Goose Ridge Vineyards made history recently when it became the first winery in Washington to have four stand-alone tasting rooms—Woodinville, Richland, Leavenworth, and now the newest one in downtown Walla Walla. While each tasting room has its own personality, they all share common qualities that include service for tastings, a varied selection of wines paired with light bites prepared on site, and a wide selection of merchandise.
The Monson family has been farming in Washington’s Columbia Valley since the early 1900’s and founded Goose Ridge Vineyards in 1999. Since then, they have become one of the largest wine producers in Washington and operate the largest contiguous estate vineyard in the state—a visually stunning 2,000-acre site adjacent to the Red Mountain AVA.
Under the guidance of head winemaker Andrew Wilson and his team, Goose Ridge produces wines from its estate vineyards under four different labels—Stonecap, Tall Sage, g3 and its flagship brand, Goose Ridge Estate, which features a smooth, solid lineup of red Bordeaux varieties and clean, refreshing whites such as their Chardonnay and Pinot Gris.
For those looking for something different, Goose Ridge also has its own hard cider available on tap for glass pours and growler fills in all four tasting rooms. The cider, pressed from apples grown in Monson family orchards, comes in traditional and spiced pecan flavors.
Here are several releases we tasted recently:
Goose Ridge Vineyards 2012 Sol Duc Estate Meritage, $52
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-95 pts.)
Remarkably structured, this classicly styled Bordeaux varietal blend hits every point on the palate. Complex and layered, with blackberry, black raspberry, cassis, tobacco, anise, sage and bay leaf flavors. Notes of loamy earth infused with firm, well-integrated tannins add depth on the finish.
Goose Ridge Vineyards 2012 Vireo Red Wine, $38
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-95 pts.)
With alluring aromas of dark red and black fruit, graphite and dusty spice, this deft blend of Merlot, Cabernet and Syrah is silky, inviting and structured. There’s harmonious balance to the dark-toned flavors of red berry, black cherry, cassis, pencil lead, sandalwood, spice and bay leaf, with fine-tuned tannins that extend the seamless finish.
Goose Ridge Vineyards 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, $38
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-95 pts.)
This estate-grown version is powerful, bold and deeply concentrated, with gripping tannins and rich layers of cassis, crushed black raspberry, dusty tobacco leaf, cedar bough and anise. The tannins stay firm through the long, polished finish.
Goose Ridge Vineyards 2014 Chardonnay, $27
Editor’s Choice – Outstanding (91-95 pts.)
Sleek and rich, with sophisticated aromas and matching flavors of peach, lychee nut, apple and lemon citrus that mingle with lingering aftertastes of toast, leesy spice and crisp minerality.
Goose Ridge Vineyards 2015 Pinot Gris, $18
Editor’s Choice – Excellent (86-90 pts.)
Pleasing aromas of honeysuckle, citrus, pear and clover lead to clean-cut structure, with a swath of limestone minerality inlaid with restrained flavors of Granny Smith apple, pear, lemon zest and tangerine peel. Finishes bright and crisp.
Website: www.gooseridge.com