KENNEWICK Wine judgings don't have to be big to be beneficial to the wine-drinking public.
Take St. Joseph's annual art and wine event in Kennewick on Saturday.
Prior to the event, a judging of a modest 21 wines was conducted, and the top award winners usually are served at the event.
As much as I like food and art, it's the wine that would lure me to this type of event.
Even though there were only a handful of wines judged, they included some of the best longtime winery offerings such as Barnard Griffin, Kiona, Columbia Crest and Gordon Brothers, along with newer wineries including such as Anelare and Gamache.
The wines that tied for best of show in the judging were Barnard Griffin Cabernet Sauvignon and Kiona Dry Riesling.
Five wines earned the top gold medal.
Barnard Griffin 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $17 -- A double platinum award wine from Wine Press Northwest. Big, balanced and smooth with vanilla oak and big berry flavors. Try it with roast turkey.
Kiona Vineyards 2008 Dry Riesling, Red Mountain, $13 -- Kiona has been making this charmer for nearly 30 years. Apple blossom aromas with crisp delicious peachy apricot flavors. Grilled halibut with lime juice and spices.
Anelare 2007 Ciel du Cheval Syrah, Red Mountain, $39 -- Available only to club members for this new Kennewick winery. Juicy berries fronted by oak and a great finish. Top cut sirloin steak.
Snoqualmie 2007 Whistle Stop Red, Columbia Valley, $9 -- A bargain cabernet- merlot blend that has a rich mouth feel of berries and cherries. Grilled hamburger.
Kiona Vineyards 2003 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain, $32 --Yummy cherry, cedar and chocolate. Lasagna.
I had three other favorites in the tasting.
Columbia Crest 2007 Grand Estates Pinot Grigio, Columbia Valley, $12 -- Smooth and crisp with delicious lemon mouth feel. Oysters.
Columbia Crest Two Vines Vineyard 10 Red Wine, Washington, $7 -- A kitchen sink blend of grapes varieties. Coffee, fudge, complex and rich. Rich chocolate brownie.
Powers Winery 2006 Coyote Vineyards Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Wahluke Slope, $24 -- Seamless blend of oak, raspberries and supple tannins. Lamb chops.
-- Art and Wine tickets are $50 in advance or $60 at the door. Go to www.stjoesartandwine.com for details.
*Bob Woehler has been writing about Pacific Northwest wines since 1978. E-mail him at bwoehler@charter.net or check out his past columns at winepressnw.com.
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In November, we conducted our 12th annual Platinum Judging, what we have dubbed "the best of the best in the Great Northwest."
Last week, we shared some of the top wines from British Columbia's Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery, which won six Platinums in the 12th competition. This week, we will look at some of the best wines from Washington, Oregon and Idaho, along with brief descriptions.
Wines are eligible to enter the Platinum if they from the Northwest and have won gold medals in any of about 35 professionally judged competitions around the world. We bring in top judges from as far away as Georgia and California (as well as the Northwest) to evaluate the wines under blind conditions, meaning the do not know the producer or the price.
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