Award Winning

I like a good northwest wine. And when I hear that one has become an award winner, I seek that wine out to see why. Victor Palencia, Winemaker- Owner, Palencia Wine in Walla Walla has has won best of show second year in a row at the recent Cascadia Wine Competition.

PALENCIA: There were actually two different wines but from the same region which is part of the exciting part. The first one was a Pinot Noir made into a Rose'. It was kind of a unique wine of its own becuase there's very little Pinot Noir's in Washington being grown, let alone into Rose's. That was the first year. This year was an Albarino, which is a Spanish wine varietal also in Washington grapes. Both of them were from the Ancient Lakes AVA.

Palencia has been making wines professionally for about 10 years but has always been fascinated with the process.

PALENCIA: I want to say I didn't really grasp the whole concept until I about 17, maybe18 years old but by then I was really committed to learning everything I could and really perfecting as much as I could my craft

More than 1,000 wines were entered in the competition by more than 250 wineries from Washington, Oregon, British Columbia and Idaho.

PALENCIA: Both of these wines are in their own awards are very humbling opportunities for me to say, wow, I must be doing something right. Like see mom, I told you so...I'm kidding. But I think for me was trying something new. It wasn't an easy one, don't get me wrong, it was kind of a shot in the dark

That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network of the West.