Whimsical Washington Wines

Earlier this week, the Washington Wine Commission held an impressive wine tasting on the Rooftop Terrace of Millennium Park in order to introduce Chicagoans to the value and variety of wines from the state. Because every Cheeky girl daydreams from time to time, this writer just overheard a conversation between the state of Washington and her city of Chicago. Intrigued, she eavesdropped:

Washington: Hello Windy City

Chicago: Why, hello Pacific Northwest. What brings you to our fair city?

Washington: Truth be told, we’ve been feeling a little left out. We’ve been the underdogs for quite some time now and no one puts baby in a corner.

Chicago: Now, now, why do you think that your varietals are underdogs?

Washington: When you think of Washington, you may think of Kurt, Eddie, Starbucks and apples, but not many people realize that the state of Washington is the second largest producer of wine in the U.S. We may be a relatively young wine industry but we’ve got strength in numbers with over 32,000 planted acres. So we decided to flex our muscles and alerted the troops. We brought over 75 Washington winemakers to introduce Chicagoans to the impressive variety of wines that we offer.

Chicago: Wow, I didn’t realize…

Washington: What’s more, we have unique micro-climates ideal for growing red and

white grape varietals, so there’s really something for everyone. Whether it’s riesling, chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, merlot or syrah, our region produces a wide range of spectacular white and red wines.

Chicago: Well, I’ve been known to enjoy a glass or two of red, any suggestions?

Washington: Go for a full-bodied, spicy Washington cabernet sauvignon. Often times, several years of bottle aging are needed for the wine to show at its best. And many of our state’s vintners use traditional blending practices like adding merlot or cabernet franc to create a multi-dimensional flavor.

Chicago: Sounds delicious. My BFF likes white. What do you think about that?

Washington: The sauvignon blancs (aka fumé blancs) are wonderful. These grapes are becoming increasingly popular for their distinctive character and usually described as fruity with a touch of herbaceousness and lively acidity.

Chicago: That’s really impressive. Can’t wait to get my hands on a bottle or two. In fact,I may be booking a trip to the Yakima Valley for a fall getaway. I hear it’s the next IT girl.

Washington: Take that, Napa.

Chicago: Oh no you didn’t.