Taste Washington! Recommended Wines.
This was my first exposure to Whitestone wines, I was completely unaware of the brand until I met them at Taste Washington. Their label is one to remember and find. If your local wine shop or grocer does not have Whitestone Wines, ask them to bring them in for you. These are approachable wines, showcasing the beauty of the fruit, balanced and not heavy.
Whitestone Vineyards was founded by Walter and Judy Haig in 1992. With the help of Washington State University, their vineyard site at Lake Roosevelt Shores, behind Grand Coulee Dam, was prepped for planting. Spring of 1994, the vineyard was planted, re-introducing grape vines to the area. 1996 marked the first harvest, their grapes were purchased by several Walla Walla wineries. In 2001, Walter and Judy started making wine themselves with their Estate Merlot grapes. The following year the winery produced wine from all three of their grape varietals. All of the grapes used in their wines come exclusively from the Lake Roosevelt Shores Vineyard. Since 2005, Whitestone Estate fruit is harvested exclusively for Whitestone Estate Wines.
The Roosevelt Shores Vineyard site has some interesting qualities, besides being at the NE edge of the Columbia Valley AVA, so I'm including additional information on their Estate Vineyard:
Vineyard Information
Name: Lake Roosevelt Shores Vineyard
Location: 60 miles west of Spokane, 29 miles behind Grand Coulee Dam.
Appellation: Columbia Valley
Established: 1992
Acres in Production: 5 acres Merlot, 5 acres Cabernet Sauvignon, 6 acres Cabernet Franc.
Geography: South Slope
Elevation: 1,600 feet
Rainfall: 12-13” annual
Soil: Sandy Loam
Growing Season: March to November
Winemaker: Michael Haig
The Wines:
* Favorite: 2008 Cabernet Franc - 100% Cabernet Franc, very good, like, tasty, med finish. Good. ABV 13.8%, retail price $27.
* Favorite: 2008 Merlot - Good nose, 100% Merlot, very good, retail price $27 not over top. ABV 14.1%, retail price $27.
2008 Cabernet Sauvignon - Like the nose, tastes like a Cabernet, balanced, not over top, light. ABV 13.9%, retail price $30. Recommended.
* Favorite: 2008 St. Vincent Meritage- Red blend, love the nose, like. ABV 14.8%
Wines listed here are the wines I liked and recommend. My favorite wines appealed to me because they expressed unique characteristics and quality, they are indicated by an “*” and are in italics.
Whitestone Winery
Mailing: 42399 Jump Canyon Road North, Creston, WA 99117
Production: N. 9 Anne Street, Wilbur, WA 99185
Tasting Room - SPOKANE: 8 N. Post, Suite #8, Spokane, WA 99201
Tasting Room – WILBUR: 115 NE Main, Wilbur, WA 99185
Vineyard: Roosevelt Lake, 42399 Jump Canyon Road North; Creston, Washington 99117
Map: Where's Wilbur, Washington?
The Spokane Tasting Room
Open: Tuesday - Wednesday, 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 pm
Thursday - Friday, 12:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Phone: (509) 838-2427
The Wilbur Tasting Room
Open by Appointment and Special Events
www.whitestonewinery.com
twitter: @pieces_of_red
Relate Post: Taste Washington! How I will Review 29 Wineries and 103 Wines
This was my first exposure to Whitestone wines, I was completely unaware of the brand until I met them at Taste Washington. Their label is one to remember and find. If your local wine shop or grocer does not have Whitestone Wines, ask them to bring them in for you. These are approachable wines, showcasing the beauty of the fruit, balanced and not heavy.
Whitestone Vineyards was founded by Walter and Judy Haig in 1992. With the help of Washington State University, their vineyard site at Lake Roosevelt Shores, behind Grand Coulee Dam, was prepped for planting. Spring of 1994, the vineyard was planted, re-introducing grape vines to the area. 1996 marked the first harvest, their grapes were purchased by several Walla Walla wineries. In 2001, Walter and Judy started making wine themselves with their Estate Merlot grapes. The following year the winery produced wine from all three of their grape varietals. All of the grapes used in their wines come exclusively from the Lake Roosevelt Shores Vineyard. Since 2005, Whitestone Estate fruit is harvested exclusively for Whitestone Estate Wines.
The Roosevelt Shores Vineyard site has some interesting qualities, besides being at the NE edge of the Columbia Valley AVA, so I'm including additional information on their Estate Vineyard:
Vineyard Information
Name: Lake Roosevelt Shores Vineyard
Location: 60 miles west of Spokane, 29 miles behind Grand Coulee Dam.
Appellation: Columbia Valley
Established: 1992
Acres in Production: 5 acres Merlot, 5 acres Cabernet Sauvignon, 6 acres Cabernet Franc.
Geography: South Slope
Elevation: 1,600 feet
Rainfall: 12-13” annual
Soil: Sandy Loam
Growing Season: March to November
Winemaker: Michael Haig
The Wines:
* Favorite: 2008 Cabernet Franc - 100% Cabernet Franc, very good, like, tasty, med finish. Good. ABV 13.8%, retail price $27.
* Favorite: 2008 Merlot - Good nose, 100% Merlot, very good, retail price $27 not over top. ABV 14.1%, retail price $27.
2008 Cabernet Sauvignon - Like the nose, tastes like a Cabernet, balanced, not over top, light. ABV 13.9%, retail price $30. Recommended.
* Favorite: 2008 St. Vincent Meritage- Red blend, love the nose, like. ABV 14.8%
Wines listed here are the wines I liked and recommend. My favorite wines appealed to me because they expressed unique characteristics and quality, they are indicated by an “*” and are in italics.
Whitestone Winery
Mailing: 42399 Jump Canyon Road North, Creston, WA 99117
Production: N. 9 Anne Street, Wilbur, WA 99185
Tasting Room - SPOKANE: 8 N. Post, Suite #8, Spokane, WA 99201
Tasting Room – WILBUR: 115 NE Main, Wilbur, WA 99185
Vineyard: Roosevelt Lake, 42399 Jump Canyon Road North; Creston, Washington 99117
Map: Where's Wilbur, Washington?
The Spokane Tasting Room
Open: Tuesday - Wednesday, 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 pm
Thursday - Friday, 12:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Phone: (509) 838-2427
The Wilbur Tasting Room
Open by Appointment and Special Events
www.whitestonewinery.com
twitter: @pieces_of_red
Relate Post: Taste Washington! How I will Review 29 Wineries and 103 Wines
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