A weekly publication of Wine Press Northwest • Vol. 1, No. 25 • © 2011

Gordon Brothers Family Vineyards farms 105 acres of wine grapes overlooking the Snake River north of Pasco, Wash.

(Photo courtesy of Gordon Brothers)

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Fresh Press is a weekly publication of Wine Press Northwest magazine. In each edition, we review recently released wines from Washington, Oregon, British Columbia and Idaho. Feel free to forward to your wine-loving friends and family. For more information on our tasting methods and review process, please go to the last page.

A weekly publication of Wine Press Northwest • Vol. 1, No. 25 • © 2011

Spotlight: Gordon Brothers Family Vineyards671 Levey Road, Pasco, WA 99301509-547-6331 • http://www.gordonwines.com

Jeff Gordon is now into his fourth decade of growing wine grapes on top of a cliff overlooking the Snake River near Pasco. Surprisingly, the success of his vineyard hasn’t drawn a crowd.

But considering how remote his operation is, perhaps it shouldn’t be a surprise.

“Along the river here, there are some really neat sites,” he said. “And there are some really nice sites between here and town.”

Gordon and his brother Bill began planting wine grapes in 1980. They launched their eponymous winery in 1983 and released their first wines in 1985. For years, the winemaking was a collaborative effort until French native Marie-Eve Gilla arrived in 1996 and helped take Gordon Brothers to a whole new level of quality.

In 1998, Bill retired from the wine business and Jeff took over the operation. He has continued to plant grapes and now is up to 105 acres, with Cabernet Sauvignon taking up a fourth of the space.

As recently as 15 years ago, Gordon made about 5,000 cases and sold most of his grapes to other wineries around the state. By 2001, that had grown to 10,000 cases, and a group in California became interesting in purchasing the operation. This was about the same time that other wineries changed hands, including Hogue Cellars, Columbia Winery, Covey Run and Paul Thomas. The group appeared to have financing in place, a selling price was agreed on, and Gordon handed over the keys in 2002. The vineyard had never been part of the deal, so the plan was for Gordon to sell all of his grapes to the new owners and keep that connection to his namesake winery.

“It was really a pretty good plan,” he said. “Then everything unraveled on them.”

The group ran out of money and stopped paying him, and it became a big mess, with Gordon having to take back ownership in 2003 and even needing to purchase inventory back from the California group.

When he took back the winery, Gordon decided to keep all of his grapes and increase production to 25,000 cases, making Gordon Brothers one of the largest family-owned wineries in the state. He launched a second label, called Kamiak, which makes up about 20 percent of his production.

Also in 2003, he closed his tasting room in Pasco when the lease ran out. He later opened a tasting room in the Woodinville “warehouse district” but closed it earlier this year when the lease ran out. With more than 80 wineries and tasting rooms in Woodinville and some changes in that city’s law that made it more difficult to do business, Gordon didn’t think the business model worked well for him. Now, most of the wine is sold to club members and through retailers. The winery is open for special occasions two to three times per year.

After Gilla left to launch Forgeron Cellars in Walla Walla, Gordon had trouble finding a winemaker who fit with his program and the quality he sought. That issue was solved in 2007, when he hired Tim Henley.

“I knew as soon as we interviewed Tim that he was our guy,” Gordon said. “We connected right away.”

The Fresno State grad worked in the California wine industry for about a decade at both large and small producers. His last job before heading north was as assistant winemaker at venerable Pine Ridge in the Stags Leap District.

Henley finished Gordon’s 2006 wines when he arrived and quickly began to understand and take advantage of the high-quality estate fruit he was working with. Our recent blind judging of his 2008 and 2009 wines earned mostly our top “Outstanding” rating.

“Tim has done a great job with our wines,” Gordon said. “He’s done a great job of demonstrating the consistency and quality we can get out here. He’s had a lot of ideas for making improvements, and he’s been a real solidifying influence.”

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This year, Henley received fewer grapes, as Gordon’s vineyard was hit hard by a sudden and early freeze last November that affected vineyards across the vast Columbia Valley. Gordon’s crop is down by about half, he said.

