by Andrew Chalk
Goose Ridge Winery & Vineyards, owned and operated by the Monson Family. As fourth-generation farmers, the family started herding cattle and began sowing the land in Washington’s Yakima Valley in the early 1900s. Today the family has a sprawling 3,000-acre estate in Columbia Valley that in addition to growing grapes, continues to run cattle and grow commercial cherries and apples.
Goose Ridge Vineyards produces five wine labels - Goose Ridge Estate, g3, Tall Sage, Stonecap, and their canned wine brand, Cascadian Outfitters - and boasts four tasting rooms across Washington state.
Per Goose Ridge’s information: “Goose Ridge Vineyards is located a gently sloped site near Benton City and adjacent to the famed Red Mountain AVA. Several key viticulture factors contribute to the vineyard’s excellence:
Wine grapes in the Columbia Valley flourish under long hot days, cool nights and minimal rainfall during the growing season.
The soil, deposited during the Missoula Floods of Ice Age thousands of years ago, is perfect for growing wine grapes.
The Monson family has a commitment to modern vineyard management and sustainable farming practices.
All vines are planted on original rootstock in small lots with south to north row orientation to maximize sun exposure. Vineyards are managed for low yields – typically three tons per acre or less – to ensure intense, complex flavors from each grape variety.”
This Sauvignon Blanc from Washington State displays a nose of Meyer lemon, peach and herbaceous notes. On the palate it displays good body weight and intense flavors with a firm frame of medium-plus acidity which enables it to pair well with food without being too tart. Recommended.
Sample
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