars Snipes Gap Vineyards Snipes Mountain Snoqualmie Sockeye Sodovino Sol Stone somme de parties sonoris Soos Creek Sparkman Cellars Spindrift Spokane Area Spring Valley Steele Wines Stella Fino Stevens Winery Stomani Cellars Stonecap Stottle SuLei Cellars Sweet Valley Winery Swiftwater Syncline Cellars Syrah SYZYGY Tagaris Tamarack Cellars Tefft Tempus Tenor Wines Tero Estates Terra Blanca Winery The Burn of Columbia Valley The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater Three Rivers Winery Thurston Wolfe Tildio Townshend Cellar Tranche Treveri Trust Tulpen Cellars Two Mountain Two Vintners Upland Estates Va Piano Vineyards Valdemar Estates Viento Wines Vin du Lac Vinyl Wines Virtual tasting W.T. 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Washington Wine Report is an independent publication focused on bringing Washington wine to you and bringing you to Washington wine. My goal is: to help you select Pacific Northwest wines at a variety of price levels; to keep you up-to-date about the Northwest’s wineries, vineyards, and individuals; to help you plan trips to wine country; and to connect you to the larger wine community.

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