About 40 years ago, I was chatting with a then-young winemaker about why he remained in Washington state rather than returning to his native California. “Washington is the Wild West of winemaking,” he told me. He stayed because he wanted to be part of a frontier spirit that was looking ahead to see what could be done here, find out what wine grapes would grow here … [Read more...] about Sniff, Sip, Swirl: Holmes family unveils Arneis on Red Mountain
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Military firefighter creates Rain Shower Cellars on Whidbey Island
COUPEVILLE, Wash. — When Department of Defense firefighter Sean Merrill received a promotion in 2008 that took him and his wife, Kim, from Colorado to Whidbey Island, they couldn’t envision starting a winery in the tiny town of Coupeville just five years later. He had picked up some experience in the wine industry while living in Napa in the early 1990s prior to … [Read more...] about Military firefighter creates Rain Shower Cellars on Whidbey Island
SMAK Wines 2021 Summer Rosé, Columbia Valley $20
No one can question Fiona Mak’s touch and vision for rosé, and the sommelier-turned-winemaker — a product of Walla Walla Community College’s winemaking program — works with Pinot Gris from venerable Gamache Vineyard in the White Bluffs for her Summer series. It’s a charming expression of the grape, offering tropical and floral aromas alongside rosewater, tangerine and facial … [Read more...] about SMAK Wines 2021 Summer Rosé, Columbia Valley $20
Lu + Oly Cellars 2021 Flowerhead Rosé, Columbia Valley, $20
One of the marvels of the Pacific Northwest wine industry is Mark Ryan McNeilly, whose business acumen syncs up with his ability to make some of the region's most acclaimed wines under myriad successful labels while seeming never losing focus. Lu + Oly Cellars — named for daughters Lucia and Olivia — is one of the handful of sister labels to Mark Ryan Winery, and in this … [Read more...] about Lu + Oly Cellars 2021 Flowerhead Rosé, Columbia Valley, $20
Nine Hats Wines 2020 Riesling, Columbia Valley, $14
Best Buy! While these wines are poured in Seattle's SODO Urbanworks, they are made at the Long Shadows facility in the Walla Walla Valley and the pedigree stems from some of Washington's top breeding grounds for Riesling — the historic White Bluffs and the still-underrated Horse Heaven Hills. The nose offers a light whiff of petrol that's followed by cotton candy, Granny Smith … [Read more...] about Nine Hats Wines 2020 Riesling, Columbia Valley, $14