Latah Creek Sweet Riesling 2023

For over forty years, Latah Creek has been dedicated to producing Riesling, and during this time, Mike has had the chance to work with grapes from nearly every growing region in Washington State, including Pasco/Tri-Cities, Sunnyside, Yakima Valley, Wahluke Slope, Rattlesnake Hills, and most recently, the Ancient Lakes AVA. Among these regions, father-daughter winemakers Mike and Natalie believe that the Ancient Lakes AVA consistently yields the finest Riesling. As a result, they transitioned to sourcing all their Riesling grapes from this area following their initial harvest in the early 1990s.

Latah Creek’s first release of a Sweet Riesling occurred in 2013, featuring grapes from the 2012 vintage. This limited production wine quickly sold out and has remained one of their most sought-after offerings. The subsequent release came in 2018, utilizing grapes from the 2017 harvest.

Natalie’s Tasting Notes

When crafting a Riesling with a higher residual sugar, it’s crucial to maintain a sufficiently high acid level in the grapes to ensure that the sweet wine retains a fresh and crisp quality on the palate, avoiding a heavy, syrupy texture. For this reason, my dad and I only produce a Sweet Riesling when the ideal conditions are met for creating exceptional grapes, which is why these releases do not occur every year.  Experience bright acids with white flowers and citrus flavors, while jasmine and ripe golden pear linger.

Food Pairing

Enjoy this refreshing Sweet Riesling with light fare such as spicy Asian dishes, creamy pasta salads, or fruit-based desserts. It pairs beautifully with Sweet Thai Chili Coconut Shrimp recipe available online or in her latest cookbook.

Winemakers

Mike Conway & Natalie Conway-Barnes