“We didn’t have the vines ready for winter,” he said. “We got a lot of damage.”

Barring another disastrous winter, Gordon expects his vineyards to be back to full production in 2012.

In addition to wine grapes, Gordon also grows cherries, seedless watermelons, sweet corn and alfalfa on his 300-acre farm, all of it organic.

And Gordon Brothers continues to be a family operation. Gordon’s wife, Vicki, helps run the operation, while his daughter Katie Nelson helps with marketing, public relations and the website and his son-in-law Marc Nelson runs the farm.

Spotlight: Gordon Brothers Family VineyardsOutstanding! Gordon Brothers Family Vineyards 2009 Six, Columbia Valley, $50. Until recent years, Washington grape growers and winemakers rarely focused much on different clones, certainly not like Oregon Pinot Noir producers have. But that has changed in the past half-decade, and this wine — named after a version of Cabernet Sauvignon called “clone 6” — is one of the rather stunning results. The vines for this wine were planted by Jeff Gordon in 1999 from plant material he acquired from the late, great Stan Clarke, and Gordon now has about six acres of it. It tends to yield less fruit — around two tons per acre — which means richer fruit. This release is nothing short of remarkable. It opens with aromas of attractive aromas of chocolate, black cherries, blueberries and black licorice, followed by ripe, even flavors of black olives, black cherries, black tea, dark

chocolate and black licorice. It’s an intensely complex wine backed with beautifully balanced tannins and acidity. (412 cases, 13.8% alc.)Outstanding! Gordon Brothers Family Vineyards 2009 Block 3 Merlot, Columbia Valley, $30. After tasting the possibilities of Merlot from this estate vineyard overlooking the Snake River in Washington, winemaker Tim Henley approached owner Jeff Gordon about doing something special with this wine. The result is a wine that was deliberately shaped to be a bigger, bolder style of Merlot, which some might call a classic Washington style. And this wine is rich and distinctive. It opens with aromas of vanilla, black cherries, mint, cedar and sweet herbs, followed by delicious flavors of black cherries and blueberries, all backed with supple tannins and ample acidity. This

Winemaker Tim Henley

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All wines reviewed here are tasted blind after being submitted by producers. They are rated Outstanding, Excellent and Recommended by a tasting panel.

Outstanding: These wines have superior characteristics and should be highly sought after.

Excellent: Top-notch wines with particularly high qualities.

Recommended: Delicious, well-made wines with true varietal characteristics.

Best Buy: A wine that is $15 or less.Priced are suggested retail and should be used as

guidelines. Prices are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.

Wine ratings

Spotlight: Gordon Brothers Family Vineyardswill stand up to rare grilled steaks but also will work with Cornish game hens. (68 cases, 13.6% alc.)Excellent. Gordon Brothers Family Vineyards 2010 Estate Gewürztraminer Ice Wine, Columbia Valley, $37. Tim Henley’s winemaking for this began with harvest on Nov. 24, and 26 weeks of fermentation left him with a whopping 31% residual sugar. Those looking for dessert in a glass can end their search here, which starts with aromas of a fuzzy and sweet apricot, backed by peach, tangerine, baked apple, candied grapefruit peel, honey and Mister Lincoln rose. The rich and syrupy palate brings more baked apple, honey and lychee flavors with candied pineapple in the finish. (38 cases, 7.1% alc.)Excellent. Gordon Brothers Family Vineyards 2008 Tempranillo, Columbia Valley, $65. This small-production wine uses estate grapes that were planted by Jeff Gordon in 2005. The wines are available primarily to wine club members, which should serve as motivation for fans of Northwest Tempranillo. This wine opens with complex aromas of boysenberries, strawberries, chocolate, cinnamon and spicy chocolate. On the palate, it is loaded with massive levels of flavor, including dark berries, tobacco, rich chocolate, black olives and ultra-ripe cherries. Pair with venison, tri-tip or a hearty winter casserole. (88 cases, 13.9% alc.)

