Washington Wine of the Week – Selections for Summer, 2026

For the week of September 20, 2026: Vibe Cellars 2023 Cabernet Franc – As summer winds down and the weather cools down, the shift in wines invariably moves indoors with more emphasis on reds. Here’s an excellent choice to help with the transition: this 91-point Gold Medalist from winemaker Erik Cooper.

The palate opens with rich, blue and purple fruits: plum, blueberry, and blackberry, that transition into leaner red currant and raspberry. Coupled with a whisper of savory bell pepper, fairly robust tannins and great acidity, this is an excellent wine to pair with a variety of foods including grilled lamb, eggplant parmigiana or roasted pork.

Vibe Cellars’ cozy Manson, Washington tasting room carries a super-cool vibe (get it?) with both indoor and outdoor patio seating. It also claims to be the only winery in the town of Manson with a view of Lake Chelan. Go there are check it out for yourself firsthand…you won’t be disappointed.

For the week of September 13, 2026: Kasari Cellars 2022 Syrah – This is a beautifully crafted wine from winemaker/owner Marty Kmiecik, and it scored a well-deserved 92 points and a Double Gold medal at the 2026 Pacific Northwest Wine Competition.

There’s lots of great stuff going on with this wine: aromatics of graphite, cedar, wet stone, and slate, flavors of inky, black fruits – plum, cherry, and currant head the list – and deft finishing touches of cocoa, vanilla bean and bramble. The wine also carries a silky, velvety quality that lingers long after the first sip. Simply put, this is classic Washington State Syrah.Sourced from Elephant Mountain Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. Just 45 cases were produced.

The winery in located in Sedro-Woolley, Washington and current releases, including this award-winning Syrah, can be purchased online at kasaricellars.com.

For the week of September 6, 2026: Aluvé 2022 Blanc de Blanc Sparkling Chardonnay – JJ Menozzi is doing some great work at his estate vineyard and winery at Aluvé, located just a few miles east of Walla Walla in the soon-to-be-recognized Mill Creek AVA. This gem of a sparkler was a favorite of the judging panel at the 2026 Pacific Northwest Wine Competition, who awarded it a Double Gold medal and 93 points.

You’ll be greeted by fragrant brioche, honeysuckle and apple aromas, followed by generous flavors of Fuji and Granny Smith apple, honeydew rind, and green pear. The mouth-watering, linen-crisp finish features a splash of ruby red grapefruit and lemon zest, while micro-fine bubbles also give it a lovely creamy note and a touch of elegance. This is a swoon-worthy choice for sparkling wine lovers; only 84 cases produced.

For the week of August 30, 2026: Zerba Cellars 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon – Zerba has performed exceptionally well at the Pacific Northwest Wine Competition. In this year’s event they scored four Double Gold medals out of five entries, including this 2021 Cab. Fragrant blueberry and pipe tobacco aromas start you off, with a layered palate of rich black plum, cola, and black raspberry flavors. Follow that up with touches of cherry cordial, mocha and gingersnap cookie and it all adds up to one scrummy wine. Chewy tannins soften nicely as the wine opens, making it ideal as a stand-alone sipper. Sourced from the winery’s estate vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley AVA; the tasting room is located just south of the Washington/Oregon stateline in the town of Milton-Freewater.

For the week of August 23, 2026: Thurston Wolfe 2024 PGV – If you’re looking for consistently well-crafted Washington wines at affordable prices, Thurston Wolfe should be your go-to winery.

This white wine blend of 55% Pinot Gris and 45% Viognier is a prime example. It’s loaded with fresh kiwi, ripe pear, quince, and Golden Delicious apple flavors with a lingering finish of dried apricot and nectarine. There’s just the right amount of acidity to keep the wine from being too weighty while retaining a lip-smackingly delicious quality.

The 2024 PGV scored a 92-point score and Double Gold honors at the 2025 Pacific Northwest Wine Competition. The 2023 also earned a Double Gold at the 2024 Competition; and the 2021 Vintage was awarded the Best in Show trophy at the 2022 Competition. Talk about consistency!

If this doesn’t convince you to give it a try, consider this: the PGV retails for only $16(!). Available at the winery’s on line store or at the Thurston Wolfe tasting room located in Prosser, Washington.

For the week of August 16, 2026: Malaga Springs Winery 2025 Albariño – Winemaker Al Mathews hits it out of the park with this true-to-the-varietal Albariño that checks all the boxes. It opens with a lovely citrus blossom aroma, followed by flavors of pineapple and tropical fruits, key lime, and a nice splash of acidity framed by notes of minerality, salinity, and wet stone. It’s an absolutely perfect pairing partner with mussels, clams, or oysters on the half-shell. Double Gold medalist at the 2026 Pacific NW Wine Competition.

Bonus Double Gold selection: Mathews’ 2025 Chardonnay is an unoaked Chard lover’s dream with stunning aromatics of field flowers, hyacinth, and peony, along with a base of grapefruit citrus and yellow apple fruit flavors that are complemented by a streak of brisk acidity.

