Earlier this week I had a chance to talk about some of my favorite, but not so common wines of the great Northwest – Washington and Oregon, on The Broadcast. We know about great Pinot Noir from Oregon, and Cabernet from Washington, but wines of this region go well beyond this, creating luscious, layered and interesting wines from all varieties. Click below for a link to the segment, notes for each wine Suzie and I discussed are below.  I had a Chardonnay on the show as well, and most might not consider Chardonnay unusual..but in Oregon it is.  I spoke w/ my buddy Deb Knapp last week on KATU-TV, the ABC station in Portland about the rise of the grape in the region.  A link to our segment is here.

Adelsheim Auxerrois, This bright, very clean and crisp whit wine originates from France and Adelsheim is one of the few producers in the US to make wine with the variety and I love it. Great acidity and minerality balancing citr

usand grape notes. A perfect patio wine. $25, via their website – other varieties available at Spec’s

Soter 2011 North Valley Reserve Chardonnay – $50 via their website, other varieties  available at Spec’s.  This Reserve is an incredibly special wine, their first release of North Valley Reserve Chardonnay, 2011 expressing the cool vintage with steely characteristics balanced with honey suckle, melon, toasted vanilla and sweet spice.  Beautiful now and holds the ability to age nicely for the next few years.

Stoller Rose of Pinot Noir – The Stoller Rose of Pinot Noir, year in and year out, may be my favorite go-to Rose…and lucky for me, every year their production gets a little bit bigger so I have an opportuity to get my hands on a few more bottles than the previous years. Beautiful and fresh, filled with juicy notes of watermelon, ruby red grapefruit and ripe berry. $20, via their website – other varieties available at Spec’s

Charles and Charles Rose – This Rhone Style blend from Washington leaps from the glass with layers of wild strawberry, tangerine, fresh herbs and just a touch of spice. Very pocket and palate friendly, a great wine for summer. – $12 at Central Market, World Market

Mackey Concordia (Syrah blend) – Washington State has done very well with Rhone red varieties, like smoky, spice filled Syrah and fruit and earthy filled Grenache. This one balances both, with a touch of Mourvedre, to create a perfect red for summer barbecues. $38, via their website

Spring Valley Vineyards Fredrick – One of the things I love about the wines of Spring Valley is their ability to create a delicious blends from their Walla Walla fruit. Frederick starts with a cherry and licorice blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, then adds herbal Cab Franc, floral Merlot and a touch of Petit Verdot for an elegant, Bordeaux style blend from their high quality fruit – $43 at Total Wine and More