2011 Charles Smith Riesling Kung Fu Girl |
| Vintage | 2011 |  | |
| Type | White | ||
| Producer | Charles Smith (web) | ||
| Variety | Riesling | ||
| Designation | Kung Fu Girl | ||
| Vineyard | n/a | ||
| Country | USA | ||
| Region | Washington | ||
| SubRegion | n/a | ||
| Appellation | Washington | ||
| UPC Code(s) | 184745000041 |
| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Drinking window: Drink between 2012 and 2013 (based on 7 user opinions) |
| Community Tasting History |
Community Tasting Notes (average and median of 88 pts. in 157 notes) | |
| Tasted by Ponymom on 10/9/2022: Drink yesterday (575 views) | |
| Tasted by CurlerSue on 7/15/2017: Kung Fu Girl- sweet like canned peaches (2410 views) | |
| Tasted by Wine_lvr on 5/4/2014 & rated 84 points: Easy drinking Riesling. For the price ok but lacking complexity and mineral notes many of the simple German Rieslings in the same price range offer. Overall not a lot of Riesling characteristics. This is a fun wine to try/drink, kind of non-sparkling Moscato substitute. Drink now (5413 views) | |
| Tasted by Yme on 3/19/2014: Dry with decent acidity. Strong flavours of citrus and green apples. Simple quaffer but the contents of this bottle did not appear balanced. Short length. (4761 views) | |
| Tasted by maxima on 12/20/2013 & rated 85 points: Assez ordinaire. Nez discret, un peu de citron et de pommes, petrole aussi. En bouche, c'est plat, presque pas de fruit. Finale assez sucré et courte. Bof! (6077 views) | |
| Tasted by bajayngo on 12/16/2013: WA state really has some great choices for value Riesling. Dry, with citrus notes, apple and good acids. Nice simple sipper or food wine. (5536 views) | |
| Tasted by S_stas on 12/13/2013 & rated 82 points: I hate to say it, but this wine is pretty bad. Initial taste showed an off-dry, slightly fizzy white with very little nose, and quick finish. I'd think the bottle is flawed, but the screw top closure kind of takes that out of the equation. Not sure what to say, except spend a little more and buy better wine. P.S. 95 points is slightly ridiculous.... (4147 views) | |
| Tasted by aagrawal on 12/6/2013 & rated 86 points: Subtle-moderate intensity nose, not much fruit for riesling; palate shows great acid, fresh, some light white fruits; short-med finish. Decent wine, light on the fruit and quite simple, but has enough acid to go well with the meal. Not a bad value wine, but nothing special. 86 (2341 views) | |
| Tasted by Birorganic on 11/17/2013 & rated 88 points: Good wine for the price. Well made, obviously in a large quantity. (2086 views) | |
| Tasted by soyhead on 10/10/2013 & rated 88 points: Nose - floral, rich, lychee, pit fruit, bubble gum-sequence Mouth - rich, fleshy, off dry pit fruit, elegant but in a perfumed way, not for purists looking for a dry Sauvignon blanc charm. Woul go great at the end of a meal with richer cheeses. (1972 views) | |
| Tasted by Baron Slick on 10/2/2013 & rated 90 points: Bright straw. Stony, honeyed, floral aromas and flavors of green apples, melon, lime, and lime pith. This is slate driven, with lively acidity, good length, and a touch of brine on the minerally finish. (1837 views) | |
| Tasted by jorgen.hosoy@gmail.com on 9/8/2013 & rated 87 points: Same as before! (2263 views) | |
| Tasted by elevation02 on 9/8/2013 & rated 90 points: This never dissapoints. (1885 views) | |
| Tasted by RayOB on 7/23/2013 & rated 90 points: Drank at Goodman's See previous notes (2131 views) | |
| Tasted by Fonzie1568 on 7/18/2013 & rated 89 points: Always a goof bottle. Med body, nice tropical flavors and nose, lite citrus crispness for balance (1423 views) | |
| Tasted by wineOK on 7/15/2013 & rated 87 points: Nice acidity. Beautiful peach and tart fruits. A bit of Sprite with some frizante. Great summer sipper. (1957 views) | |
| Tasted by jorgen.hosoy@gmail.com on 6/30/2013 & rated 87 points: My first WA Riesling, a nice acquaintance. Great acidity, nice aromas, not to much tropical but more on the cool side, Ok length. Will buy this again. (2171 views) | |
| Tasted by Istari on 6/22/2013 & rated 93 points: Informal note: just so damn delicious. Pineapple, peach and lime flavors. I want more! (1952 views) | |
