Every year, we find more things to rave about Washington state wine, celebrated in all its glory last week at Taste Washington.
Taste Washington is the country’s largest single-region wine and food event, which we like to describe as ”the Super Bowl of Washington state wine events.”
More than 200 wineries poured at Century Link Field, 70 restaurants shared tasty bites, and there were all kinds of ways to discover more about the state’s wine industry.
Our plan this year was to visit friends at wineries we know well and try some new wines. We decided to only taste red wines this year, because there were so very many wines to sample.
These our the highlights of our experience:
Top three favorite new (to us) wines, with brief descriptors
- Walla Walla Vintners 2012 Cabernet Franc, Columbia Valley — Sassy, stunning, stellar, superlative
- Double Canyon 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, Horse Heaven Hills — Velvety, vibrant, vivacious, victorious
- Boudreaux Cellars 2008 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon — Lovely, luscious, luxurious, luxe
Other favorites (in alphabetical order)
- Alexandria Nicole Cellars 2010 Destiny (Happy 10th Anniversary, ANC!)
- Andrew Will 2011 Two Blondes Red Bordeaux Blend, Yakima Valley
- Bartholomew Winery 2010 Reciprocity Red Blend, Columbia Valley
- Betz Family Winery 2011 Pere de Famille Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley
- Buty Winery 2011 Rediviva of the Stones Red Blend, Walla Walla Valley
- Cooper Wine Company 2011 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain
- Fall Line Winery 2011 Red Willow Red Blend, Yakima Valley
- Fidelitas 2010 Ciel du Cheval Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain
- FIGGINS 2010 Estate Red Bordeaux Blend, Walla Walla Valley
- Force Majeure Vineyards 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Collaboration Series, Force Majeure Vineyard, Red Mountain
- Gorman Winery 2011 The Pixie Syrah, Red Mountain
- Lauren Ashton Cellars 2011 Syrah, Columbia Valley
- Sinclair Estate 2010 Vixen Red Blend, Columbia Valley
Longtime favorites (in alphabetical order)
- Avennia
- EFESTE
- Forgeron Cellars
- JM Cellars
- L’Ecole No 41
- Long Shadows Vintners
- Obelisco Estate Wines
- Va Piano Vineyards
- Woodward Canyon
Best bites (there were so many, but we only sampled a few)
- Andaluca: Cauliflower soup
- Anthony’s Pier 66: Scallop BLT
- Blazing Bagels: Multi-flavors of bagels and shmears
- Cheeseland Inc and Mt. Townsend Creamery: Assortment of artisan cheeses
- Pike Place Chowder: Traditional New England clam chowder
- The Capital Grille: Porcini rubbed dry-aged sirloin (where we’re celebrating our anniversary this week)
Congratulations and thank you to the Washington Wine Commission and Visit Seattle for a such an excellent event and experience.
Cheers!