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Washington wines are becoming some of the best wines for quality and value in America! They are producing Cabernet and Syrah that equal California's, and usually at a better price. Most of Washington wineries are East of the Cascade Mts. in the Columbia, Yakima, and Walla Walla Valleys. A combination of low rainfall, arid climate, volcanic soils, and irrigation from the Columbia River makes for very consistent growing conditions, a sharp contrast from the green, (sometimes wet) bucolic vineyards of Oregon. Predominate grapes here in Washington are: Cabernet
Sauvignon Wines produced here are more like wines from Napa Valley (CA) than the Willamette Valley (OR). There is a richness to the wines here like no other growing region. Here's a list of some of the best wineries in Washington: Oregon -Oregon vineyards are very different from California. The majority of the wineries are located in the Willamette Valley, within a 50 mile radius of Portland. Harvests can be very unpredictable with rains falling at anytime. In spite of the weather local winemakers have improved Oregon wines in the last five years. A number of exceptional Pinot Noirs are becoming quite well known; Ponzi, Domaine Drouhin, Beau Freres, and Lange to name a few. Pinot Noir is the predominate grape, but large amounts of Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, and Riesling are also produced. Southern Oregon has a warm enough climate to produce very good Cabernets and Merlots. Foris winery is a good example from this area. Here's a list of some of the best Oregon wineries:
California -Until recently most California wineries made 100% varietal (grape type) wines. In the early years there were more Italian and Southern French varietals such as Barbera, Zinfandel, Carignane, & Grenache. In the last thirty years Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Sauvignon Blanc have taken over. In the last ten years winemakers are discovering that blending grapes can sometimes make a better or more interesting wine in certain vintages. There are now many producers making Bordeaux blends (Meritage) of Cabernet, Merlot, & Cabernet Franc and by doing so are creating wines with more dimension and charm. Zinfandel - A distant Italian relative that has been grown in California since the 1860's. Distinctive brambleberry fruit quality is the flavor of many Zins. Some old Zinfandel vines are the oldest producing vines in California, many over 100 years old! Most are found in Sonoma, Amador, and San Luis Obispo counties. These old vines create deep explosive berry flavors (old vines really bring out the intense, concentrated flavors in most wines). Some of the best are made by: Ridge, Rosenbloom, Seghesio, Peachy Canyon, Montevina, Renwood, Marietta, DeLoach, and Frog's Leap. Syrah - "Although the Syrah grape is best known for making powerful reds from France's Rhône Valley, many New World wine regions are also making flavorful renditions. Australian Syrah (called Shiraz) has become a benchmark for the grape, and it's followed closely in quality by Syrah from California. Golden State Syrahs offer a full range of flavors, from jammy berry and cherry notes (typical of Aussie Shiraz) to herb and spice, coffee and tobacco elements (found in many Rhône Valley reds). Most are medium- to full-bodied with smooth tannins, making these reds enjoyable today but also good candidates for the cellar." -- Alison Napjus
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