For the week of August 9, 2026: August Forest 2024 S&M Blend – This somewhat unusual blend of Syrah and Merlot in equal portions was a judge’s favorite at the 2026 Pacific Northwest Wine Competition, scoring 92 points and a Double Gold medal. Spectacular from start to finish, the balance of fruit, firm tannins and juicy acidity is practically flawless. Imaging walking through a brambly blackberry field, and you’ll get an idea of the lovely, lead-off aromatics. Then a delicious base of strawberry and red and purple plums kicks in, complemented with a touch of green herbs, a whisper of smokiness, and a nice spritz of white pepper. Bold, yet beautiful, this wine is drinking oh-so-well and promises to gain even more elegance and polish in the bottle. A stellar effort by winemaker/owners C.J. Augustine and Forest Rogers-Phillips, who recently opened their tasting room in Walla Walla’s Airport District.

For the week of August 2, 2026: AniChe Cellars 2022 Moth Love – A first-time participant in the the 2026 Pacific Northwest Wine Competition, AniChe had a breakthrough performance, scoring three Double Golds and a Gold medal with its six entries. The Moth Love was one of those Double Gold medalists: a GSM blend of 45% Syrah, 30% Grenache and 25% Mourvedre. The competition judges went wild with a plethora of descriptors for this scrummy wine: toasted hazelnuts, sandalwood, craisins, raspberries, dark cherries, and baker’s chocolate, to name a few. They also noted the wine’s overall richness and incredibly long finish. AniChe Cellars is located in Washington’s Columbia Gorge region on the Washington side of the Columbia River across from the city of Hood River, Oregon.

For the week of July 26, 2026: Otis Kenyon Wine 2022 Cabernet Franc – The best red wine to not win a top award at the 2026 Pacific Northwest Wine Competition, this 95-point Cabernet Franc from the Woodinville, Washington winery is nothing short spectacular. There’s a seamless balance between the wine’s fruit and savory/herbaceous components and that makes it perfect for both food pairing (think pot roast, grilled burgers, pork tenderloin, or herbed chicken) and stand-alone sipping. Lovely cherry-vanilla aromas are followed by tart red cherry and raspberry fruit, a whisper of sage, and a lengthy, structured finish with ample notes of candied ginger and toasted coconut. Outstanding!

For the week of July 19, 2026: Tipsy Canyon Winery 2022 Mélange Rouge – Co-Winner of the Pacific Northwest Wine Competition’s Best Bordeaux Red Blend, this stunner of a wine is comprised of equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon and finished with Malbec, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. The base of sweet cherry and plum fruit is framed with suggestions of melted brown sugar, cinnamon toast crunch and Mexican vanilla, while vibrant acidity is exquisitely balanced by the wine’s ripe fruit flavors and beautifully integrated tannins. The judges awarded it a Double Gold medal and 94 points at the Competition.

For the week of July 12, 2026: Brian Carter Cellars 2025 Oriana – Last year, Brian Carter earned Best Bordeaux Red Blend honors at the Pacific Northwest Wine Competition. In 2026, he adds another award to his stockpile for this gem of a blend, which received shared honors as the Competition’s best white wine. Comprised of 54% Viognier, 35% Roussanne, and 11% Riesling, the judges were floored by the wine’s layers, complexity, and “easy to drink” qualities. Pear, honeydew, hula berry, red delicious apple, nectarine, and cantaloupe flavors fill the glass, with a medium/crisp finish and a hint of minerality.

For the week of July 5, 2026: Two Mountain Winery 2025 Rosé – Perfect for those warm summer days, this outstanding Rosé from the Rawn Brothers in Zillah, Washington took top honors out of a field of 40 Rosés at the 2026 Pacific Northwest Wine Competition with a Double Gold/93-point performance. Packed with vibrant, juicy fruits that include strawberry, mandarin orange, and honeydew melon, the bone-dry finish displays a touch of spicy lychee and racy acidity. Comprised of a 50/50 blend of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon and sourced from the winery’s estate vineyard.

For the week of June 28, 2026: Longship Cellars 2022 Pet Cheetah Grenache – Winner of the Best in Show award for the 2026 Pacific Northwest Wine Competition, this gorgeous Grenache from Longship co-owner/winemaker Kyle Welch scored 96 points and a Double Gold medal from the panel of judges.

The panel loved the wine’s core of plum, strawberry, and red cherry fruit, accentuated by notes of rose oil, cinnamon, tobacco, white pepper, and vanilla bean. The judges also singled it out as having a “sexy and balanced palate, juicy acidity, and a long finish.” One summed it up in a single word: “Yum!”

This is the second Best in Show trophy in six years for Longship Cellars, which is located in Richland, Washington. The wine was sourced from the Yakima Valley AVA and 385 cases were produced.