Recommended. Gordon Brothers Family Vineyards 2007 Syrah, Columbia Valley, $17. In recent years, Gordon Brothers has gained a lot of fans with this variety, thanks in large part to some major awards in international competitions. This vintage is quite delicious and shows why Syrah remains an important wine in Washington. It opens with aromas of ripe plums, sweet Italian sausages, fennel, blackberries and leather, followed by complex flavors of blackberries, bacon, black olives and leather, all backed with rich, chewy tannins and an impressive finish. (1,042 cases, 13.7% alc.)Outstanding! Gordon Brothers Family Vineyards 2008 Tradition, Columbia Valley, $30. For many years, this red blend has been the signature wine for Gordon Brothers, and under winemaker Tim Henley, it has evolved. This version, which quickly sold out after release, is a 50-50 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. It opens with aromas of vanilla, ripe Bing cherries, chocolate, black tea, black olives and blueberries. On the palate, it offers flavors that reminded us of a root beer float, as well as huckleberries, blackberries and black olives. This is a rich wine, with the Syrah taking center stage on the palate but revealing surprising structure, thanks to the sturdy Cab. Though it is sold out at the winery, you might still be able to find it at retailers. (202 cases, 13.9% alc.)

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New releases we’ve tastedCabernet SauvignonRecommended. Fidelitas Wines 2008 Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain, $55. Just down the road from this Red Mountain “shackteau” is one of the Northwest’s top vineyards, and it brings a classic Cab nose of Chukar Cherry, blueberry, heavy toast and a whiff of red cedar. There’s a plush entry of cordial cherry on the palate, followed by flavors of serviceberry, tobacco and tar, then the terroir and power of Red Mountain arrives with strong-willed tannins. Combined with pomegranate acidity, there’s much more in store with proper cellaring. (240 cases, 14.6% alc.)Outstanding! Upland Estates 2008 Old Vine Cabernet Sauvignon, Snipes Mountain, $28. Yakima Valley winemaker Robert Smasne has delivered a number of gold medals to young Upland Estates owner/grower Todd Newhouse, and here’s another standout. Todd's grandfather, Alfred Newhouse, planted these vines in 1973, and the maturity shows, starting with rich Bing cherry aromas and American oak influences of chocolate and coffee, backed by sarsaparilla, charcoal and cedar. Dark and bold flavors bring more cherries and chocolate, followed by raspberry acidity. The late and elegant tannins frame rather than flatten the palate, which is capped by a drop of Dr Pepper. (96 cases, 13.7% alc.)Recommended. Patterson Cellars 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $32. In 2007, the Patterson family moved their winery from Monroe to Woodinville, and they recently added a tasting room near Seattle’s famed Pike Place Market. This Cab makes a big impression with classic tones of black cherry, cassis, saddle leather, caramel and mint chocolate. (220 cases, 14.6% alc.)

MerlotExcellent. Fidelitas Wines 2008 Champoux Vineyard Merlot, Horse Heaven Hills, $50. From perhaps the state’s most prized vineyard comes a robust Merlot that provides an aromatic greeting of black cherry, blackberry, blueberry, violets, coffee, caramel and dark chocolate. The palate comes loaded with black cherry, tar and charcoal, which are followed by more dark chocolate and coffee. In the finish is a pinch of allspice and bright cranberry acidity. (192 cases, 14.4% alc.)

SyrahRecommended. Moon Curser Vineyards 2009 Syrah, Okanagan Valley, $25. Blocks from two sites on British Columbia’s Osoyoos East Bench, just north of Oroville, Wash., were handled separately by Chris

Tolley. He then blended into a drink that showcases new barrels from eastern Europe along with tones of black cherry, poached plums, dried fig, alfalfa, moist earth, gaminess and a late rush of acidity. This wine is no longer available at the winery, so inquire at knowledgeable wine shops in the province. (466 cases, 14.5% alc.)

