This week:
Jan. 5, 2010
Vol. 11, No. 1
Wine Press Northwest's Wine of the Week is an independent opinion based on double- and single-blind tastings.
Pacific Northwest Wine Of The Week
Scatter Creek Winery NV Frost Tease
Appellation: Washington
Owner/winemaker Terril Keary grabbed our attention earlier this year with a delectable off-dry Gewurztraminer, and now the Tenino, Wash., vintner has a new product. Frozen grapes of Yakima Valley Riesling (85%) were blended with cranberry (10%) from Westport and boysenberry out of Shelton. The array of aromas includes strawberry, rhubarb, watermelon, black cherry and spearmint. The drink is hugely viscous and laced with more cherries, strawberry jam, homemade caramel, cinnamon and cloves. She's loaded with sweetness (14% residual sugar) and personality. Rated "Outstanding" by Wine Press Northwest magazine.
Price: $25.
Cases produced: 72.
Food matches: Enjoy this on its own as an after-dinner treat or pair with cheesecake.
Scatter Creek Winery, 3442 180th Ave. SW. Tenino, WA 98589, 360-273-8793, http://www.scattercreekwinery.com
Recent wines of the week
-- Abacela Vineyards & Winery 2006 Estate Syrah, Southern Oregon
-- Domaine Ste. Michelle NV Extra Dry, Columbia Valley
Best Buys
-- Oakwood Cellars 2006 Lemberger Blanc, Yakima Valley, $9
-- Rio Vista Wines 2007 Riesling, Columbia Valley, $15
More about Scatter Creek
Scatter Creek Winery is in Tenino, Wash., about halfway between Olympia and Centralia. Terril Keary launched his operation in 2005 after several years of home winemaking. His Gewurztraminer won best in show at last year's Capital Food & Wine Festival judging (conducted by Wine Press Northwest), and this week's featured wine continues the success.
Happy new year
As 2010 begins, we look forward to continuing to provide the Pacific Northwest Wine of the Week to you. We are now in our 11th year of producing this weekly email newsletter (and our 12th year of producing Wine Press Northwest magazine.
We will continue to refine the Northwest Wine of the Week. As always, I welcome your thoughts and suggestions. Just email me at editor@winepressnw.com
Year in review
What were the top stories last year in the world of Pacific Northwest wine? They included several wine pioneers passing away, a big win for Washington on the international level, a lawsuit between a winery and its former winemaker, two new appellations and more.
Check out the list.
Special deal from MadWine.com
MadWine.com, a Washington-based online retailer, is offering a special deal for Wine Press Northwest readers. Enter the coupon code "winepress" (without quotes) on your next order and get an additional 10% off.
MadWine.com has more than 5,000 wines for sale on its Web site, with nearly 1,000 from Washington and Oregon.
MadWine.com.
First big judging of 2010
The first major judging of 2010 is going on this week in Northern California. The San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition is being conducted in Cloverdale, Calif. In a relatively short span, it has grown into the largest judging of American wines, and Northwest wines have a good track record. Look for results on winepressnw.com Friday or Saturday, as well as in next week's newsletter.
Platinum winners
The new Winter issue of Wine Press Northwest unveils the results of our 10th annual Platinum Judging, in which we invite wineries to send us their gold medal wines from the year for a "best of the best in the Great Northwest" competition.
Domaine Ste. Michelle, the sparkling wine house for Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, earned a unanimous Double Platinum for its Extra Dry bubbly and a Platinum for its pink Blanc de Noirs. For the latter wine, that was the fourth Platinum in the past six years, a remarkable achievement for winemaker Rick Casqueiro. Just as astonishing is the fact that Casqueiro makes such large quantities (more than 300,000 cases total) at great prices (these wines retail for $13 and can be found for $10 or less, if you know where to look).
Each week, I will highlight one of our Platinum winners.
Where in NW Wine Country
Last week's mystery photo turned out to be a great challenge, with nobody quite certain where the beautiful photo was taken.
Those who guessed Lake Chelan, Wash., - which included 31% of you - were correct. Meanwhile, another 31% guessed the photo was taken in British Columbia's Okanagan Valley, while 21% thought it showed Washington's Yakima Valley and another 17% wondered if it was from Idaho's Snake River Valley.
This week's photo should be another great challenge.
Click to vote
Wine cartoon of the week
We have added a new cartoon to our "wine funnies" gallery.
Check it out.
Spangler Vineyards
Last fall, Eric Degerman, Wine Press Northwest managing editor, stopped by Spangler Vineyards in Oregon's Umpqua Valley. His interview with owner/winemaker Pat Spangler, is a must-watch. Spangler is funny, brutally honest, opinionated and fun to listen to. This week's is part 1.
You can watch the Northwest Winecast two ways (both free):
On our Web site:
http://www.winepressnw.com/
On YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/WinePressnorthwest
Find Northwest wine events
Looking for a wine-related event? Click here for our Northwest wine events calendar.
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