This week on Beth and Bill's Grapevine, we are featuring three wines produced from Ste Michelle Wine Estates in Washington State and paired with the spicy and unique food offerings from Carefree Station Bar & Grill.

Snoqualmie Naked Reisling -

Snoqualmie is one of Washington's first premium wineries and has been producing award-winning wines from Columbia Valley vineyards for more than two decades. It is one of the first wineries in the state to make wines from USDA-certified organically grown grapes, and as of 2008 has the largest certified organic vineyard in the state. "Naked" wines are made with certified organically grown grapes in a certified organic facility, and Naked Reisling is no exception to Snoqualmie’s theory that sometimes it’s best to leave Mother Nature alone! Made with 100% White Riesling grapes from 100% organic vineyards in Columbia Valley, this Reisling offers fresh aromas of spicy apple and pear, followed by juicy flavors on the palate and a lingering spice and honey finish.
Alcohol content: 12.5%



Chateau Ste Michelle 2006 Cold Creek Chardonnay

Chateau Ste. Michelle's vineyards are located in Washington state's Columbia Valley, a region separated from Seattle's rainy, marine climate by the Cascade Mountains. Cold Creek is one of the oldest vineyards in the Columbia Valley and provides fully mature fruit in a smaller size, which intensifies flavor during harvest. Cold Creek Chardonnay is characterized by intensity and depth from the 30-year-old vines and warmth of the site. The 2006 exhibits aromas of apples and lemon with smoke and toast flavors on the finish. The Cold Creek Chardonnay is our biggest Chardonnay, but the 2006 bottling also maintains a nice level of elegance, which was a hallmark of the 2006 vintage.
Alcohol content: 14.1%

Columbia Crest Reserve 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon

Located along the Columbia River in eastern Washington, Columbia Crest prides themselves on delivering handcrafted, superior-quality small-lot wines, as well as affordable everyday Washington wines. Their first release in 1984 started a tradition that has established has established one of America’s most popular and fast-growing wineries. Columbia Crest has a strong legacy of 90+ scores, and the 2004 Reserve Cabneret Saugignon doesn’t disappoint tradition. The intense fruit does not deter from the aromatics of chocolate cherry and slight mint, which preceed a palate of cocoa and balck cherry flavors. This elegant, complex wine culminates in the perfect balance of wood and fruit on the lingering finish.

Alcohol content: 14.2%

**As a side note, availabe for tasting at Carefree Station starting December 15, will be the 2005 Reserve Cabneret Sauvignon, which has recently been released, and scored an even higher than the 2004, 95 points versus an incredible 92 points for the 2004!

Stop by your local Fry's and Fry's Marketplace to browse and select a Chateau Ste. Michelle for your palette!