Abstracted from Great Northwest Wine (by Eric Degerman, all rights reserved). Read the full story here:
Next month’s U.S. Open Golf Championship at Chambers Bay west of Tacoma is viewed as the most important sporting event ever staged in Washington state, and the Washington State Wine Commission has made sure many of its best wines will be poured near the 18th tee throughout the tournament ( the US Open is held June 18-21).
It started with the $120,000 investment as its share of a corporate tent at Chambers Bay Golf Course, and leaders of the Washington wine industry followed that up with a blind judging by some of the state’s top sommeliers to determine the 120 wines to be featured at the tournament.
Woodinville vintner Chris Sparkman, who chairs the wine commission’s 12-member board of directors, said the vote was unanimous to invest in the corporate tent, feature the state’s wines and entertain many of the top wine retailers, sommeliers and wine writers in the United States and around the world.
Seattle-based Precept Wine plans to pour all 10 of the wines it had selected at various price points under brands Browne Family Vineyards, Canoe Ridge Vineyard, Waitsburg Cellars, Waterbrook Winery and Willow Crest.
“The U.S. Open provides an incredible opportunity to show Washington state wines to a national and international audience. The exposure is fantastic,” said Alexandra Evans, Precept Wine’s chief marketing officer. “We’re delighted to be part of this showcase that underscores our state’s outstanding quality and diversity in winemaking.”
Our family of wines to be showcased at the US Open tent include:
Browne Family Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Browne Family Merlot 2012
Browne Family Chardonnay 2013
Canoe Ridge Cherry Street Reserve 2012
Canoe Ridge Reserve Merlot 2011
Canoe Ridge Pinot Gris 2013
Waterbrook Reserve Chardonnay 2013
Waterbrook Riesling 2013
Waitsburg Cellars Three White (Rhone blend) 2013
Willow Crest Pinot Gris 2013