Best Holiday Releases
NW Wineries' Winter Releases
are Flagship Wines
by Jean Yates

Thanksgiving Weekend is THE time for Oregon wineries to release their new wines, while Walla Walla Wineries choose the nationally popular "Barrel tasting Weekend" (December 4-5 this year) to show off their best. As many wineries wind down harvest operations in preparation for (hopefully) some well deserved time off, they blast out their best wines to the market, in time to capture holiday sales.

Here's a preview of wines that are about to be released, with emphasis on the best picks, from both price and quality perspectives. Some are quite limited, and must be preordered now to assure receipt. Some are in great supply and are easy to find across the country. Choose from both Oregon and Washington wines, from Pinots, Cabernet, Meritage blends, and savory whites-- there's quite a range of wines, as the NW continues to stretch its range of wines and increase its overall quality. Oh, what a tough job I have (not!).