Many people come out to Western Washington’s wine hub in the city of Woodinville and wonder “where are the grapes?”.     The people in the know point East, make a smug look and say Eastern Washington.  

Well, the truth is that there are actually vines and grapes in the Puget Sound area.  The Puget Sound is a designated AVA known as the Puget Sound AVA.  This is the same designation given Horse Heaven Hills, Red Mountain, Snipes Mountain and the newest AVA called Naches Heights.    There are twelve American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), as recognized and defined by the United States Treasury Department; Alcohol & Tobacco Taxes & Trade Bureau in Washington State.

For those familiar with The Puget Sound AVA they know it’s grape varietals are typically white due to the “cold climate” grapes that thrive in the region.    What is lesser known is that there are a few red varietals that do well in the Puget Sound AVA as well.    One well known varietal is Pinot Noir made famous by our neighbors in Oregon and the Willamette Valley and the coastal regions of California.    Oh, and then there was that movie….   Anyway, another intriguing cold climate red grape varietal worthy of mention is known as Regent.  

Regent has both European (Vitis vinifera) and American vine species in its pedigree and a solid resistance against the most significant fungal diseases which affect cold climate grapes, such as downy mildew.   Regent is a hybrid grape developed in 1967  by crossing Diana, a Silvaner x Müller-Thurgau.   And the taste?  It’s a fabulous food friendly lighter alcohol (12.5%)  red wine.    To me it is similar to Pinot Noir with a little more spice.   

Where to find it?  Hollywood Hill Vineyards!  Winemaker/Owner Steve Snyder is known on twitter as @grapegeek for a reason.  His passion for the Puget Sound AVA is evident.  He has the only commercial vineyard in Woodinville and produces an array of Puget Sound sourced wines as well as a good mix of Eastern Washington sourced wines.   Steve is also the first winemaker to commercially bottle Regent in the U.S.  So, be adventurous, take a trip to Woodinville and try Regent.   There are only 75 cases so go soon!   You will find it is well worth the trip.    Cheers!

Full Story

Hollywood Hill is the self-appointed neighborhood of  Woodinville’s wine country.   It is the closest in proximity to the action and has its very own wine district which is home to the highly acclaimed wineries of  Adams Bench, Alexander Nicole, Mark Ryan, J. Bookwalter, Amavi Cellars, Pepper Bridge, Airfield, Goose Ridge, Trust Cellars, Sparkman Cellars, Dusted Valley, Lachini, William Church, Brian Carter, Challenger Ridge a distillary, Soft Tail Spirits , Dellile Cellars, and our very own Hollywood Hill Vineyards…to name a few.  

In my opinion it’s close enough to the end of the year to take a look at the data for Woodinville’s wine country year-end real estate activity for 2011.   And believe it or not the raw data doesn’t look to bad!

Active listings available for purchase = 19 homes

Median price point = $625,000 (don’t worry entry level into the neighborhood is around $300K)

Days on Market = the average days on the market for a currently listed home is 101 days.

Pending home sales = 6

Median price = $730,266

Days on Market = 142 days

SOLD homes = 57

Median sold price = $620,000

Days on market = 130

Average sale price to list = 96.73%  (seller’s didn’t negotiate much to get a deal together)

The absorption rate is approximately 3…  which indicates the market is leaning towards a seller’s advantage.    In summary, Hollywood Hill’s real estate is going strong!    Almost as strong as some of the wine in town…Cheers. 

*Data provided by the NWMLS

Close to Yakima and  in the Columbia Valley AVA region the terroir of Naches Heights differs significantly.  The region tends to be higher in elevation than many areas of Washington wine country, ranging from 1,200 feet at its lowest point to 2,100 feet. It also receives plenty of heat and little rainfall. 

Two of the winery/winemaker pioneers in the area include Wildridge Winery and Naches Heights Vineyards.  Wildridge currently has 12 acres planted of an 85 acre site purchased in 2007. 

Paul Beveridge, owner of Wilridge Winery in Seattle, said the Naches Heights was unaffected by the ice age floods 15,000 years ago because of its location and elevation. That means its wind-blown soils are much older. He described the Naches Heights as one of the few grape-growing spots in the state that actually gain soil each year.

“It just keeps blowing in,” he said.

Naches Heights Vineyard ‘s Phil Cline has been a believer in the area since his 2002 plantings of pinot gris and syrah.    He has plans to plant another 80 acres….soon!

The Naches Heights AVA will become official Jan. 13 and will be Washington’s 12th AVA. Washington is the second-largest wine-producing state in the country, second to California, making about 12 million cases annually from 40,000 acres of vines.

Read more: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/12/15/1754066/washington-gets-12th-wine-region.html#storylink=misearch#ixzz1gczif66K

This last weekend I participated in the Willamette Valley’s 29th annual Wine Country Thanksgiving Weekend.    A post-harvest event where over 160 wineries opened their doors for special, festive, holiday wine tastings.   

In my pursuit of understanding Pinot Noir this was an event not to miss.     And it delivered with the opportunity to go to some of the smaller boutique wineries that are not always open to the public.  Some of these wineries were still under construction, some more established and some of the wineries due to the late harvest were still in “crush” mode.    But all delivered that very unique experience of tasting amazing wine, meeting the winemaker and family at some places and illuminating why going out to local winery events is worth the trip. 

NW Holiday wine events not to miss!

Walla Walla ~ Barrel Tasting, December 2-4

http://wallawallawine.com/submit-event/holiday-barrel-tasting/

Woodinville ~ St. Nicks,  December 3-4

http://woodinvillewinecountry.com/Details.cfm?ProdID=46

Alright this might  be a bit far fetching and far reaching for a Thanksgiving wine recommendation but I recommend a bottle of the Notios ~2010  Agiorgitiko.

