Wednesday, May. 27, 2009

Woehler on Wine: Tucker Cellars

By Bob Woehler, Wine Press Northwest tasting editor

The slogan of Tucker Cellars of Sunnyside is family and quality. And bargain prices always have been part of the Tucker operation as well.

Randy and Debbie Tucker were selling wines for under $10 back in 1983 and even today sell at least four wines for under $10 and almost all the rest for under $20.

This modest winery started out as an adjunct to the Tucker Produce stand along the old Yakima Valley Highway.

Today, the produce stand has given way to a gift shop, but the winery and tasting room remain a cozy place where visitors can taste a lineup of old-time favorites like gew&uulm;rztraminer, riesling, muscat canelli and pinot noir made into a Beaujolais-style red picnic wine.

The Tuckers' history with grapes goes back to Randy's grandfather Melvin and father Dean, who grew grapes in the Yakima Valley back in the 1940s.

In 1981, Dean and Randy decided to start the winery, with Randy taking over in 1983.

Today, Tucker Cellars offers picnic spots set among its grape vineyards surrounding the winery.

Besides 14 different wines, Tucker preserves a little of its produce stand heritage, offering jars of pickled asparagus, green beans and carrot slices and its own White Cloud popping corn.

But wines are the main attraction.

Indian Summer nonvintage rosé, Yakima Valley, $9 -- Made from Pinot Noir, this picnic wine is very floral with cherry flavors. Its crispness makes it a match for any picnic fare.

2008 Gew&uulm;rztraminer, Yakima Valley, $9 -- Long a crowd pleaser at Tucker's, this one offers spice and grapefruit to pair any curry dish.

2006 Riesling, Yakima Valley, $9 -- Dried apricot flavors with a bit of sweetness make a good accompaniment to poultry.

2008 Muscat Canelli, Yakima Valley, $11 -- Honey-sweetened citrus describes this cocktail wine that complements a fruit plate.

Nonvintage Gamay, Yakima Valley, $9 -- This is a light, fresh fruity Pinot Noir without oak that's smooth and great for a summer barbecue.

2006 Sangiovese, Yakima Valley, $18 -- Classic Chianti-style that is soft and mild, yet stands up to tomato sauce-based pasta.

-- www.tuckercellars.com

*Bob Woehler has been writing about Pacific Northwest wines since 1978. E-mail him at bwoehler@charter.net or check out his past columns at www.winepressnw.com.