Varietals from Italy & Spain Finding Their Way Into Washington Vineyards

Italy and Spain are home to several hundred different types of grapes that are used to make wine. Only a handful of these have been planted in Washington, but their increasing popularity among American wine drinkers virtually assures that more are on the way.

Today I’d like to suggest a Washington-made wine from three of these varietals; tempranillo, sangiovese, and dolcetto. The first two are produced in a fruit-forward Northwest style, while the third more closely resembles something you might find from a European winery.

First up is the Airfield Estates 2007 Tempranillo (about $28) from Prosser. Tasted blind, I might have guessed this was something other than a tempranillo. It’s slightly darker and richer than some of its Spanish-based counterparts, with huge cherry and berry flavors.

But the wine stops short of being a fruit bomb, because it’s beautifully balanced by sturdy tannins, relatively high alcohol, and a splash of acidity. Try pairing it with tomato-based pasta dishes or medium aged cheeses.

If you prefer your red wines to be fruity, yet a bit on the lighter side, the estate grown, Portteus Vineyards 2007 Sangiovese (about $24) from Zillah makes an excellent choice. Plum, candied cherry, nice acidity and a hint of vanilla on the finish make this a truly unique Northwest sangiovese. With a lower alcohol content of only 12.2 percent, it’s an easy to drink wine that’s perfect for sipping.

Also from Prosser is the Pontin del Roza 2006 Angelo Pontin Dolcetto (about $16). This light-bodied red displays characteristics that are more indicative of an Old World-style wine. It leans towards the savory side, with flavors of cherry tomato and strawberry and a slightly oaky finish. Toss in the highly affordable price and you’ve got an absolute gem of a wine.