I propose that by buying this wine our ability to solve the worlds problem is at hand.   And with that we have much to be grateful for.    If every table serving wine on Thanksgiving had a bottle of Greek wine on it the world just might be saved from the utter financial chaos that has reigned and besieged the earth or more importantly Greece.  Greece needs another cash infusion and we can provide it one by buying  Greek wine.

My wine recommendation is not only known as Agiorgitiko  but also as “The Blood of Hercules”.    I mean why wouldn’t you want a wine with a mythical legacy on your table?

The story of the grape begins with the myth of Hercules and his twelve labors.   The first of which was to slay the Nemean lion.   Legend has it that the agiorgitiko grape sprouted from the spilled blood of Hercules.

Another appropriate bit of the  folklore suggests that the name  agiorgitiko comes from the monastery of Agios Georgios in Feneos, another ancient town in the prefecture of Corinth.    During the Ottoman Empire, wine was taxed, but the monasteries were exempt from paying.    In a truly modern business scheme, the locals assigned their wine to the monastery to avoid taxation, giving the wine the moniker “agiorgitiko”.

So, it’s not another austerity measure or more taxes that will solve our worlds problems.   Obviously,  taxes have always sought to be avoided.    The real solution can be found in drinking “The Blood of Hercules”!

Notios ~ 2010 Agriogitiko

Growing area ~ Gaia’s Vineyard

Located in Koutsi – Nemea (thus the Nemean Lion)

13.5% alcohol

Dry red wine (is how they describe it).   It’s a very well balanced wine with nice minerality, food friendly,  leaning more towards a Pinot Noir than a Cabernet.     A Perfect Thanksgiving wine!

References:

*Athens News http://www.athensnews.gr/issue/13405/22807

First stop a vineyard on Red Mountain.   We sampled juicy red, sweet, surprisingly edible cabernet sauvignon grapes just off the vine.   Next stop a neighboring vineyard where we checked out several blocks of cabernet sauvignon.   The difference between clones, location and nuances of the vines was incredibly distinct and became clearer as  we tasted and sampled ripening grapes from the various vines.  There was definitely a winner for Marie-Eve.   Sourcing and picking the grapes  is where the true craft of a skilled winemaker come into play.  

On to another vineyard.  Our next stop the Marsanne grapes.   It was apparent that they were not nearly close enough to being harvested.    So,  quickly we moved on to a vineyard in Prosser where orange muscat grapes playfully basked  in the sunshine.   They were flavorful with that noticeable orange element added to the subtle yet sweet white grape.   A week or two from harvesting though. 

Onward leaving a dusty trail through the hills we blazed to the formidable AVA of Horse Heaven Hills.     Traversing our way through the vines we managed to find Roussanne block A29 and the best view in town.  Situated on a steep incline with scenic views of the Columbia River the grapes looked rather content as they soaked up the much appreciated heat units.   Clusters of grapes were gathered for the lab and a round of  brix and Ph testing.  It appears that these lovely Roussane grapes will probably be the first harvested by Forgeron Cellars for their 2011 vintage.

Harvest is an exciting time of year to visit wine country.   I highly recommend a trip out.  The winemakers are busy!  You may not see them but you will see a lot of activity in and around the vineyards, tasting rooms and production facilities.  You will hear the buzz and projections for vintage 2011 and everybody is in full speed as they get ready to pick grapes and put some more wine in those empty barrels. 

If you can’t make a trip East but  interested in meeting winemaker Marie-Eve and tasting through Forgeron Cellars latest releases stop by Wine World Seattle this Saturday from 2-5 pm.

 The Auction of Washington Wine held 5 events to raise funds for the Seattle Children’s Hospital  and the Washington Wine Education Foundation. 

I attended the Picnic and Barrel Auction because who could pass up a sunny summer picnic on the beautiful grounds of Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery.   In addition to the winery ambiance and thrown into the mix of picnic attendees in their finest summer picnic attire wine barrels were being auctioned off to those who aspired to own a barrel of Washington’s wine.   Festive for sure!

25 of the finest winemakers known to Washington State donated a barrel of their best wine for the auction.  Picnic goers enjoyed a phenomenal array of Washington wines, tasted barrel samples and feasted on a spectacular offering of food prepared by Tulalips Casino’s executive chef Perry Mascitti.

A few of the picnic/gala highlights and fund raising results included:

The highest barrel auction bid of $1400 went for one case of a future release from Reynvaan Family Vineyards.

One week aboard The World and Betz Family wines raised $25,000·       

Two dinners for ten at Col Solare with Chateau Ste. Michelle CEO/President Ted Baseler  added another $40,000.     

Dinner at Quilceda Creek with Michael Mina + $18,000·        

Artwork “65 Roses” created by Seattle Children’s Hospital patient family and local artist Taras Lesko sold to Co-Chairs and Woodward Canyon Owners Rick and Darcey Small, who plan to incorporate the artwork into a future wine label.

In all,  this year’s  Auction of Washington Wine events brought in $1.5 million for uncompensated care for  Seattle’s Childrens Hospital and for Wine Education in the State.      

Mark your calendar for next years picnic and save your pennies to buy a barrel.  Participate and support the great efforts of the Auction of Washington Wine!

2011 Auction of Washington Wines Co-chairs Rick Small, Brad Smith, Michele Smith and Darcey Fugman-Small announcing the grand total at The Wine Gala

*The Auction of Washington Wine was established as a 501 C (3)  in 1988 and has raised over $24 million.