| Tasted by Cadby on 6/6/2013 & rated 89 points: 2011 Kung Fu Girl Riesling +++ $12 Bright and effervescent. A mouthful for a pittance! http://8wordsonwine.blogspot.com/2013/05/2011-kung-fu-girl-riesling-12.html (2008 views) | |
| Tasted by danielbleier on 6/5/2013 & rated 86 points: consistent with notes of 2/2/2013 (1823 views) | |
| Tasted by dzitt on 6/3/2013 & rated 88 points: Presque sans couleur, citron-lime, un trait minéral, bonne acidité malgré un sucre résiduel qui parait un peu. Bien aimé (dans le style du Dr. L de Loosen) (1736 views) | |
| Tasted by jpferna on 5/30/2013 & rated 84 points: Sweet and refreshing. (1614 views) | |
| Tasted by Cadby on 5/28/2013 & rated 89 points: Trish says....2010 Kung Fu Girl Riesling +++$13 Oo oo yummy. I love it. thats me! http://8wordsonwine.blogspot.com/2013/05/trish-says2010-kung-fu-girl-riesling-13.html (1691 views) | |
| Tasted by smphelps on 5/12/2013 & rated 87 points: Reserved nose mostly showing peach and honeydew melons. Turns a little sweet in the mouth and picks up tropical notes of apricot. Not enought acidity for my taste to offset the sweetness. (1821 views) | |
| Tasted by Bellissimo on 5/10/2013: Solid. Slight pineapple as temp comes up. Not bracing but noticeable acidity. (1762 views) | |
| Tasted by Edv on 4/29/2013 & rated 85 points: Trop sucré à mon goût mais bien fait pour ce type de vin. (1915 views) | |
| Tasted by Edv on 4/27/2013 & rated 85 points: Trop sucré à mon goût mais bien fait pour le prix. (1823 views) | |
| Tasted by SCMeyer on 4/22/2013 & rated 88 points: A fantastic QPR Riesling. Not too sweet with an absolutely refreshing balance between the lime driven fruit and cutting acidity. Saline and mineral notes liven and make you want more. Great summer wine for fresh garden salads and simple grilled fish. (1748 views) | |
| Tasted by mwneil on 4/11/2013 & rated 88 points: Decent riesling. Fruity but with a dry finish, which we like. Not much complexity. A good price at Costco. (1270 views) | |
| Tasted by short and confused on 3/30/2013 & rated 90 points: Color: pale straw. Nose: Some gentle flowers in the beginning that give way to citrus notes, white peach and honey dew melon. Palate: Great acidic cut. There is undeniably some slaty minerality and salinity that spread out over the tongue as well as some very pleasing residual sugar. Where is this from? How much did I pay for it? Might my score go higher if I did not just pick up an $11 Washington state wine from the bodega at the corner of my street. Excellent value. (2269 views) | |
| Tasted by Motz on 3/23/2013 & rated 91 points: Wow, what a wine! Sharp, clean, and vibrant. Lots of tropical fruit backed up by great acid, structure, and a well-rounded mouthfeel. The second biggest wine sampled at a local tasting, including the reds. Very nice, and equally surprising given this producer's awful 2010 Velvet Devil. (1879 views) | |
| Tasted by Henman on 3/23/2013 & rated 87 points: On the nose pineapple, apricote and some mineral aromas. The vibrant acidity is really balancing the huge basket of fruit ( citrus, pears, apples) here. Good with spicy nepalese food, but I wasn´t quite pleased with it for just sipping. A bit flabby on its own. (1953 views) | |
| Tasted by JoshA on 3/20/2013 & rated 88 points: Refreshing citrus and fizz with crisp apple fruit. (1719 views) | |
| Tasted by RayOB on 3/12/2013 & rated 90 points: Drank at Goodman's See previous notes (1667 views) | |
| Tasted by gossba on 3/12/2013 & rated 91 points: Amazing quality for the price. As it was with prior vintages this is a refreshing Riesling that is smooth. Sweet apricot and lime (1808 views) | |
| Tasted by Zoomin Z on 3/3/2013 & rated 88 points: Great QPR. Nice balance of fruit and acidity. Tastes more like a crisp French white than a heavy, sweet napa white, and at half the cost of the French wines! (1687 views) | |
| Tasted by RayOB on 2/18/2013 & rated 90 points: Drank at Goodman's Crisp fresh with lots of green fruit. As good as the 2010. (1733 views) | |
| Tasted by kcsteve on 2/17/2013 & rated 87 points: Very nice every day riesling. Semi-dry. Nice acidity. Melon, and citrus. What's not to like for less than $10. (1471 views) | |
| Tasted by teemu on 2/10/2013 & rated 90 points: Wine of the year 2012 in Finland. Very good riesling indeed. Quite acidic, lots of perfumed notes, green apple. Challenges mosel (1327 views) | |
