Get to Know Cabernet Franc at Taste Washington

How do you survive and thrive at an event like Taste Washington, happening this weekend (Saturday and Sunday…but there are also events Thursday and Friday) in Seattle? (BTW I’ll be there Saturday, sporting a media pass.) You walk in the door with a well-thought out plan of attack. Can you taste everything? No. Should you try? Not really. Here’s something I’ve been kicking around and I’m going to share it with you:

Focus on getting to know one grape really well. (Hat-tip to my friend and Master Sommelier, Fred Dexheimer) And not the usual suspects like Cabernet Sauvignon or Chardonnay. Might I recommend Cabernet Franc? It’s a grape I am crazy about in France’s Loire Valley. I love it’s savory, non-fruity qualities. And guess what? You can try many examples for yourself at Taste Washington. How many? Well, if you go to the Wineries page underneath the DRINK tab on the event’s website and hover over each one, you can see what they’re pouring:

So here’s all the Cabernet Franc, from Acendente to Walla Walla Vintners:

Acendente
Barrage Cellars
Barrister Winery
Cadence
Camaraderie Cellars
Cave B Estate Winery
Cedar River Cellars
Chinook Winery
Cloudlift Cellars
COR Cellars (ROSÉ ALERT)
Cougar Crest Estate Winery
Covington Cellars
DiStefano Winery
Gamache Vintners
Kitzke Cellars
Memaloose
MonteScarlatto Estate Winery
Naches Heights Vineyard
Nota Bene Cellars
Red Sky
Savage Grace Wines
Saviah Cellars
Seven Hills Winery (ROSÉ ALERT)
Sleight of Hand Cellars (ROSÉ ALERT)
Soos Creek Wine Cellars
Walla Walla Vintners

Ok so that’s 26 Cabernet Francs. Remember to spit! If you want to get nerdy, keep track of the vintages of the wines as well as where the grapes come from. By the end of the day you will have an honorary degree (bestowed by me) in Washington State Cabernet Franc.

Other things I’m geeked to try?

Bartholomew Winery: Carmenere Rosé and the “Orange” (as in the grapes see extra skin contact with the juice) Pinot Gris.
Finnriver: I love everything they do! Finnriver rules and so do their ciders.
Gramercy Cellars: Rosé…and I will nag them about Picpoul
Hedges Family Estate: Single vineyard Cab (Sauv) and Merlot
Kiona Vineyards and Winery: #LembergerLove
Treveri Cellars: One must have bubbles. Especially after all that Cabernet Franc.
Whidbey Island Winery: Get the Siegerrebe! Puget Sound white wine. Super cool.

What are you looking forward to trying at Taste Washington?

Mill Creek area of Walla Walla.

Note: Cabernet Franc pourers taken from the Taste Washington website as of 3/22. Some of the wineries information is not yet available so there may be more. Also, things change. And people run out of stuff. Don’t freak.

The post Get to Know Cabernet Franc at Taste Washington appeared first on Jameson Fink.