By Jade Palmer, Krog Wine Manager
Last week, I had the pleasure of being invited to attend WA Wine Road Trip, an adventure for wine professionals to explore Washington wine country from Woodinville to Walla Walla. I had the most incredible time, from foot stomping Syrah grapes to tasting fresh Viognier juice to testing sugar levels to determine harvest dates of Cabernet Sauvignon. I learned so much and met a lot of incredible producers up there. If there’s anything that stuck with me from this trip, it’s the fact that more people need to be drinking Washington wine! Did you know that 90% of Washington wineries make less than 5,000 cases a year? That means that the vast majority of WA wineries are family-owned and operated. And we love supporting small production! This week, we’re diving deep into what Washington has to offer - producers there surely do make something that you’ll enjoy.
Barnard-Griffin Sauvignon Blanc - $14.99
Barnard-Griffin is the brainchild of Deborah Barnard and Rob Griffin, a husband and wife winemaking duo in Richland, WA. They started the winery in 1983 and now have their daughter Megan on as second-generation winemaker. They focus on Rhône varieties (Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier, and Syrah) as well as international varieties (Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc) and even some Portuguese varieties! Their wines are bright and fresh, lending intense fruit characteristics where it’s appropriate. I was a part of a great conversation with Rob Griffin regarding yeasts used in fermentation and how each strain can affect the final aromas and flavours in a wine! This Sauvignon Blanc is everything - full of pear, tangerine, honeydew melon, and lime flavours. The perfect wine to get through False Fall, amirite?
L’Ecole No. 41 Chenin Blanc - $19.99
L’Ecole is situated in Walla Walla, the eastern part of the state. It’s third-generation family owned and operated and aims to show the beauty of Washington terroir through its wines. They’re also at the forefront of sustainability in Washington, ensuring that they are taking care of the land they steward. This Chenin Blanc comes from almost 40 year old vines in Yakima Valley and is very reminiscent of Vouvray - white peach, green apples, jasmine, honeysuckle, and flint with a touch of salinity. You’ll be surprised that this didn’t come from the Loire Valley!
Airfield Estates Cabernet Sauvignon - $21.99
Airfield is a fourth-generation family-owned vineyard and winery based in Yakima Valley AVA with a pretty cool history. Back in the 1940s, part of the winery land was leased to the Olympia Air Transport Corporation, which built a flight school for Army Air Corps pilots during World War II. Once the base was closed in the mid-1940s, the land was converted back to agricultural use and eventually became home to now 830 acres of wine grapes. The family used to sell their grapes to other wineries until 2005, when Airfield Estates was founded. They grow everything from Bordeaux varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot) to Italian varieties (Sangiovese, Barbera, Dolcetto). This Yakima Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is teeming with red and black fruit - red cassis, Bing cherry, blackcurrant - intermingled with notes of cedar and graphite. The smooth tannins and bright acidity are sure to give your favourite Napa Cab a run for its money!
