DiStefano
Winery's Sparkling, Red Ventures Worthy Efforts
By Bob Woehler
DiStefano, a small Woodinville winery, had its
genesis in its creator Mark Newton's fondness for sparkling wine.
But now its forte is classic Bordeaux reds.
Newton, whose day job is designing computer hardware at
Microsoft in Redmond, became interested in food and wine while in
California. His favorite was sparkling wine.
He took a short course on sparkling wine at the University of
California at Davis in 1983, where he met Cheryl Jones Barber, who
is now a winemaker for Silver Lake in Bothell.
Jones Barber, who grew up in Richland, told Newton and his
brother Jeff, a California wine grape grower, about the promise of
pinot noir grapes in Oregon. Pinot noir is the major grape for
making sparkling wine.
The brothers produced sparkling wines in Seattle from Oregon
grapes and got rave reviews. They wanted to call it Newton and
Newton, but another winery in Napa, Calif., was already using the
Newton name.
So in 1988, Mark Newton changed the name of the sparkling wine
to Whittlesey Mark, while his brother decided to stay in
California. Whittlesey is Mark's middle name.
In 1990, his interest shifted to reds such as cabernet
sauvignon, merlot and more recently, cabernet franc. A syrah is in
the works.
He's changed the name of the winery to wife, Donna's, maiden
name, DiStefano, and moved operations to Woodinville.
The wines and the tiny winery have been a hit. The dining and
tasting room, decorated with antiques, is particularly popular for
private catered dinners.
Eventually, Newton plans on giving up his day job at Microsoft
and concentrating on the winery. DiStefano's fans include Newton's
boss Bill Gates and other Microsoft people.
The winery is at 12280 Woodinville Drive. The telephone number
is 425-487-1648. E-mail is distefan@gte.net.
-- DiStefano Tasting Notes --
1998 cabernet franc Columbia Valley - An outstanding red
with beautiful full fruit flavors and smoky oak aromas. This wine
has a multitude of complex components that are rich and
satisfying. Suggested price: $25.
1998 merlot Columbia Valley - Another outstanding red by
this winery. Loaded with berries, black olives and licorice along
with vanilla spice and a smooth finish. Suggested price: $25.
1998 cabernet sauvignon, Columbia Valley - Vanilla
spices followed by bright fruit of cherries and plums. Chalky dry
with good tannins. Suggested price: $25.
1999 sauvignon blanc - Green apples, some herbs and a
slightly tart, crisp finish. Suggested price: $10.
New releases
L'Ecole No. 41 1998 cabernet sauvignon Columbia Valley - An
outstanding red with a smooth, tasty finish and touches of
blackberries and tobacco, vanilla oak and well-balanced tannins.
Suggested price: $30.
Tefft Cellars nonvintage cabernet merlot Yakima Valley -
Cedar and tar with rich berry fruit and good tannins. Suggested
price: $10.
Arbor Crest Wine Cellars 1998 Cameo Reserve cabernet franc
- An outstanding big, rich red with lush berry and chocolate
flavors and others including black pepper, coffee and tobacco.
Suggested price: $15.
Snoqualmie 1998 cabernet sauvignon, Columbia Valley -
Nice all-around qualities including a jamlike berry and cherry
flavors with oak aromas. Suggested price: $15.
Thurston Wolfe 1999 sangiovese, Columbia Valley - A fine
chianti-like wine featuring smoke aromas with cherry and berry
flavors and touches of cola. A smooth, easy-drinking wine. It's a
blend of 76 percent sangiovese from Walla Walla County and 24
percent syrah from the Yakima Valley. Suggested price: $20.
Sawtooth 1998 cabernet sauvignon Idaho - Smoky oak
aromas with a rich, flavorful berry milkshakelike feel. A smooth,
easy-drinking cabernet. Suggested price: $15.
Arbor Crest 1997 cabernet sauvignon, Cameo Reserve - An
outstanding, tasty wine with concentrated berry and plum flavors,
hints of tobacco and a smooth, easy-drinking finish. Suggested
price: $15.
Wyvern Cellars 1998 merlot, Washington - Formerly
Worden. A very fruity merlot with smooth tannins and a soft, tasty
finish. Suggested price: $16.
Arbor Crest 1997 merlot Cameo Reserve - Rich and smooth
with bits of black pepper spice and nice fruit and tannins in the
finish. Suggested price: $11.
Columbia Winery 1999 chardonnay Woodburne Cuvée, Columbia
Valley - Toasty oak aromas, nice chardonnay fruit including a
touch of tropical and a slight bite at the finish that would make
it good with most foods. Suggested price: $14.
Columbia Winery 1999 semillon Columbia Valley - Lots of
interesting characteristics. Herbs, spice, figs, oak vanilla and a
bit of citrus. Good with oysters. Suggested price: $9.
Barnard Griffin 1998 cabernet sauvignon, Columbia Valley
- A full-bodied, rich cabernet with a great pedigree. Bits of
chocolate combine with raspberries and a pleasant tannin finish.
Suggested price: $20.
Covey Run 1999 lemberger Yakima Valley - Light and
fruity with plum jam components. Great with pizza. Suggested
price: $7.
Bob Woehler
has been writing about grapes and wines of the Pacific Northwest
since 1978. His columns appear twice monthly in the Tri-City
Herald in Tri-Cities, Wash. and in Wine
Press Northwest.
Send
e-mail to Bob Woehler
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