| Tasted by danielbleier on 2/2/2013 & rated 86 points: light and pleasantly crisp, with apple, pear and peach flavors, went well with spicy Tex Mex. (1934 views) | |
| Tasted by theeb on 2/1/2013 & rated 83 points: Flach mit wenig Säure und ziemlich viel Restsüsse. Nicht besonders aromatisch. Enttäuschend. (1815 views) | |
| Tasted by donknotts on 1/29/2013 & rated 88 points: Solid value. (1722 views) | |
| Tasted by W2WineGuy on 1/28/2013 & rated 87 points: nice wine, no notes, but good price point (1705 views) | |
| Tasted by DanSm on 1/21/2013 & rated 80 points: Non-aromatic, semi-dry style with little fruit. Adequate acidity and crispness. Sadly fails compared to any better German riesling. Eastern Washington should get adequate heat, so I have no idea why the vintner would go so dry. (1211 views) | |
| Tasted by Baron Slick on 1/14/2013 & rated 90 points: Starts off floral but slowly erupts with savory aromas and flavors of white peach, honeydew melon, jack fruit, lime citrus, citrus pith, and a pinch of salt. This is clean and crisp with great tension, biting acidity, slaty minerality, and just the right amount of sweetness. Outstanding. Paired with spicy rajas con tomate, Mexican rice. (1896 views) | |
| Tasted by Nedcesca on 1/12/2013 & rated 90 points: Great with spicy foods (1944 views) | |
| Tasted by blaahhi on 1/12/2013 & rated 89 points: Apple, apricot and citrus on the nose. A touch of residual sugar and a refreshing acidity. Not terribly complex, but very enjoyable, both with and without food. (1662 views) | |
| Tasted by ewill on 1/12/2013: This time I was using it as a drinking wine, and I enjoyed it. Lighter tropical fruits, medium light mouthfeel with nice but not bracing acidity (1608 views) | |
| Tasted by Viini-Viren on 1/5/2013 & rated 92 points: Nice tropical fruit. Great on acids. Good structure. Lots of nice flavors. Complex although a bit short. A positive surprise. (2275 views) | |
| Tasted by wineberg on 1/4/2013 & rated 86 points: 1st Wine Night 2013: Green Bartlett pear, apple, tart acidity on the end. Finish is a bit short and abrupt, but a good bottle of wine, and certainly great for $12. I can see this being a bit more fun to drink in the summer with a good seafood dish. (2185 views) | |
| Tasted by jstarnes on 1/3/2013 & rated 90 points: We really enjoyed this wine. Refreshing. Drank at the beach with shrimp. Recommend. (1613 views) | |
| Tasted by King of the Farm on 12/28/2012 & rated 86 points: Very enjoyable, more grapefruit notes than past vintages... This is one of my favorite value reislings but this fell off a bit from the 09 & 10 (1780 views) | |
| Tasted by Wine Gopher on 12/12/2012 & rated 88 points: Clear with a slight hint of yellow. Strong aromatics of citrus, lime and green apple. On the palate, light body, off-dry style, excellent acidity with flavors in-line with the aromas. Medium finish. It was an excellent pairing for a spicy green curry dish. (1821 views) | |
| Tasted by vegasoenophile on 12/8/2012 & rated 87 points: Fresh and lively with tangy balance. Pineapple and lime aromas and flavors. (1495 views) | |
| Tasted by Istari on 12/8/2012 & rated 90 points: Dry, refreshing, easy-going and easy to love. Apples, wet rocks and some lemon. Excellent value. (1716 views) | |
| Tasted by BlancdeBlanc on 11/24/2012 & rated 87 points: Aroma: aromtic, musky-lychee, Palate: lychee, fresh, twist of citrus. Reminded me of Albarino. (1834 views) | |
| Tasted by HenrikJ on 11/17/2012 & rated 88 points: Fresh, somewhat petroleum stained bouquet with wet linnen cloth, green fruits, elderberries and a hint of chalk. Balanced and lively flavours with some residual sugar but a sharp acidity to counterweight. Grapy flavours, medium body and a longer than average finish. Very well made and a steal for the price. (1395 views) | |
| Tasted by fries on 11/5/2012: WSET Level 2 Class 4 (BCIT Downtown Campus, Vancouver, BC): Tasted blind. Stelvin cap. Clear, pale lemon-green appearance. Nose is clean, with pronouced aromas of green apple, lime, flowers / lilac, hint of "grapiness", and a little smoke. Palette is off-dry, medium+ acidity, medium- body, with flavours of crisp citrus (lime) and some mineral tang. Finish is medium-. Good quality, refreshing. (2808 views) | |
