SUNNYSIDE — Decent, drinkable wine for about $4 a bottle is available from the Washington Hills bag-in-a-box wines.
Supermarkets are offering three-liter boxes of Riesling, Chardonnay and Merlot for as low as $15.99. Three liters equals four regular bottles of wine.
The beauty of a bag in the box is that it stays fresh and tasty, generally for a month or more. You can put the whites in the fridge and use the hand spout to get a cool glass whenever you want or put the box of red on the kitchen counter and do the same when the mood strikes or it's dinner time.
Washington Hills, which was founded in Sunnyside 20 years ago, is now part of the portfolio of Precept Wine Brands of Seattle.
These bargain wines have won acclaim from several regional and national magazines. including Wine Press Northwest, Wine Enthusiast and Wine & Spirits magazine.
3L nonvintage box Chardonnay, Washington State $16-$20 -- Good oak aromas lead to lime and apple flavors. Nice aperitif before dinner.
3L nonvintage box Riesling, Washington State, $16-$20 -- Fragrant peaches and bright acidity make a good match with roast chicken.
3L nonvintage Merlot, Washington State, $16-$20 -- Black cherries and plums with soft tannins. Cheeseburger, anyone?
Besides the bag-in-a-box wines, Washington Hills also has a lengthy lineup of inexpensive bottled wines.
Washington Hills 2007 Sauvignon Blanc, Washington State, $5-$8 -- Lemon aromas with canned fig and grapefruit flavors. Great with scallops.
Washington Hills 2007 Summit Reserve late harvest Riesling, Washington State, $10-$12 -- Not too sweet at 4 percent residual sugar. Balanced and tasty, with apricots and hints of orange. Good with apricot-glazed pork.
Washington Hills 2007 Summit Reserve Chardonnay, Washington State, $10-$12 -- Toasted hazelnut aromas and rich, creamy citrus flavors. Try it with a turkey chef's salad and creamy dressing.
Washington Hills 2006 Syrah, Washington State, $5-$8 -- Smoky bacon and cherry components create a match with smoked meats.
Washington Hills 2007 Summit Reserve Merlot, Washington State, $10-$12 -- Layers of berry fruit, smooth and rich. Serve with meatloaf.
Washington Hills 2007 Summit Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington State, $10-$12 -- Big and juicy with raspberries and vanilla. Load up a hamburger with all the trimmings.
*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.
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