Washington Wine of the Week – Selections for Spring, 2026

For the week of June 21, 2026: 11th Annual Pacific Northwest Wine Competition – Preparations are underway this week for the 2026 Competition, which will be held from June 22 to 24 in Walla Walla, Washington. 644 wines from Washington, Oregon, and Idaho have been entered for this year’s event. In the weeks ahead, we’ll take a look at some of the top medalists, including the Best Red, White, and Rosé wines, along with the overall Best in Show winner.

For the week of June 14, 2026: Tucannon Cellars 2022 Carmenere – This Benton City winery, located on the fringe of the Red Mountain AVA, has improved by leaps and bounds since it was purchased by the denHoed family in 2022. A Double Gold, 93-point winner from the 2025 Pacific NW Wine Competition, this Carmenere is a stunning, beautifully crafted wine. Lovely aromatics of cedar, pine, and saddle leather lead off, followed by black tea, tobacco leaf and toasted walnut flavors. The finish displays a touch of juicy, black currant and purple fruit while the lower-than-expected alcohol content (only 13%) results in a crescendo of silky elegance that will leave you absolutely swooning. Outstanding! Note: this wine went on to win an off-the-charts Double Platinum, 98-point score at the 2025 Great NW Wine Platinum Awards.

For the week of June 7, 2026: Five Star Cellars 2018 Quinque Astrium – The winemaking team at Five Star has a great reputation of turning out age-worthy reds, and this blend of 77% Sangiovese, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Merlot is no exception. The Sangiovese clearly takes center stage with dried red cherry and currant flavors and plenty of acidity; the Merlot adds some roundness, and the Cab Sauv tacks on some texture along with finishing notes of dark chocolate and black cherry. For the 2019 vintage, the tricky-to-pronounce Quinque name will be retired and the blend simply known as ‘Orion.’ Five Star Cellars features tasting rooms in both Walla Walla and Woodinville, Washington.

For the week of May 31, 2026: Freewater Winery 2024 Chardonnay – Although this winery is located just south of the Washington/Oregon state line in the town of Milton-Freewater, the grapes are sourced from Frenchman Hills Vineyard in Washington’s Columbia Valley AVA. Winemaker Mike Sharon does an excellent job of producing this slightly oaky Chard without over-oaking, which gives the wine an added touch of depth and roundness. The base of Golden Delicious apple and ripe pear flavors is capped with notes of butterscotch and caramel that subtly come through on a lingering finish. In addition to some stellar wines, Freewater Winery produces a variety of hard ciders that can also be sipped while enjoying the laid-back vibe of the tasting room.

For the week of May 24, 2026: Karvalé Wines 2025 Viognier – Newcomer Chelan winemaker Bradley Karvasek is crafting some truly remarkable wines that should be on your must-try list when visiting the Chelan Valley. Everything on the current tasting menu, top to bottom, is drinking exquisitely including the Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Syrah Rosé and a red blend. His Viognier is a personal favorite, and although it was aged in stainless steel, Karvasek has still managed to coax out a gentle roundness and slightly full-bodied quality to balance out the crisp attributes of the wine. Peach and apricot aromatics and flavors dominate, with a touch of ruby red grapefruit on the finish. Sourced from Monument Vineyard in the Lake Chelan AVA; only 122 cases produced.

For the week of May 17, 2026: Wautoma Springs 2024 Grenache Blanc – Winemaker/owner Jessica Munnell (pictured at left) has crafted this tasty little gem that’s so bright and mouth-watering, there aren’t enough adjectives to describe it. Brisk, racy, zingy…this wine is an acid lover’s dream. The flavor profile includes Meyer lemon, Granny Smith apple, and crisp green melon. Pair it up with a variety of foods, from chicken fettuccine to soft cheeses to shellfish, lobster or halibut. The tasting room is located in Prosser, just a couple minutes off of Interstate 82 and one of half a dozen other wineries in the town’s Vintners Village.

For the week of May 10, 2026: Cairdeas Winery 2022 Marsanne – This white Rhone varietal is a little tough to find on the Washington wine market, but Lake Chelan’s Cairdeas Winery produces it regularly and their 2022 vintage is still available as a library selection. Pale straw in color, this wine is viscous in the glass and on the palate, with a nice, round finish. Aromatics of alfalfa and clover start you off, with a base of subtle tropical fruits and suggestions of caramel, lightly buttered popcorn, honeycomb, and a bit of nuttiness. The website food-pairing recommendations include hazelnut-crusted halibut, chicken curry or peach crisp.

For the week of May 3, 2026: Saviah Cellars 2023 Barbera – Here’s another nod to Walla Walla-based Saviah Cellars, which celebrated it’s 25th anniversary last year. Winemaker/Owner Rich Funk is one of the nicest guys in the wine business, and proof positive that good people make good wines (or in his case, great wines).