| Tasted by forceberry on 11/2/2012 & rated 88 points: Limpid pale yellow green color. Fruity, ripe nose with aromas of sweet lime and lemond, some tropical fruits, a little steely minerality and a hint of bright honeyed sweetness. The wine comes across a bit drier than the sweet nose leads to believe, though the wine still feels off-dry to medium-sweet (RS 18 g/l). Good, bright, racy acidity keeps the sweetness wonderfully in check. Flavors of ripe lime and other citrus fruits, honeydew melon, sweet exotic fruits, some exotic fruits and a hint of Riesling's floral aromatics. Quite long finish with intense, mouth-puckering acidity, ripe exotic fruits and hints of spice and stony minerality. An easily-appriachable, fruit-forward for the masses. But for a such wine, this is a surprisingly good, balanced and structured effort. I really don't understand all the hype and why everyone's singing praiser about this wine, but I can easily admit that this is a surprisingly high-quality off-dry Riesling. Not a wine of big personality but more of instant gratification. A decent purchase at 14,98€. (950 views) | |
| Tasted by Epic Tale on 10/19/2012 & rated 86 points: color: tawny yellow; nose: hardly any (but maybe because I've got a cold); taste: light-bodied mouth feel, tastes crisp and slightly sweet, crisp short-length melon-butterscotch finish; overall: tasty and simple off-dry pour, could pair nicely with Ethiopian food as an alternative to tej, OK value at $13/bottle and would be a steal at $10 (2124 views) | |
| Tasted by ecola on 10/18/2012 & rated 90 points: Crisp and clean flavors of lemon lime with some fresh pear on the finish. Juicy acidity on the finish. (2042 views) | |
| Tasted by JandGCellar on 10/13/2012 & rated 90 points: The nose on this thing is best described as green and waxy, both of which are meant as compliments. There's a vegetal quality to the scent profile that makes me think of asparagus and green papaya. Another note is essential oil (especially of citrus, with kumquat and grapefruit being the standout scents) that remains the wine's most consistent theme, present in the nose, the mid-palate and the finish. I suppose the most controversial claim that I can make about the nose has to do with the petrol/chemical quality that is clearly present here, though less pronounced than in other Rieslings (think the late Diddley Bow Southern Gothic for a very vivid example). I think "Diesel" is the received term of art for the scent, but I and a much-beloved former partner of mine were fonder of thinking of it as "New Sneaker." I know that this is usually taken to be a flaw in a wine, but, to be absolutely candid, I like it, especially in this Riesling where it doesn't dominate the scent profile. The attack is vibrant, full of tart, under-ripe but juicy pear and lots of mineral, white flower and citrus notes. The mid-palate is a continuation of the attack and is perhaps this wine's least distinctive moment in that, while a solid performance, it doesn't deliver anything new. The finish foregrounds the citrus oil qualities first spotted in the nose and puts in a good show for length, reasserting itself after a false fade. I drank this with a Japanese meal of Chinese style Bok Choy and Turkey Meatball soup redolent of garlic and ginger with sides of Kim Chee and sautéd asparagus with rice vinegar. If ever a menu was designed to test this wine's claim to being a great pairing with Asian cooking, this was it. The pairing was terrific (as my Japanese hostess wholeheartedly agreed), with the wine providing a great foil to the dishes, especially the sides where the pear, white flower/honeysuckle and citrus or the wine took the edge off of the vinegar and chili of the banchan. This is a terrific wine, especially for the price, that does exactly what it says it does. (912 views) | |
| Tasted by Rich S on 10/10/2012 & rated 87 points: Light straw color. A bit of limeade and apples on the nose. Light citrus flavors on the palate with some sweetness on the midpalate. Moderate acidity. Could have probably used a touch more for me. A bit simple but still quite enjoyable and a very good wine to pair with sushi an spicy Thai food. (2101 views) | |
| Tasted by MatsRahm on 10/6/2012: Lots of fruit and acidity. Really nice! (1243 views) | |
