If you’re like my wife, then you know it’s never too early to plan, especially if it’s for a trip to the wine country somewhere. As we approach February already, we are still 5 months away from the Wine Blogger’s Conference in Walla Walla, Washington held June 25-27, 2010. However, it is important to note that if you are a blogger and want to go and haven’t signed up yet, there were many folks left on the waiting list the past two years, so it is recommended that you don’t wait until the last minute.
We are very excited to visit an important and fairly well-known domestic wine region that we haven’t been to before. Additionally, we have only experienced a few wines from the entire state of Washington. So, to help get us jacked up for the trip and expand our wine horizons, we have been reading Paul Gregutt’s guide to Washington Wines & Wineries and have already held a tasting at our local tasting club focused on red wines from Washington [subsequent post yet to be published on this tasting]. But you don’t have to be a blogger to enjoy and get value out of this wonderfully written book. Paul has been a wine critic and author for over 25 years and knows the wine and wineries of his state inside and out. In this book he has created a numerical scale that actually relates to measurable attributes of wineries and their wines with which to rank them in categories including Leaders, Specialist, Bench and Rookies. Oh, and he’s technologically hip touting a blog of his own that he updates very frequently.
So, in my humble attempt to help you dear readers learn more and experience what this state, second only to California in production, has to offer and what is has attained in it’s short 40-year history, I offer to send a FREE copy of Paul Gregutt’s book to a randomly chosen winner. Here’s how you can win:
1. Post a comment on this blog post OR the same, related post on the Wine Tonite! Fan page: http://www.facebook.com/WineTonite with something about Washington. Hopefully, it’s about a wine or winery, but it can be anything really (i.e. I tasted this xyz wine from Walla Walla and it was good, I would really like to visit xyz winery in Puget Sound, or I think Pete Carroll will/will not succeed as the Seahawks head coach, etc…)
2. The contest period will be one week with a deadline of 12 Noon EST next Sunday, February 7th. I will announce the winner that afternoon on this blog site via a new post.
3. The winner will be chosen randomly using the www.random.org True Random Number Generator. Posts from both the blog and the Facebook fan page will be combined and ordered by date/time stamp and obviously not include any comments I may post along the way.
It’s that Simple! Have fun and good luck and please pass this on to winelovers you know! And if this gets you into the giving mood, check out how you can help a blogger earn a scholarship to join the conference HERE.
Cheers!
My wife and I were in Kennewick and Walla Walla this summer, and really enjoyed touring some of the wineries in the area. Some of my favorites were J. Bookwalter, Northstar, and Pepper Bridge. There are some really outstanding wines being produced in that area. Some of the best Merlot that I have ever tasted were tasted on that trip.
oooh…contests!
Okay. The Walla Walla AVA (American Viticultural Area) was established in 1984, the same year that Hall & Oates “Out of Touch” reached #13 on the Billboard Charts. Knowing the potential for great wines in Southeastern Washington, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau- who defined the AVA- was certainly not “out of touch”
I love Washington, which is a good thing – I live here! I’ve tasted so many Washington wines I don’t know where to start… my favorites in the past few months include several varieties from Maryhill and Waving Tree. Wonderful wines from both of these Gorge wineries!
I haven’t ventured to Walla Walla yet, though my husband and I intend to soon. We drive though Central Washington every couple months, so one of these times we’ll take a couple extra nights and head on over.
Washington wines are fabulous. Being from the Northwest, I have long appreciated WA and OR wines. There are some great older names, like Leonetti, and a lot of fabulous new makers!
Such a luxury to live in a part of the world where great wineries and lush vineyards thrive right outside your door. A December highlight for me was attending the DeLille Holiday Party – not only was it a swingin’ bash but I scored a bottle of Doyenne which I cracked open on New Year’s Eve, sharing it with the guy who came to fix my heater. Ended up being quite the night!
I’ve learned through much experimentation that I tend to prefer the yummy Cabernet Sauvignon being produced in Washington to those that somewhat domineer the California market. Not to generalize, but they’re mighty fine! Oh, and regardless of how big Chateau Ste Michelle is, I’ve never had a bad bottle!
One of the BEST rieslings that I’ve had is from Washington – Columbia Valley to be exact.
The ’07 Chateau Ste Michelle Dry Riesling was totally a blast. Now this winery would be a great place to visit!
Thanks,
Martin
It is my dream to be able to visit the Washington State wince country. Always looking for information on Washington wines, and I think this book would be very useful to plan a trip! I enjoy the Columbia Crest varietals and Chateau St Michelle reisling! But the best reisling is Columbia CellarMasters reisling. Yummo!
Washington State wince country. ah too bad I can’t type. It is supposed to Washington State WINE country!!!
Woohoo! Great comments from everyone! I can’t wait for Summer already…
Morgan: The ’03 Delille was wine of the nite at our party… I’ll write about that soon
Pam & Martin – I have heard that WA makes some tremendous Rieslings and was/is a great Merlot producer until that movie came out and screwed the pooch for that varietal.
Thanks for the comments all!