Cabernet FrancOutstanding! Woodslake 2007 Cabernet Franc, Columbia Valley, $20. The folks at Patterson Cellars in Woodinville, Wash., created this second label and named it after a favorite road in their hometown of Monroe. However, this Cab Franc is first-rate showing a lot of extraction. Aromas of poached plum, vanilla bean, Boylan Cane Cola and fresh-baked brownie still allow for hints of tobacco and dolma grape leaf to emerge. There’s amazing richness on the palate with lots of plum, deep, dark cherry and blackberry, backed by notes of Oreo cookie, sturdy tannin and pleasing acidity. Some may view it all as offering too much of a good thing. (612 cases, 14.1% alc.)

MalbecOutstanding! Fidelitas Wines 2008 Malbec, Columbia Valley, $35. Charlie Hoppes was one of the first winemakers in Washington to show what this Bordeaux variety could do in the Northwest. And yet the bottle’s black "O" and paint scheme make its perhaps the most difficult to read in the Northwest wine industry. Ironically, the wine stands out immediately because its amazing garnet color. The nose carries hints of fresh crushed blackberry, President plum, dark cherries, black currant, malted milk balls, coffee, Montreal seasoning and minerality. Explosive flavors of fresh plum, boysenberry and Marionberry take you on a ride as the vibrant acidity washes back the tannin. Enjoy with lean meats now and hold back a bottle or two for the long haul. (344 cases, 14.7% alc.)Outstanding! Upland Estates 2008 Malbec, Snipes Mountain, $30. The 2007 vintage of this wine was judged best in show at the 2009 Tri-Cities Wine Festival, and this bottling confirms winemaker Robert Smasne and owner/grower Todd Newhouse as one of the Northwest’s top Malbec producers. It comes with a dense nose of smoky black cherry, black currant, dark boysenberry, Dr Pepper and figs with espresso and underlying cedar. It drinks akin to a blackberry milk shake with early creaminess, then the acidity gets turned up by Marionberries before finishing with a balanced blend of plums, cassis, cherries, smoky chocolate and black olive. (93 cases, 13.6% alc.)

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New releases we’ve tastedRed blendsRecommended. Church & State Wines 2007 Quintessential, Okanagan Valley, $50. One of British Columbia’s up-and-coming wineries, it provides remarkable tasting venues near Victoria and along the Black Sage Bench overlooking the Golden Mile and the town of Oliver. The estate Coyote Bowl Vineyard gets poured into this Meritage-style blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Results for the medium-bodied drink include notes of cherry jam, blackberry jam, plums, figs and milk chocolate, backed by age-worthy tannins. (547 cases, 14.5% alc.)Recommended. Fidelitas Wines 2008 Boushey Vineyard Red, Yakima Valley, $50. A smooth and pleasing structure is developed inside this medium-bodied blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (50%), Merlot (44%) and Cabernet Franc. It’s a straight shooter with tones of Van cherry, black currant, dusty chocolate and pipe tobacco, capped by a long trail of boysenberry acidity. (351 cases, 14.8% alc.)Excellent. Patterson Cellars 2008 Syrah Sirah, Columbia Valley, $25. Unusual but worthy is this approach with Syrah (56) and Petite Sirah from three Yakima Valley vineyards — Chandler Reach (Benton City), McIntire Farms (Sunnyside) and Red Haven on Red Mountain. Imprints of both varieties standout as the Syrah brings bold tones of blackberry, black pepper and gaminess, while the PS supplies its trademark power. While it’s a big-boy wine, 27 months of cellaring in toned-down oak allow the ingredients to integrate as subtle notes of mint leaf and allspice in the finish don’t get lost among the enjoyable tannins. (467 cases, 14.7% alc.)Excellent. Spring Valley Vineyard 2008 Estate Uriah, Walla Walla Valley, $50. Uriah Corkrum, namesake for this Merlot-based blend, purchased the Spring Valley wheat fields back in 1897. His descendants’ planting of vineyards began almost a century later — 1993 — with Merlot. Winemaker Serge Laville deployed an elegant oak program for the 10th anniversary of this bottling, which exudes aromas of Almond Roca and pencil shavings just behind black cherries, cassis, baked strawberry and hints of minerality. On the palate, it’s juicy with more cherries and currant jam, backed by enjoyable acidity and capped by remarkable complexity of cinnamon bark, slate, tobacco and Baker’s chocolate. (2,200 cases, 14.7% alc.)Recommended. Best Buy! Woodslake NV Due Anni, Columbia Valley, $15. The Pattersons named their back-blend red after the Italian phrase for “two years,” and it combines Cabernet Sauvignon (53%), Cabernet Franc (22%), Merlot (22%) and Syrah from

