Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Tirriddis Blanc de Gris Traditional Method R. 4, Rattlesnake Hills, Washington

On a trip to the Yakima Valley, I met with the founders of Tirriddis, a Washington State traditional sparkling wine producer, to interview them for the Wine Soundtrack podcast. The three were so much fun to chat with. I loved tasting their wines and brought one home with me, which I opened and enjoyed with dinner. The wine was the Tirriddis Blanc de Gris Traditional Method R. 4, Rattlesnake Hills, Washington, the Please The Palate wine of the week.

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Tirriddis Blanc de Gris Traditional Method R. 4, Rattlesnake Hills, Washington

About

Tirriddis may sound like an odd name but it is a perfect name for this winery. The name Tirriddis comes from the words Tirage, Riddle, and Disgorge, the three steps to traditionally produce sparkling wines. This is why it is the perfect name for a winery that focuses exclusively on producing traditional method sparkling wines in Washington State.

Tirriddis was founded in 2021 by Andrew Gerow, Gabriel Crowell, and Matthew Doutney, three friends who met at Washington State University’s Viticulture & Enology program. They graduated during the pandemic and when talking about their futures, they decided to start a winery. Drawn to the technical and complicated production method of sparkling wines, as well as being big drinkers of Champagne, they decided to dedicate themselves to traditional sparkling wine production. They purchase fruit from growers across Washington State and make traditional sparkling wines from Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Riesling, Albarino, Pinot Blanc, Orange Muscat, and Malbec. Their goal is not to make Champagne but to make original and authentic-style sparkling wines from Washington State with their own identity.

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Tirriddis Blanc de Gris Traditional Method R. 4, Rattlesnake Hills, Washington

Tasting Notes

One of the primary grapes they work with is Pinot Gris and the Tirriddis Blanc de Gris Traditional Method R. 4 is 100% Pinot Gris. The grapes are sourced from Rattlesnake Hills in Washington. The wine is a multi-vintage wine. The nose of the wine is complex with notes of dried white flowers, white stone fruits, marzipan, and candied citrus. The complexity continues on the palate with lively bubbles, a weighted midpalate, and a waxy finish.

Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Tirriddis Blanc de Gris Traditional Method R. 4, Rattlesnake Hills, Washington

Food Pairing

Sparkling wine is great to pair with a variety of dishes. It is an obvious choice with select fresh seafood like oysters and ceviche, as well as salmon, salads, pastas, and mild cheeses. Tirriddis Blanc de Gris Traditional Method R. 4 is a wine with fresh acidity and a lovely roundness on the finish, meaning it can handle bigger flavors. To test that theory, I enjoyed the wine with gnocchi and fresh pesto. And it was a great pairing as the wine had the body to match the richness of the dish and the acidity and bubbles cut through that richness.

Where To Purchase

The Tirriddis Blanc de Gris Traditional Method R. 4, Rattlesnake Hills, Washington retails for $39 and can be purchased directly from the Tirriddis website.


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