Chateau Ste. Michelle Sweet Riesling

By Chris and Sherry Hardie

Riesling is one of the more versatile wine grapes. It is made in many styles, explained with often confusing German wine labels, ranging from very dry to very sweet.

Riesling wines have found a home in Washington’s Columbia Valley, where the latitude gives lots of sunshine during the ripening season.

It has a residual sugar level of 5.22 percent, which falls into the 5 to 10 percent range of sweet dessert wines. Dry wines are usually in the 0.2 to 0.3 percent range.

It’s not overly sweet, though, with plenty of orchard and stone fruit flavors balanced with acidity for freshness. So you don’t have to wait until dessert to enjoy it.

Sherry: “Green apple with a light touch of honey.” 3 stars

Chris: “Apples on the nose with flavors of apple, pear and apricot.” 3 stars

Available locally for about $7 to $10.

Coming next week: La Posta Cocina Tinto

Red blends - wines made from a variety of grapes - continue to be popular sellers, with new labels entering the market.

This winemaker takes its name from the small wild horses that used to roam Washington's Columbia River valley and were 14 hands high.

Until recently, this blend was available only in restaurants. It's a mixture of syrah, merlot, petite verdot and mourvedre, and is fermented with a cold soaking and daily pumping process that enhances the fresh fruit flavors.

Soft red fruit is clearly on display, and the flavor leans toward the sweet side.

Sherry: "Light-bodied and florally, with flavors of soft cherry and a vanilla finish." 2-1/2 stars

Chris: "Fig bouquet with flavors of sweet black cherry and a bit of raspberry." 3 stars

Available locally for about $9.

Coming next week: Valley of the Moon Pinot Blanc