| Tasted by Sniffy-Sniff on 10/1/2012 & rated 87 points: Expressive nose, crisp, with some acidity. On the dryer side. Perfect pairing for spicey Thai chicken curry. Would buy again. (2102 views) | |
| Tasted by InternationalWineReport on 9/26/2012 & rated 90 points: Pretty aromas of white peach, green apple, lime and floral. Clean, crisp and mouthwatering, with vibrant acidity and the just the right touch of minerality and sweetness to balance everything out. Delicious and refreshing! (2228 views) | |
| Tasted by ecola on 9/18/2012 & rated 87 points: Crisp and clean melon flavors with a hint of residual. A little less acid and more residual than previous vintages. Finish drops off a little quicker than I would like. (2190 views) | |
| Tasted by Cantina Hill's on 9/7/2012 & rated 88 points: very enjoyable (2210 views) | |
| Tasted by jeffal66 on 8/17/2012 & rated 90 points: A different experience compared to previous bottles. I get a distinct pear thing. Good over several nights. Love this wine. (2568 views) | |
| Tasted by YYCwino on 8/15/2012 & rated 87 points: Never disappoints. Fresh and fruity. (2459 views) | |
| Tasted by njgolfer on 8/4/2012 & rated 86 points: More mineral driven on the palate. Lemon zest and pear. Has some viscosity on the finish that lasts with a tat finish (2418 views) | |
| Tasted by tjdripper on 7/27/2012 & rated 90 points: Nice yellow/amber color. Pear, apples, and nice citrus notes on the nose. On the palate I detected some apple, melon(s), a hint of pineapple, lemon, and earthy notes like grasses and forest floor. Great balance of sweet and tart with good acidity. Good QPR for $11. This white is particularly good with spicy Asian dishes. (2402 views) | |
| Tasted by Genghis88 on 7/18/2012 & rated 87 points: Randy, Dr. Doug, & the Polish Sisters @ chez Carmichel's The evening's closer on 2nd deck Petrol and floral, honey dew scents Tastes like the nose-round, mouth filling, sweet melon-not a lot of finesse A good value BBQ wine (2505 views) | |
| Tasted by Nomadirish on 7/10/2012 & rated 87 points: Fine wine for the price - little too sweet but very drinkable with Asian cuisine (2609 views) | |
| Tasted by jeffal66 on 7/6/2012 & rated 87 points: Consistently great value wine. Admittedly not quite as impressive as past vintages but there's nothing off with this bottle. I get more tropical fruit than previously and there's less acidity. Pleasant nose. Still quite enjoyable, a fine go-to. (2551 views) | |
| Tasted by Ron Felthoven on 7/2/2012 & rated 86 points: Expressive nose of melon and some apricots. More of the same on the palate, with a nice acidity/tartness to balance out the sweetness. Didn't pick up any mineral or petrol notes; this is a straightforward bright, juicy new world wine. The acid is the saving grace but the lack of complexity means I probably won't buy again except for a party or picnic where complexity really doesn't matter. Still, I enjoyed the wine. (1391 views) | |
| Tasted by David Paris (dbp) on 6/4/2012 & rated 89 points: Very sweet, juicy aromas of honeydew melon with sugar on top. While it definitely smells sweet it isn't goopy or out of balance in aroma. Nice coating texture with mild sweetness and puckering acid. Really nice acid with just a hint of sweetness. Pretty luscious texture and palate presence that I can hold in the mouth for a minute without it getting cloying or overly acidic; great balance. Little kick of acid on the finish that turns to minerals and a slight funky lychee fruit notion. The acid throughout this wine is definitely what keeps this on the most interesting side of things. Not much in the way of complexities, but for what this is it's perfectly balanced. Very impressive stuff for this tariff. Shocking, really. (2636 views) | |
| Tasted by RDercks13 on 5/28/2012 & rated 89 points: I enjoyed this. Has a little "zing" to it at the end that kept it light. Will buy more considering the price (2526 views) | |
| Tasted by Avizacherman on 5/22/2012 & rated 79 points: Sweet mouth. Too much mineral in the finish. (2560 views) | |
| Tasted by slywka7 on 3/13/2012 & rated 90 points: Liked this just as mush as the 2010. A fine Riesling for the money. (1398 views) |
| Professional 'Channels' |
|
| CellarTracker Wiki Articles |
