Stottle Winery, based in Lacey, just north of Olympia, has spring releases of some of its unique red wines, four of which we recently had the opportunity to taste.
Owner and winemaker Josh Stottlemyer is skilled at blending reds, as we experienced with the 2014 Stottle Big Eddie and Hombre. He also does well with the 2014 Tempranillo (100%) and Sangiovese (99%, topped with 1% Cabernet Sauvignon).
As in the past, our palates prefer Big Eddie, but all four wines will pair well with a late spring or summer dinner or barbecue on the deck or patio. Or sip them lakeside or poolside, with some tasty cheeses and charcuterie. Continue reading →
As the new year begins, we want to reflect on the wineries in Washington state that made our list of Top 60 Washington Wineries.
The way to get on our list is fairly simple; we only have two criteria: wineries must offer good juice and good people who provide an excellent wine experience. Perhaps we had fun or learned something in a tasting room or at a major wine event such as Taste Washington, Taste of Tulalip or Seattle Wine and Food Experience. Perhaps someone from the winery gave us a call, or sent us a personal note or samples. Or perhaps we were invited to an incredible winery party.
These people might be the winemakers or the winery owners; in some cases, they are the hard-working staff in a tasting room who went out of their way to make us feel welcome or the amazing workers in the vineyards where it all begins.
Why 60 wineries? The list grew to 60 from 50 last year, as we were introduced to new wineries or new wine experiences in 2015. We welcome the newcomers to the list, and thank you for the 2015 wine experiences you brought us — Andrew Will, B. Leighton, Cote Bonneville, Dynasty Cellars, Ensemble CellarsKiona,Leonetti, Passing Time, Reynvaan, Seven Fallsand Stottle Winery.
Write for Wine’s Top 60 Washington Wineries (in alphabetical order):
Alexandria Nicole Cellars
Andrew Will
Avennia
B. Leighton
Baer
Barrage Cellars
Barrister
Bartholomew
Betz Family
Boudreaux Cellars
Buty Winery
Chateau Ste. Michelle
Columbia Crest
Cooper Wine Company
Cote Bonneville
Darby
DiStefano
Double Canyon
Dunham Cellars
Dynasty Winery
Efeste
Ensemble Cellars
Fall Line
Fidelitas
Fielding Hills
Figgins
Force Majeure
Forgeron Cellars
Gard
Gorman Winery
Guardian Cellars
Hard Row to Hoe
JM Cellars
Kiona
L’Ecole 41
Lauren Ashton
Leonetti
Long Shadows
Maryhill
Mercer Estates
Northstar
Northwest Totem Cellars
Obelisco Estate
Otis Kenyon
Passing Time
Quilceda Creek
Reynvaan
Ross Andrew
Sleight of Hand
Seven Falls Cellars
Sinclair Estate
Sparkman Cellars
Stottle Winery
Va Piano
Vin du Lac
Walla Walla Vintners
William Church
Windy Point
Woodward Canyon
Woodhouse Wine Estates
To these people, we thank you; we support you. Cheers to Washington state wine!
Happy new year! Margot and Dave Write for Wine — it’s Wine O’clock Somewhere!