The Seattle Times by Andy Perdue
August 4, 2017

The tender grape is still a minor player in Washington wine but could challenge Oregon’s pinot noir, if it were planted in bigger numbers.

ONE OF THE most exciting developments in Washington wine is the re-emergence of grenache as an important grape.

First planted in Washington in 1963, grenache was among the early wines made by Ste. Michelle Vineyards in 1967. It was a popular rosé, and it continued to be a big seller the rest of the next decade. But grenache is a tender grape that doesn’t fare well during the Columbia Valley’s occasional-yet-infamous harsh winters. For that reason, grenache never caught on with winemakers.

With the rise of Rhône varieties in Washington the past two decades, grenache has come roaring back into fashion. Not only does it stand alone deliciously as a varietal bottling and as a rosé; it also plays a central role in GSM blends. (It’s the “G,” playing well with syrah and mourvèdre.)>>>Read entire article on The Seattle Times