photo by Patrick Robinson
Northwest Wine Academy at South Seattle College has won two prestigious awards at the Seattle Wine Awards held in early June. The Academy was awarded Double Gold for their 2017 Müller-Thurgau
Müller-Thurgau is a white grape variety that was created by Hermann Müller from the Swiss Canton of Thurgau in 1882. It is a crossing of Riesling with Madeleine Royale. The grapes for the wine were grown here in the Puget Sound region.
The Academy's website describes the wine as "fresh and bright acidity, this brilliant, white-gold libation starts with a refreshing air of honeysuckle and finishes with a lively punch of green apple and a kiss of lime on your palate."
Suggested Food Pairings: Shrimp, sharp cheeses, Waldorf salad, and grilled vegetables.
Alcohol: 9.9% by volume
Retail Price: $15.00
Also awarded Gold was their 2016 Duet Red Marquette a red proprietary blend.
Their website describes it as "a complex hybrid, patented by the University of Minnesota in 2006. Currently planted from Vermont to Washington, we are just now starting to see fruit from mature vines. Named after Père Marquette, a Jesuit missionary and 17th century explorer in North America, Marquette has been said by to be a cousin of Frontenac and a grandson of Pinot Noir.
A classically South of France-styled wine, our Marquette sits somewhere between pinot-like red and merlot-ish blue fruits with aromas and flavors of black cherries, blackcurrants, and blackberries: medium bodied yet lush in the mouth and accented by hints of smokiness. Great integration of flavors with spicy pepper notes on the finish.
A delightful food wine that could stand in for Pinot Noir. While Marquette has similarities to both Pinot and Merlot, it retains a distinctive personality, a mix of rustic adventure and refined style. Marquette lives up to its hype and should soon find its way into wine stores around the country.
75% Marquette, 20% Syrah, 5% Merlot
Suggested Food Pairings: Marquette pairs beautifully with lamb, roast duck, NY strip steak and even blackened fish. Goat cheese, brie, walnuts, and Crème Brûlée also pair well.
Alcohol: 13.5% by volume
Retail Price: $15.00