This stunner of a Barbera from the Walla Walla Valley AVA starts with floral and spicy notes, a core of red currant fruit, and racy acidity throughout. It’s absolutely ideal to pair with everything from grilled meats to pepperoni pizza. A visit to the winery is highly recommended, where everything on the tasting menu is first-class, along with excellent customer service.

For the week of April 26, 2026: Saviah Cellars 2023 “The Jack” Red Wine – This perennial favorite is a combination of several red varietals from several vineyards. Priced at just $18 a bottle, this could very well be the best “everyday” Washington wine on the market. Surprisingly plush and rich, it’s loaded with concentrated fruit flavors of Marionberry, black plum, and ultra-dark cherry. The finish suggests cafe au lait with a splash of French vanilla and rum raisin. This is a sinfully delicious wine that is simply unbeatable at this price point.

For the week of April 19, 2026: McKinley Springs Winery 2022 R. Andrews Malbec – In recognition of World Malbec Day on April 17, here’s the top scoring Malbec at last year’s Pacific Northwest Wine Competition (94 points and a Double Gold medal). Winemaker Reid Klei does a masterful job with the varietal by creating a complex and layered wine that showcases both its fruity and savory characteristics along with picture-perfect balancing acidity. The judges loved the range of this wine’s flavor profile, from lemon-blueberry cheesecake to juicy blackberry to nuances of smoked pork on a velvety soft finish. The label’s 2023 vintage is also now available on the winery’s website. McKinley Springs features tasting rooms in both Richland and Prosser, Washington.

For the week of April 12, 2026: Van Vino Vineyards 2023 Pinot Noir Précoce – Blaine, Washington winemaker Zach Deloof is on a tear with some remarkable wines, particularly those sourced from Van Vino’s estate vineyard, locate just a couple of miles south of the US/Canadian border. This Double Gold medal-winning Pinot is absolutely incredible, with a gorgeous nose of violets and purple fruits. The palate displays flavors of fresh Bing cherries, red raspberry, and tart pomegranate, followed by spicy notes of sarsaparilla and a suggestion of sweet cedar. Firm tannins on the back end, along with Pinot’s natural acidity, make this an outstanding food pairing wine to serve with a huge array of foods from duck breast to grilled salmon to fried liver and onions. Equally amazing: the wine’s under $30 dollar-a-bottle price tag. No kidding.

For the week of April 5, 2026: Liberty Lake Wine Cellars 2023 Gewurztraminer Reserve – It’s Easter Sunday, and that oftentimes means gathering with family and friends for a meal that includes creamy/cheesy potatoes and a glazed ham. Gewurztraminer is a natural wine choice to serve with this traditional feast, and Spokane Valley Winemaker Mark Lathrop has made a habit of producing some excellent Gewurztraminers, saying, “each vintage seems to be better than the last.”

The proof is in the pudding: Lathrop’s 2022 and 2023 vintages earned Gold and Double Gold medals, respectively, at the last two Pacific NW Wine Competitions. The 2023 is an absolutely delightful, opening with fragrant honeysuckle, jasmine, and lychee aromas that carry over to the palate. Toss in some juicy cantaloupe, key lime and lemon meringue flavors and a slightly crisp and dry finish and you’ve got a white wine crowd-pleaser.

For the week of March 29, 2026: Moonbase Cellars 2024 Cabernet Franc – Husband and wife owner/winemakers Drew and Laine Pauk are crafting some truly amazing wines you can enjoy while visiting their tasting room in downtown Walla Walla. This just released, true-to-the varietal Cabernet Franc, sourced from Les Collines Vineyard, shows aromatics and nuanced flavors of crushed herbs, peppers, and black olive from start to finish. A slow-cooked pot roast or steaks off the grill come to mind as perfect food pairing choices. Only 72 cases produced. Drew notes that they’ll be relocating to their new tasting room, just south of town near the Washington/Oregon stateline, in roughly late 2026 to early 2027.

For the week of March 22, 2026: The Wines of Sama Cellars – Looking for a newer Washington winery that’s already producing award-winning, 90+ point wines? Recently opened Sama Cellars, located in Redmond, Washington would be a great place to start.

Owner/winemaker Chaz Bangur is absolutely crushing it with nearly every single release he’s crafted so far. At last year’s Pacific Northwest Wine Competition (PNWC), he earned three Double Gold and three Gold medals out of eight entries. Add to that a bevy of 93 to 95-point ratings from publications such as Wine Enthusiast and International Wine Report, and you’ve got no reason not to try his wines.

Bangur’s top three wines at the PNWC included the 2022 Signature Cabernet Sauvignon; the 2023 Sargam, comprised of 50% Syrah, 25% Grenache and 25% Mourvedre: and the 2024 Khyal Rohn Blanc, a lovely, Rhone Valley-inspired white wine blend of 70% Grenache Blanc and 30% Viognier.