This Sunday we will be tasting two lovely wines from the Columbia Valley of Washington State. The Columbia Valley AVA is Washington’s all-encompassing region with some 11 million acres of land in all and is geographically defined by mountain ranges which border it on the west and north, and by the Columbia River on the south until it turns north at the Wallula Gap. Here the appellation continues east, following the state line and then dipping down into Oregon to include the southern part of the Walla Walla Valley AVA. The Columbia Valley’s eastern border is loosely defined by the land surrounding the Columbia River as it jogs north, and the Snake River as it runs east. Come explore with us…

2012 Parejas Cellars Band of Sisters Wysling ($15)
55% Marsanne, 34% Roussanne, 11% Grencahe Blanc
Columbia Valley
This local Rhône style white blend is dry full-bodied wine with perfumed aromas of spiced herbal tea, spring blossoms, Asian pears, greengages (European plums), and honeysuckle.

2011 Ridge Crest Cabernet Sauvignon    ($10)
90% Cabernet, 10% Merlot
Columbia Valley
Ridge Crest is the second label for Claar Cellars. Aged 18 months in oak, this wine has a dark cherry, plum fruit aroma with hints of tobacco and cedar. On the palate the wine is soft with a dark fruit explosion that expresses the cherry and slight currant berry flavors. The tannins are soft and add structure to the lengthy and jammy fruit finish.