We love exploring New and Old wine regions, discovering new wineries, and comparing wines from the different parts of the world that are made from the same kind of grape. This was our goal on our first tour to the Lake Chelan viticultural region of Washington state. Specifically looking for wines that are made from the grapes grown in this area because we wanted to taste the difference that terroir makes.
One of the first stops on our tour was Rocky Pond Winery in downtown Chelan. While their tasting room has an inviting modern style with a lounge feel, it’s not “urban winery.” They grow grapes for their own wine production as well as for other wineries in Lake Chelan.
Rocky Pond’s wine that stood out to us on a hot summer afternoon was 2017 Gewurztraminer.
Interestingly that two days before our visit, we had a bottle of a Gewurztraminer from a highly respected producer in the Alsace region of France. So we had something to compare Rocky Pond wine to, and it was able to hold its own and show the potential of Lake Chelan terroir.
Rocky Pond 2017 Clos CheValle Vineyard Gewurztraminer Tasting Notes
Gewurztraminer is a highly aromatic wine, and Rocky Pond got that. We sensed the aromas of peach, yellow apple, white flowers, Rainier cherry, and minerality.
Usually, we expect a more vibrant flavor profile from this wine than Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc has. This Gewurztraminer delivered it too. We tasted apple drop candy and peach balanced by lemony acidity, wet stone, and light almond bitter notes.
Overall, Rocky Pond 2017 Clos CheValle Vineyard Gewurztraminer by Rocky Pond was among the top three white wines we tasted on our trip in this region. Considering that Lake Chelan AVA is a wine region with only 20 years of history, this is an excellent wine that demonstrates the potential of the terroir.
Wineswinging Notes
How did it compare to Gewürztraminer from Alsace region that has a few hundred years of winemaking experience? It didn’t beat yet, but we like them both because each one reflects the terroir. Usually, wine from Alsace has more intense and complex aromas and exotic fruit flavors that are hard to resist.
So, if we are in France, we’ll drink wine from Alsace, but Rocky Pond’s Gewurztraminer is our choice while vacationing on Lake Chelan.