Charles SmithProducer website2011 Charles Smith Riesling Kung Fu GirlDescription2011 “Kung Fu Girl” Riesling — Columbia Valley (100% Riesling) Tasting Notes Super Kung Fu Girl! More depth and complexity than ever. Apricot, kumquat, nectarine and lime leaves. A great mid-palate intensity with a long, long minerally finish. This is one for the books....THE BOOK OF KUNG FU! Food Pairings Delicious spicy curries or Chinese-style BBQ Vineyards Evergreen 11% Alcohol Vinted and bottled by Charles Smith RieslingVarietal character (Appellation America) | A short history of Riesling (Uncork) | Riesling (wikipedia)USAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.WashingtonWashington Wine Commission | Credit to Washingtonwine.org for this articleWashington Wine Washington State is a premium wine producing region located in the northwest corner of the United States. Although a relatively young wine industry, it is now the nation's second largest wine producer and is ranked among the world's top wine regions. Washington wines are found nationally in all 50 states and internationally in more than 40 countries. Wineries With 30,000+ acres planted, the state has ideal geography and conditions for growing premium vinifera wine grapes. Primarily grown on their own root stocks, the vines produce grapes of consistent quality, resulting in strong vintages year after year. While its focus is on Chardonnay, Riesling, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, the region also produces a wide range of other spectacular whites and reds. Growers Winemakers from all over the world have chosen to establish themselves in Washington, where they can create wines reflecting this region's unique characteristics. Their hand-crafted wines are receiving wide acclaim from critics regionally, nationally and internationally for their consistently high quality. Many of them have received scores of 90 and above from the major wine media. Overall this is a higher percentage than other leading wine regions. Regions As the state's fourth largest fruit crop, the Washington wine industry is an important contributor to the long-term preservation of Washington agriculture. The industry is committed to sustainable agricultural practices and conservation of water resources. Washington State is a premium wine producing region located in the northwest corner of the United States. Although a relatively young wine industry, it is now the nation's second largest wine producer and is ranked among the world's top wine regions. Washington wines are found nationally in all 50 states and internationally in more than 40 countries. Varieties Washington produces more than 20 wine grape varieties - a ratio of 56 percent white to 44 percent red. As the industry matures and experiments, it finds many grape varieties that thrive throughout Washington's microclimates. There are more than 16,000 vineyard acres of red wine varieties statewide. History & Vintages Washington's wine future is limitless. As consumers discover the quality of Washington wines, demand continues to grow nationally and internationally. New acreage and wine varietals are being planted and new wineries are opening at a remarkable pace. Washington State is recognized as a premium viticultural region around the world. State Facts Washington's wine industry generates more than $3 billion to the state economy. It employs more than 14,000 people, directly and indirectly, with projections to add nearly 2,000 more jobs by 2006. In terms of tax revenues accrued to the state and federal government, wine grapes are among the highest tax generators of any agricultural crops. Furthermore, Washington wine tourism attracts nearly two million visitors annually contributing to the positive growth of local and regional economies. Washington State - the perfect climate for wine = ideal growing conditions, quality wines, business innovation, lifestyle, and social responsibility. All are key elements of this world-class wine industry. Vintages "2008 and even more so 2010 and 2011 were cool, even cold vintages (think: 2002 in the Barossa) without the extreme ripeness, extract and higher alcohol that had become the norm in the state’s post 1995 world. 2008 was manageable but the duo of 2010/2011 nearly caused a “great depression” in Washington State." - Jon Rimmerman WashingtonRattlesnake Hills |