the 2008 and 2009 vintages. The Cab Franc shows rather prominently, adding red currants, dusty rose and crushed leaf qualities to the base of blueberry, creme brulée and black olive. Enjoy with meat loaf or puttanesca. (1478 cases, 14.9% alc.)

ChardonnayExcellent. Patterson Cellars 2010 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $20. Next to the grassy parking lot at The Gorge Amphitheater is SageCliffe Vineyard, the fruit source for this wine. The use of neutral oak barrels sets the stage for aromas of almond paste, lemon bar pastry, papaya and banana, along with alyssum, honeysuckle and lavender. It’s an easy drinker that follows through first with flavors of banana and homemade butterscotch, then papaya, crisp pineapple and lemon yogurt. A hint of minerality adds a bit of complexity to the finish. (342 cases, 14.8% alc.)

RieslingOutstanding! Nodland Cellars 2010 Bebop Riesling, Columbia Valley, $16. This young Spokane, Wash., winery released some stunning reds earlier this year, and Tim and Tracy Nodland’s diversity shows with this deliciously jazzy Riesling. There’s inviting fresh fruit cocktail aromas with peach, green apple, lychee, grapefruit and facial powder. The flavor profile opens with kiwi fruit , peaches and mango as the sweetness (2.2% residual sugar) sits on the palate before pink grapefruit arrives for balance. Enjoy with Tex-Mex, Thai or other spicy foods. (112 cases, 11% alc.)Recommended. Vin du Lac of Chelan 2009 LEHM Dry Riesling, Lake Chelan, $20. In this case, Larry Lehmbecker’s terroir-driven line blends grapes from his estate Michaela’s Vineyard as well as the Evans family’s on the south side of Lake Chelan. And there’s no false advertising here as this is a bone-dry Riesling, just 0.2% percent. It comes with notes of dusty Granny Smith apple, white peach, green tea, petrol, flecks of minerality and a long trail of lime and lemon peel. (262 cases, 13.5% alc.)

RoséRecommended. Glenterra Vineyards 2010 Estate Rosé, Vancouver Island, $20. This organic pink gathers up 14 varieties, leading with Pinot Noir (50%) and Merlot (20%) and including dashes of some virtually unheard-of grapes in the Pacific Northwest — Agria, Fruhburgunder, Dornfelder, Dunkelfelder, Haroldrebe, Helfensteiner, Hungarian Blue and Samtrot. Its dry approach and notes of white strawberry, rhubarb, sour cherry, cranberry and rhubarb would make for a delicious pairing with holiday fare. (125 cases, 12.3% alc.)

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New releases we’ve tastedDessert winesOutstanding! Heaven's Cave Cellars 2007 Destiny Ridge Estate Vineyard Icicles Riesling Ice Wine, Horse Heaven Hills, $39. Ray McKee, recently promoted to be the red winemaker for Chateau Ste. Michelle, helped make the wines in Prosser, Wash., for philanthropist Hope Moore. Here’s an astonishing example of a Riesling ice wine made in the New World, and there’s no sign of this slowing down. Its gorgeous nose includes spiced and baked apple, pineapple upside down ice, candied orange peel, honeysuckle and Bit O’Honey candy. Succulent flavors bring in more of the same notes, including mango, with ringing acidity in the finish to balance the residual sugar (15%). (112 cases, 12.03% alc.)

