HOGSWINE

I was rummaging through a stack of books that my grandmother said I could have when I found treasure. The book is called “The Treasury of American Wines” and was written by Nathan Chroman back in 1976. The book has a section each on California and New York with all other wine regions in America grouped into one chapter. I’m amused that more attention is given to Ohio wines than any other state in the book besides New York and California. Being obsessed with Washington it was naturally the first page to which I turned. Here is what Mr. Chroman has to say.

“An interesting experiment is taking place in the Yakima Valley in the state of Washington, where…Ste. Michelle Vineyards is attempting to produce varietal wines from the Semillon, Cabernet Suavignon, Pinot Noir, Grenache and Johannisberg Riesling grapes.

If Ste. Michelle is any indication, the wine picture looks food for Washington State, espeically when the wineries get the hang of making better reds and a good Chardonnay…It will be a most interesting wine era, with Washington State, as well as Oregon, challenging California.”

A great forecast for what we have now here in Washington. But far more interesting is what he sees ahead for the future of the wine industry in America. I will look at some of these observations in a couple of days.