The 7th Annual Rosé Revival, held June 3 at Ray's Boathouse in Shilshole, presented rosé and white wines from 29 Washington State wineries. The event included professional judging of the wines, as well as the People's Choice Awards from the event attendees. The big winners were the Wilridge 2008 Syrah Rose (Judges' Choice), the 2007 Tefft Cellars Dolcetto Rose (People's Choice), the 2007 Alma Terra Coeo Viognier (Judges' Choice), and the 2007 Skylite Cellars Viognier (People's Choice). The wines were also offered for sale, with profits from wine sales benefitting the Ryther Child Center.
The weather was perfect for waterside sipping and schmoozing, with a casually gregarious crowd of attendees and winery representatives. As the event was titled "Rosé Revival & Other Cool Whites", there turned out to be many more whites than rosés this year - in fact, only 19 out of 62 wines were rosés! The whites were mostly Rieslings, more sweet than dry, but the Wedge Mountain Winery 2007 Dry Riesling was a well-executed Alsatian-style wine that received a 2nd place vote from this judge.
The two winning rosés were both stand-outs from the rest. The Judges' Winner, the 2008 Wilridge Syrah Rosé, really maintained the complex flavors of blackberry, black cherry, and black pepper that are typical of the varietal - dry, and as close to red wine as you can get in a rosé, but still great chilled! The People's Winner, the 2007 Tefft Cellars Dolcetto Rosé, was just off-dry, with fruity flavors of guava and mai tai - this wine could step in for Sangria with no hesitation - perfect for the BBQ!
The Judges' Winner for the whites, the 2007 Alma Terra Coeo Viognier, was deliciously complex, with flavors of white peach, a little apricot and pineapple, white pepper, and a hint of oak - a perfect pairing to grilled white king salmon with a nectarine chutney. The People's Winner, the 2007 Skylite Cellars Viognier, was off-dry, with lemon minerality and a very slight sparkle. This wine would pair nicely with trout sauteéd in butter, or with a shellfish pasta.
Although I was disappointed that the number of roses had decreased from prior years, the trend was toward drier styles, which, for my personal palate, is encouraging. The quality overall has improved, and I didn't encounter any real "yucks" this time around. If there are still any rosé doubters among you, at the very least you must try the Wilridge Syrah Rosé and then see whether you still feel the same.
Looking forward to next year!
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