Recommended. Dakota Creek Winery NV Dessert Viognier, Washington, $19. Ken Peck emerged from his 21st Century, eco-friendly Quonset hut in Blaine, Wash., with this round and rich drink that carries tones of baked apples dripping with honey, Circus Peanut candy, slightly burnt popcorn, grilled apricot and 12% residual sugar. (100 cases, 14.2% alc.)

Excellent. Patterson Cellars 2010 Late Harvest Roussanne, Yakima Valley, $20. Many of the Washington’s top dessert wines come from the state’s oldest appellation, and cold clusters from Willard Farms near Prosser set the table for winemaker John Patterson. Aromas and flavors of baked custard are joined by peach, banana, Gala apple, dried apricot and lemon peel. Hints of toasted almond, ginger tea and a flash of tangerine in the finish help balance the suppleness of its residual sugar (16.5%) (233 cases, 11.9% alc.)Excellent. Seven of Hearts 2010 Rattlesnake Road Vineyard Ice Princess Viognier Sweet Wine, Columbia Valley, $18. Byron Dooley took these grapes from Arlington, Ore., back to his Willamette Valley winery, where he froze them and produced a sipper that carries 22% residual sugar. The nose features hints of tangelo, papaya, lime, Honeycomb breakfast cereal, corn silk and cilantro. What follows are flavors of navel orange, more papaya, sweet lemon and lots of honey with crushed banana in the finish. Consider pairing this with a serving of flan. (63 cases, 9.7% alc.)

A weekly publication of Wine Press Northwest • Vol. 1, No. 25 • © 2011

Multi-state appellations Columbia Valley: This multi-state appellation is 11

million acres in size and takes up a third of Washington. Established in 1984.

Columbia Gorge: This multi-state appellation begins around the town of Lyle and heads west to Husum on the Washington side of the Columbia River. It was established in 2004.

Walla Walla Valley: Walla Walla Valley: This multi-state appellation is in the southeast corner of Washington and around Milton-Freewater, Ore. Established in 1984.

Snake River Valley: This is in southwestern Idaho and southeastern Oregon. It covers 8,263 square miles and was established in 2007.

WashingtonYakima Valley: The Northwest’s oldest appellation

(established in 1983) stretches past Wapato in the west to Benton City in the east and includes Red Mountain, Rattlesnake Hills and Snipes Mountain.

Red Mountain: Washington’s smallest appellation is a ridge in the eastern Yakima Valley. It is 4,040 acres in size. Established in 2001.

Horse Heaven Hills: This large appellation — 570,000 acres — is south of the Yakima Valley and stretches to the Oregon border. It was established in 2005.

Wahluke Slope: Approved in early 2006, this huge landform north of the Yakima Valley is an 81,000-acre gravel bar created by the Ice Age Floods. It is one of the warmest regions in the entire Pacific Northwest. Established in 2006.

Rattlesnake Hills: This appellation is in the western Yakima Valley north of the towns of Zillah, Granger and Outlook. The appellation is 68,500 acres in size with about 1,300 acres of vineyards. It was established in 2006.

Puget Sound: This sprawling appellation is in Western Washington. It stretches from the Olympia area to the Canadian border north of Bellingham. It also sweeps through the San Juan Islands and to Port Angeles. Established in 1995.

Snipes Mountain: This is one of Washington’s oldest wine-growing regions. At 4,145 acres in size, it is the state’s second-smallest AVA. Grapes have been grown on Snipes Mountain and at the adjacent Harrison Hill (also part of the AVA) since 1914. This AVA is within the Yakima Valley appellation and was approved in 2009.

Lake Chelan: This area in north-central Washington is almost entirely within the Columbia Valley. It is a young area, with the oldest vines dating to 1998. About 250 acres are planted here. It was approved in 2009.

OregonWillamette Valley: Oregon’s largest appellation stretches

roughly from Portland to Eugene. Established in 1984.

Ribbon Ridge: This is the Northwest’s smallest appellation at 3,350 acres. It is best known for its Pinot Noir and is within the Chehalem Mountains AVA. It was established in 2005.

Yamhill-Carlton: This is a horseshoe-shaped appellation that surrounds the towns of Yamhill and Carlton. It was established in 2005. The “District” was dropped in 2011.