Washington is home to some of the worlds premier makers of Bordeaux style grapes. Anyone who would like some insight into WA would beneift from the great book by Paul G. Ed, Thanks for bringing some attention to our great state!
Josh @nectarwine on Twitter
Ed, Great contest idea and great recommendation. I thought of the recommendation a week or so ago and wrote about my obsession with this book.
http://www.yakyakwine.com/2010/01/syllabus-required-reading-wa-wine.html
Don’t include me in your drawing since I obviously already have this book. Just wanted to congratulate you on making this generous offer to your readers.
Look forward to meeting you and the rest at Walla Walla in June.
It’s too bad that big wineries like Ch. St. Michelle and Columbia get all the attention, because I think the small producers are making some of the best wines, especially when it comes to Rieslings. Some of the best Rieslings I’ve tasted are from O-S Winery, Poet’s Leap and Gård Vintners. And I buy a few bottles of Bordeaux varietals every year from Betz. Other great producers include Cayuse, Maison Bleue, Sheridan and Bookwalter.
@Josh, I agree about the Bordeaux producers, but Washington is kicking you know what and taking names when it comes to Rhone varietals. Syrah, and Roussanne, are just making a serious impact. DeLille, Fielding Hills, Cayuse, K and others are making some serious Syrah, and check out Kana and Maison Bleue for some bomb Roussanne.
Thanks, Josh and Chris! It is my pleasure. Always like to give my readers the opportunity to try new things.
Clive – agree with you on the Rhone styles… enjoyed some nice Syrah from K Vineyards a few weeks back that rocked!
By the way, Chris, thanks for the link to your review… very timely and informative… I encourage everyone here to check it out and pass on this opportunity for someone to wine a FREE copy from me! It is a great resoure.
Sweeeet! Thanks for the generous offer, Ed. I *still* can’t believe we haven’t run into each other yet.
Even if I don’t win, I’ll probably pick up the book. Pretty interesting timing! My brother lives in Seattle and my wife & I are planning a Pac NW cycling/wine-tasting week in either late spring or early fall. Going to borrow his car and drive from Walla Walla to Portland, more or less following the Wine Spectator route. Figure we’ll do a 2-4 hour ride each morning, eat lunch, hit the wineries and then go for a nice dinner. Rinse & repeat all week
Ed, thanks for the kind words. I’ll be happy to sign books for anyone attending the Conference in Walla Walla. Looking forward to meeting many of you there. If anyone needs some insider advice on what to do/where to go, etc. shoot me an e-mail. As the event approaches, I’ll do some blogging about it as well.
Paul, it is my pleasure to share your work and great wine with others. Thank you so much for stopping by and checking us out here and making a comment – maybe you’ll win
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I knew that you would be at the conference and somehow neglected to mention that here, but what a wonderful offer to sign books… I’ll be sure to bring ours.
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Cheers!
It’s indeed a great book and will give you a lot of valuable info before you step foot into Washington – which reminds me. If you haven’t signed up for the Wine Bloggers Conference in Walla Walla, you need to! I have some of the insight scoop. Good times. Good times.
There’s much to be said of Washington’s wine,
A state mostly known for its rain and low crime.
But fill up your stemware,
Reds, whites, (who’s to care?)
And soon you’ll see why they call it sublime.
Hi, Denise! Thanks for dropping by… Nice poetic reply, it’s getting me in the mood… can’t wait to see the WA wine country.
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Let’s give a shout out to your venture: Trio Vintners in Walla Walla — just click on Denise’s name on her comment to check out the website
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Cheers!
Aw – thanks for that shout out. See ya in June!
With a rack full of Cali Cabs and Aussie Shirazs, I find myself increasingly drawn to and reaching for a Columbia Crest Reserve Cab or K Syrah….
The two producers in WA I would most wish to check out based on the scuttlebutt I’ve heard are Cayuse and Betz Family. I am expecting to be in the PNW in summer of 2011. Have a good trip!
Thanks Chris and Dennis… you are entered in the drawing and thanks for the comments. I have heard good things about Cayuse and Betz, but not sure yet if I’ll get them on the itinerary.
Btw, the book giveaway is still open until this Sunday, so tell your friends!
Two mandatory stops in Seattle are the White Horse Pub in Post Alley and the Tasting Room almost next door to it. The Tasting Room offers only Washington state wines in an all-too-comfortable atmosphere.
I hope to make it to Walla Walla for the Wine Blogger Conference this year. I’ve been a little lax on my WA wine drinking lately. I’ve recently had Barnard-Griffin’s Syrah Port which is incredible for about $16. I’ve also enjoyed some of Charles Smith’s offerings like “The Velvet Devil” Merlot and “Eve” Chardonnay. However, there are tons of other wineries to visit and enjoy their wines, so I hope to visit soon!
Cheers,
Matt
THE WINNER: PAM CAUDY!
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I will create a separate post also for this announcement, but wanted to wrap up the thread as well with the random drawing winner…
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Pam: Since you didn’t include an email address or web address on your comment, I will need you to return and let me know how to send the book to you. You can email me at my address via the link on the About Us link at the top of this site.
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CONGRATULATIONS!!!