See below for what happened.........

A Taste of the Great Northwest

One of the new, exciting wine areas that emerged in the past 25 years has been the Northwest.  Tonight we have a selection of these cool climate wines to perk your interest and tantalize your senses. Wine selection reflects the diversity of wines being grown throughout Oregon, Washington State, and British Columbia.  Your Northwest journey hosts are Ruby and Carl Dollhopf and Jackie and Frank Carson.

Apéritif  

Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Sauvignon Blanc, British Columbia

The Wines

2006 Columbia Valley Winery Gewürztraminer, Washington State

2006 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, Oregon

2004 Merlot 14 Hands, Washington State

 2005 Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Merlot, British Columbia

 2004 Hogue Syrah Genesis, Washington State

2002 Foris Rogue Valley Fly Over Red, Oregon

Cheese and bread will accompany the wines. Please bring your own glasses. Coffee and Dessert will follow the tasting. No smoking or strong fragrances--please.

Attendees recognize they will consume alcohol and assume responsibility of having done so.

Attendance will be limited to the first 32.  Reservation deadline is Monday, May 12, 2008.

Members  $20.00            Guests   $24.00

What Happened.........

This tasting was organized and presented by Carl and Ruby Dollhopf and Frank and Jackie Carson.  About 30 members and guests attended.

Frank introduced the subject and talked about the northwest Canada wine region, and the Okanagan location, with information on its characteristics as well as data on the very good aperitif Sauvignon Blanc from Canada.

Carl discussed the Washington and Oregon regions, with much information on the winery locations and the role of the rivers and mountains in controlling rainfall, sun, temperature, and soil. The result is microclimates that provide excellent grape growing conditions.

Carl and Ruby have traveled the Northwest on many occasions and he provided much information on the wineries that made our tasting wines. He presented the wines, all of which were very good in character and taste. There was one direct comparison, the 14 Hands Merlot and the Jackson-Triggs Merlot. The former was more typical of merlots, and the latter more robust.  Our group slightly favored the 14 Hands.

Jackie Carson selected cheeses, Chevre du Poitou (a cylinder of Goat), Fromage d’Affinois (a Brie), and Old Amsterdam Aged Gouda, providing an opportunity to see what cheese best matched each wine.

The final wine, from a small winery, Foris, in the south of Oregon was likely the best, a Meritage type blend with 63% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc constituents. Although a 2002, this was a recent release which reflects on their care in preparation. 

We learned that the Northwest continues to make fine wines, and it was good to have some Canadian wines at a tasting as well. We had Ruby’s oatmeal cookies and coffee to close.