Chehalem Mountains: This is the largest within the Willamette Valley. This 62,100-acre appellation is northeast of the Dundee Hills. It was established in 2006.

Dundee Hills: Many of Oregon’s pioneer wineries are in the Dundee Hills within Oregon’s Yamhill County. The appellation is 6,490 acres in size. It was established in 2005.

Eola-Amity Hills: This important region stretches from the town of Amity in the north to the capital city of Salem in the southeast. It is 37,900 acres in size. It was established in 2006.

McMinnville: The hills south and west of the Yamhill County city of McMinnville are more than 40,000 acres in size. It was established in 2005.

Umpqua Valley: This Southern Oregon appellation surrounds the city of Roseburg north of the Rogue Valley. It can produce Pinot Noir as well as warm-climate grapes. It was established in 1984.

Rogue Valley: The Northwest’s southern-most appellation surrounds the cities of Medford and Ashland, just north of the California border. It is known for its warm growing conditions. Established in 2001.

Applegate Valley: This small valley within the Rogue Valley is known for a multitude of microclimates that can result in wines of distinction and complexity. Established in 2004.

Southern Oregon: This AVA encompasses the Umpqua, Rogue and Applegate valleys and Red Hill Douglas County. It was established in 2005.

Red Hill Douglas County: This tiny appellation — just 5,500 acres — is within the Umpqua Valley. Fewer than 200 acres of wine grapes, primarily Pinot Noir, are grown here. Established in 2005.

British ColumbiaOkanagan Valley: In the province’s interior, this 100-

mile valley stretches from the border in Osoyoos to Salmon Arm in the north. Most wineries are near Oliver, Penticton and Kelowna. It was established in 1990.

Similkameen Valley: This warm valley is west of the southern Okanagan Valley. It was established in 1990.

Vancouver Island: This marine-influenced appellation is in the southwest part of the province. Established in 1990.

Fraser Valley: This farming area is in the Lower Mainland, south of Vancouver. Established in 1990.

Gulf Islands: This appellation includes approximately 100 islands spread out between Vancouver Island and the southern mainland. Established in 2005.

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Recent Releases are evaluated under strict conditions to ensure objectivity. Northwest wineries submit wines to Wine Press Northwest for evaluation by Wine Press Northwest’s tasting panel. After wines are received, they are stored for at least two weeks and a third party serves them “blind,” meaning the tasting panelists do not know the producer. In addition, the panelists are served glasses of wine and are not able to view the bottles or their shapes prior to tasting. Wines are stored in temperature-controlled conditions, allowing them to be served at perfect cellar temperatures.

Price is not a consideration in these evaluations, nor is a winery’s advertising activity with Wine Press Northwest, as the magazine’s editorial/wine evaluation activities and advertising/marketing efforts are kept strictly separate.

The panel has a combination of technical and consumer palates. If at least three of the four panelists consider a wine technically sound and commercially acceptable, it is included here as “Recommended.” The panel may also vote the wine as “Excellent” or “Outstanding,” our top rating. Wines considered

unacceptable by the panel are rejected and not included. Reviews are grouped by variety or style and listed alphabetically by winery. Prices listed are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated.

To ensure we maintain an international perspective, our tasting panelists judge thousands of wines annually at various competitions, including: Los Angeles International Wine and Spirits Competition, Riverside International Wine Competition, Dallas Morning News Wine Competition, Indy International Wine Competition, Virginia Governor’s Cup, Sonoma County Harvest Fair, Grand Harvest Awards, San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, Pacific Rim International Wine Competition, Long Beach Grand Cru, Washington State Wine Competition, Seattle Wine Awards, Northwest Wine Summit, British Columbia Wine Awards, New York Wine and Grape Foundation Competition, Tri-Cities Wine Festival, Capital Food & Wine Fest and Idaho Wine Competition.

Tasting methods

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Wine Press Northwest is a quarterly consumer magazine that focuses on the wine regions of Washington, Oregon, British Columbia and Idaho.

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