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

Enjoy!

If anyone ever asks me how to plan a successful event, I always advise to pit it against a considerably larger event going on at the same time. Tonight, we tilt at windmills on #cabernet day (oops). Consider this your white wine intermezzo if you must!

The August Virtual Tasting is tonight! The wine is the 2011 Milbrandt Vineyards Traditions Pinot Gris. This wine retails for $13 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 tonight using the hashtag #milbrandt. For those on Twitter, follow me @wawinereport.

Part of what makes the Washington wine industry such a fascinating place to explore is all of the individual stories. For many, winemaking is a second or even third career. One such example comes from Broadway dancer turned winemaker Leroy Radford of Woodinville’s Flying Dreams Winery.

After studying film at New York University, Radford had pursued a dance career with Twyla Tharp Dance in the early 80s, performing in Broadway shows including Singin’ in the Rain, Rags, and the Mystery of Edwin Drood. He even performed at the White House on one occasion. After subsequently changing careers to multimedia design, life was proceeding normally for Radford with ideas of Washington wine far from his mind.

Today’s Fresh Sheet – new and recent releases – includes wines from Robert Ramsay Cellars, Cadaretta, AntoLin Cellars, Palouse Winery, Canoe Ridge Vineyard, Erath, Zero One Vintners, and For a Song.

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

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

From around the country…

Washington Examiner recommends the Columbia Merlot.

Midland Daily News writes about Dan Wampfler of Dunham.

Dawson Times writes about the Ste. Michelle Horse Heaven Hills Sauvignon Blanc.

The Sacramento Bee writes about wines flying free from Washington as part of an Alaska Airlines promotional program.

The September issue of Seattle Metropolitan

magazine is now in stores and on-line and features this year's list of the Top 100 Washington wines.

A few words about how I compiled the list. As stated in the article, wineries were allowed to send in a maximum of four wines, one in each of the following categories: one $25 or less; one $25–$50; one $50 or higher; and one white wine of any price. Alternately, if wineries were submitting wines in only one category, they could submit two wines. Wines were then rated using a 100-point scale and were subsequently ranked based on score, price, and overall excitement about the wine. A cutoff of 91 points was used to create the list. As in previous years, due to the high number of submissions - more than 500 - there were a number of excellent wines that did not make this year's list.

You can read an electronic copy of the Top 100 list here as well as a list of 90-point rated white wines here and a list of 90-point rated reds $25 and under here.

Enjoy!

I have written before that where winemaker Mark McNeilly of Mark Ryan Winery goes, other wineries are sure to follow. Take heed.

McNeilly has long been on the vanguard of Washington wine. He was one of the first to start producing wines in the now (over) crowded Warehouse District in Woodinville. He was also one of the first to open a dedicated tasting room in the suddenly teeming Schoolhouse District. McNeilly has steadily grown Mark Ryan’s production and brand over the years and has received a long list of accolades and high scores along the way. He is now taking the winery to the next level.

I often see presentations at marketing seminars on ‘how to deal with wine bloggers’ or some such, as if we were wild animals to be approached with extreme caution. While there may be some truth to this, here’s my take.

The September issue of Seattle Metropolitan magazine contains this year’s list of the Top 100 Washington wines, written again by yours truly. Subscribers received the magazine over the weekend. It will be on newsstands this Wednesday, the 22nd. Look for it!

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

From around the country…

No love this week.

From the blogosphere…

Voracious writes about Brian Rudin of Cadaretta.

Northwest Wine Anthem writes about the Syncline 2011 Subduction White. They also write about Wine Girl Wines.

Today, a few pictures from the Walla Walla Valley. The first is of veraison on Cabernet Sauvignon at Pepper Bridge Vineyard. Click on the pictures for larger images.

Enjoy!

The August Virtual Tasting wine is the 2011 Milbrandt Vineyards Traditions Pinot Gris. This wine retails for $13 and is widely available. The tasting will take place on Thursday August 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 August 30th using the hashtag #milbrandt. For those on Twitter, follow me @wawinereport.

As long time readers know, I will (very, very) occasionally recommend an upcoming Washington wine event of particular significance. One such event is coming up this week - the Auction of Washington Wines, which takes place August 16^th through 18^th.

This is the 25th year of the Auction of Washington Wines - a significant milestone for the event and for the industry. The Auction was first created in 1988 as a partnership between the Washington Wine Commission and the Enological Society of the Pacific Northwest. It has evolved over the years into its own 501(c)(3) organization with the goal to promote the local wine industry and to give back to the community. Proceeds from the Auction benefit both uncompensated care at Seattle Children’s Hospital and the Washington Wine Education Foundation. Since its inception, the event has raised more than $26 million.

A round-up of stories on Washington wine from August 1st to 7th 2012. Read previous round-ups here.

From around the country…

Wine Spectator writes about Charles Smith’s big plans.

Wine Enthusiast writes about Charles Smith’s new Chardonnay project.

Shanken Daily News writes about Charles Smith’s new Chardonnay project.

Below is Part I of a report from the Walla Walla Valley including wines from Rotie Cellars, Gramercy Cellars, Sleight of Hand Cellars, Waters Winery, and Rasa Vineyards.

Rotie Cellars

A cool vintage like 2010 plays right into the hands of winemaker Sean Boyd at Rotie Cellars who aims to make wines in a more restrained style. The latest releases show Boyd taking full advantage, with the 2010 wines some of the best the winery has produced to date.

Of note, the 2010 Southern Blend – a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre - includes more Grenache than recent vintages, enough so that it could be varietally labeled. This wine shows why a number of winemakers are excited about the prospects of southern Rhone varieties in Washington. Meanwhile, the 2010 vintage of the Northern Blend – Syrah co-fermented with Viognier – comes exclusively from the Walla Walla Valley for the first time, though the winery continues to label its wines ‘Washington State.’ The new releases also include the winery’s first 100% Mourvedre, hailing from Block #34 of Alder Ridge Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills.

A round-up of stories on Washington wine from July 22nd to 31st 2012. Read previous round-ups here.

From around the country…

Milwaukee Mag writes about Washington rosé.

Pensacola Business Journal writes about the Cor Cellars Alba Cor White Wine.

From the blogosphere…

Wine Folly blogs about the Horse Heaven Hills.

Jameson Fink writes about a total Washington Merlot immersion.

Below is a summary of posts for July 2012.

Summary of Posts June 2012

Washington Wine Round-up June 22nd to 30th 2012

Old school! Recent print articles

Tasting Notes Database updated

Washington Wine Round-up July 1st to 7th 2012

Wine Country Porn from the Wahluke Slope

Newer Posts Older Posts Home

Featured Post

A look at Washington’s recently approved appellations

Editor

Sean P. Sullivan is the founder and editor of Northwest Wine Report. He has been writing about and reviewing Northwest wine since 2004. Read a full biography on the About page. All articles written by Sullivan unless otherwise indicated.

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Editor - Sean P. Sullivan

About

Sean P. Sullivan's Northwest Wine Report is an independent publication dedicated to the wines and wineries of the Pacific Northwest, bringing Northwest wine to you and bringing you to Northwest wine. The site was established by Sullivan in 2004 as Washington Wine Report. It was rebranded to Northwest Wine Report in 2022.