Sip Northwest, Spring 2017
THE CASE FOR Red RedWines T he case for quintessential red wines in the Northwest is a bold one After all the measuring stick for most varietals is regions like Burgundy Bordeaux and the Rhône Valley These truly iconic locations have had hundreds in some cases thousands of years to study the local terroir and witness historic weather episodes By comparison the Northwest wine scene is in its adolescence and yet many regions vineyard owners and vintners are taking advantage of the passion and fearlessness found in youth and that spry sense of wonder is paying off For example nearly 50 years after a smattering of winegrowers 42 S I P N O R T H W E S T C O M QUINTESSENTIAL had a vision larger than themselves the Willamette Valley wine region has attained international acclaim and has grown to accommodate over 500 wineries So while some of the following regions may have just established themselves as an American Viticultural Area AVA or Canadian designated geographical indicator GI in the last decade the word iconic could be seen as lofty or as visionary Here we delve into six Pacifi c Northwest regions and their fl agship varietals that make a case for a New World home to rival its Old World roots BY VIKI EIERDAM
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