BLOGS

There was a lot of talk at last Saturday's Winter Wine Gala about which wine was best. And a lot to choose from with 16 wineries present. Each winery was pouring two or three different wines.

The Wenatchee Valley Museum — this was their 10th year of hosting the event, which benefits the museum — even handed out a list of all the wineries and wines at the door so the 200 or so attendees could take notes on their favorites.

I was having too much fun to compile any serious results, but I can tell you there were no mediocre wines in the room that night. All were award winners, either in Foothills magazine's annual NCW Wine Awards of other major competitions.

Dan Carr, a judge for the NCW Wine Awards and co-owner of Visconti's restaurants (which just won the very prestigious Restaurant of the Year Award from the Washington Wine Commission) had his own criteria that night.

"What wine would I want to drink every night for a week," he asked himself as he made the rounds. Rather than something flashy, he wanted something perfectly balanced and consistent. His choices: Crayelle Cellars' Syrah and Jones of Washington's trio of white wines, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris.

With 30 or 40 award winning wines and new releases there was plenty to choose from and something to suit everyone's taste.

Wilfred Woods enjoyed the Gewurztraminer and Kamari Black Label Reserve red from Wine Girl Winery in Manson.

Alan Yanagimachi of Cascadia Winery won many over with his popular Apple Wine and new Apple Blush (made with apples and raspberries).

Dr. Richard Schrader pointed me to Okanogan Estates' fine Merlot. Jan Lutz loved Fielding Hills' Tribute red blend, but went back to Jones of Washington's Sauvignon Blanc for her final sip of the evening.

My personal favorites included Cave B's Syrah co-fermented French-style with Viognier, Beaumont Cellars' Petit Verdot and their Syrah and Horan Cellars' fabulously full and spicy HVH red blend.

What's nice is that no one has to wait until the next Winter Wine Gala for the next taste. All these wines are available locally.

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