by Christopher Chan, Director of Wine and Spirits at The Rainier Club and the Washington Wine Awards

It's harvest season in Washington Wine Country, and there’s no place like the Pacific Northwest when the weather is beautiful. As we head into Fall, the aromas of crushing grapes and spectacle of turning leaves calls us to the vineyards of Eastern Washington. Get out and enjoy the beauty of Washington Wine Country. The following are some exceptional wines to inspire your journey!

2008 Alexandria Nicole Cellars Crawford Viognier ~ $18.00
Jarrod Boyle use an amazing source in Crawford Vineyard for this clean, crisp, exotic fruit laden wine. No oak allows your palate to stay fresh.

Taste this and other Alexandria Nicole wines paired with Dungeness crab dip, flatbread pizzas or artisan cheeses at their Prosser tasting room's Tapas Cafe.

2008 Whitman Cellars Viognier ~ $19.00
This fruit driven and floral wine with crisp pear, peach and citrus finishes with melon and a hint of sweetness. It's a very flexible food wine and especially nice for sipping on a lazy Saturday or Sunday afternoon, while watching your favorite Washington football team.

2008 Silver Lake Winery Roza Riesling ~ $9.99
Lively and bright on the palate with nectarine, lemon and lime – racy acidity softened by a touch of residual sugar. I love this wine with duck confit salad, pates and terrines and I love the price even more!

2006 Steppe Cellars Dry Riesling ~ $18.50
Winemaker Anke is from Germany where they seem to have some history with Riesling (duh!) and it shines under her deft touch. Floral, honey, peach and pear make this a perfect match for chicken salad with grapes and bacon!

Have a picnic at Steppe Cellars in Sunnyside. They have cheese and crackers for sale in the tasting room, as well as a few fresh veggies from the garden.

2008 Syncline Rosé (Southern Rhone Style) ~ $16.00
Fall is for football and football is for grillin’ and chillin’. Move over beer because Rosé is here! Poppie and James Mantone craft a glass full of rose petals, musk and aromatic spice with this Carignan, Grenache and Mourvedre blend that matches all brats, hotlinks and kielbasas.

2007 Red Sky Winery Rosebud Semillon ~ 18.00
This is a big, barrel fermented white with layers of butter, toast, and roasted almond. This is for your alder grilled salmon, halibut cakes with butter sauce, or roast chicken with bread, celery & cranberry stuffing.

2006 Bergevin Lane Vineyards Calico Red ~ $16.00
Modest complexity and drinkability (to steal a marketing slogan) make this wine both food and fan friendly – a crazy kitty blend of Cab, Merlot, Cab Franc, Syrah and Zinfandel. A little something for everyone!

Bergevin Lane Vineyards' Co-founders Annette Bergevin and Amber Lane know what they're doing. Get to Walla Walla soon and visit their cool tasting room at 1215 W. Poplar.

2006 Gamache Vintners Boulder Red ~ $18.00
Another wild and somewhat milder blend of Cab, Malbec, Merlot, Cab Franc and Syrah. Fun and flexible to match both the pre-game tailgate and the post-game BBQ.

2006 Goose Ridge Vineyards g3 ~ $16.00
A real charmer of a wine from veteran Charlie Hoppes adding this wine to the roll call of friendly blends – Syrah, Merlot and Malbec – with extended multi-cooperage aging. Mouth watering lushness beckons you for more.

2007 Bonair Cabernet Sauvignon ~ $9.99
When it comes to value reds in Washington, it’s easy to recall the big names that dominate the grocery stores…but the name you need to know is Bonair and Gail Puryear. He’s been making wine in Washington for some 25+ years and has remained a rock-solid
winery ever since my first taste of Sunset Blush set me down the wine trail. Affable, approachable and always affordable – Bonair treats you well in any season.

Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, from noon to 4:00pm, Bonair Winery in Zillah is serving Tapas, too! They use scrumptious local ingredients and serve them up with a glass of beautiful wine.