CLOVERDALE, Calif. — Pacific Northwest fruit produced best-of-class winners in 21 categories and 148 gold medals during the 2023 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, the annual judging staged in the Sonoma County town of Cloverdale that remains the largest professional critical tasting in North America at more than 5,500 entries. Leading the efforts of … [Read more...] about Northwest wines win 148 gold medals at San Francisco Chronicle
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Clearwater Canyon Cellars in Idaho turns Albariño into top wine at Great Northwest Invitational
HOOD RIVER, Ore. — In hindsight, it wasn’t surprising that some Pacific Northwest’s top wine buyers selected an Albariño from Idaho’s Clearwater Canyon Cellars and the 2018 Cabernet Franc by Lake Chelan Winery as top wines at the 10th annual Great Northwest Invitational Wine Competition. Coco Umiker has won major regional awards in recent years with the Albariño grapes she … [Read more...] about Clearwater Canyon Cellars in Idaho turns Albariño into top wine at Great Northwest Invitational
Barnard Griffin rosé again leads NW producers at San Francisco Chronicle judging
CLOVERDALE, Calif. — Family-owned Barnard Griffin Winery in Richland, Wash., rose to the top of the field of 176 rosé wines as the 2021 Rosé of Sangiovese captured the sweepstakes award at the 2022 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. “Beats a nail in the foot!” quipped founding winemaker Rob Griffin. “I’m pleased that we won with a robust color.” It marked the … [Read more...] about Barnard Griffin rosé again leads NW producers at San Francisco Chronicle judging
Northwest Merlot remains memorable in talented hands
It’s rare for a wine writer to receive gratitude for conducting a judging focused on an already-famous grape, but Merlot could still use a PR agent nearly two decades after being miscast in the Oscar-winning Sideways. “Thank you for holding a Merlot-focused tasting,” a vintner wrote. “One movie did so much damage to a wonderful varietal.” Another replied, “Very cool to … [Read more...] about Northwest Merlot remains memorable in talented hands
Abeja Chardonnay edges DeLille’s Harrison Hill at Great Northwest Invitational
HOOD RIVER, Ore. — Judges at the 2021 Great Northwest Invitational Wine Competition thumbed their noses at the A-B-C crowd - "Anything but Chardonnay" - by voting the Abeja 2020 Washington State Chardonnay as the best wine of the two-day event. A recount was required before Abeja’s flagship Chardonnay was declared the winner, a single vote separating it from the DeLille … [Read more...] about Abeja Chardonnay edges DeLille’s Harrison Hill at Great Northwest Invitational