Wednesday, Apr. 28, 2010

Ice wine wins top award at giant Northwest Wine Summit

By Andy Perdue, Wine Press Northwest

The Wine Press Northwest crew has spent the past four days helping to run the annual Northwest Wine Summit, the largest judging of Northwest wines.

This year, the judging was conducted at the stunning Columbia Gorge Hotel in Hood River, Ore., and 1,129 wines were entered from Washington, Oregon, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Alberta and Alaska.

Below are the top wines by category and region. We should have the gold medals and more in the next few days.

Best of show: Mission Hill Family Estate 2008 Reserve Riesling Icewine, Okanagan Valley, $59

Best of category

Best red wine: Jacob Williams Winery 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $24

Best white: Chateau Ste. Michelle 2009 Dry Riesling, Columbia Valley, $9

Best ice wine: Mission Hill Family Estate 2008 Reserve Riesling Icewine, Okanagan Valley, $59

Best sparkling: Domaine Ste. Michelle NV Blanc de Noirs, Columbia Valley, $13

Best rose: Stag's Hollow Winery & Vineyard 2009 Syrah Rose, Okanagan Valley, $17

Best dessert wine: Arrowleaf 2008 Special Select Late Harvest Vidal, Okanagan Valley, $19.99

Best fortified wine: Fieldstone Fruit Wines NV Black Currant Dessert Wine, Alberta, $23

Best nongrape wine: Forbidden Fruit Winery 2008 Crushed Innocence White Peach, Similkameen Valley, $20

Best spirit: Ellensburg Distillery NV Gold Buckle Club Frontier-Style Malt Whisky, Washington, $100

Best of region

Best Washington wine: Milbrandt Vineyards 2007 The Estates Malbec, Wahluke Slope, $25

Best Oregon wine: Jacob Williams Winery 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $24

Best Idaho wine: Cinder 2009 Viognier, Snake River Valley, $17

Best British Columbia wine: Mission Hill Family Estate 2008 Reserve Riesling Icewine, Okanagan Valley, $59

Best Montana wine: Hidden Legend Winery NV Huckleberry Mead, Montana, $19

Best Alaska wine: Alaskan Wilderness Wines NV Wild Fireweed, Alaska, $19

Best Alberta wine: Fieldstone Fruit Wines NV Black Currant Dessert Wine, Alberta, $23

Best Oregon Pinot Noir: Duck Pond Cellars 2008 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $20