New, old and combined

In the first quarter each year, it is normal to see some shuffling of wineries and importers among distributors. In recent years, it was largely a bad thing. The tough economy resulted in many producers being dropped from portfolios and distributors leaving the business, resulting in access to even more wines being lost. Not this year.

While the economy - including the wine segment - is still far from robust, we are seeing new distributors enter the market, others being purchased, and some of our existing ones picking up previously abandoned brands. We are gaining access to even more wine, which is great news for consumers. Here are some of the highlights.

Local favorite, Coeur d'Alene Cellars, has moved to direct distribution in Idaho. This is great news for consumers, as we now have access to the full portfolio produced by Kimber Gates and new winemaker Dirk Brink. We spent some time at the winery just this past week, tasting from bottle and barrel. The full line-up is benefitting from Dirk and his winemaking talent, honed in his native South Africa. We have always been fond of Coeur d'Alene Cellars' Viognier ($20), but also found their Scarlet Lake ($27) and Boushey Vineyard Syrahs ($36) to be spectacular.

One of the new distributors to our area brings with them an all-Idaho winery from the Snake River Valley AVA that we had not previously tasted or had access to. Consumers will be seeing and hearing more about the wines from Koenig Winery, located in Caldwell. From their Chardonnay ($18) through their reds (from $22 to $26) and their Ice Wine ($23 for a 375ml bottle), we found the wines to be delicious and well made. All are well balanced, and posses enough structure and acid to show their age worthiness. The fruit is vibrant and never masked by too much oak. It's a great winery to add to our lists.

A couple of distributors either left the business last year or were purchased; the good news is that it has reduced prices on some of our favorite wines. For a Song Winery is one that transitioned to a new distributor via merger. We've always liked the wines, including their Chardonnay and many of their reds. The prices for their wines now range from $9 to about $20, where previously they ranged from $18 to the upper $20s! This is truly a bonus for consumers.

Similarly, the Silver Buckle Red and Silver Buckle White from Rutherford Ranch Winery in California are now available for about $15; they previously cost almost $20. Their new distributor has figured out a way to get these great easy-drinking blends in consumers' hands at 25 percent less!

Thurston Wolfe Winery out of Prosser, Wash. is another that landed with a new distributor after their previous one went away. Like Rutherford Ranch, For a Song and others, their prices have come down quite a bit. We have long been fans of Dr. Wade Wolfe, and the price reduction sure is welcome. His PGV white blend, one of our annual favorites, now goes for $15; his equally tasty red blend, Dr. Wolfe's Family Red, is now $16.

Another of our favorite distributors from southern Idaho has picked up the Mighty Nimble wines from Paso Robles, Calif. The wines are fabulous. We are now carrying their Fruit Tramp blend that is equal parts Syrah, Grenache, Mourvdre. Grenache Blanc, while spendy at 40, is well worth it rich and concentrated. The wine will be great for a special occasion or as a gift, with its wonderful label art by renowned western artist Bob Coronato.

Access to European imports continues to surge. Not a week goes by that we don't taste some great imported wine that is new to us. They have been the trend for a couple of years and are priced compellingly. Portugal, France, Italy and Spain continue to send wine our way that is sophisticated and drinkable, with prices ranging from $8 to the low $20s. While you can spend more for some of the most sought-after higher-end wines from Europe, there are fewer and fewer reasons to do so.

Wine consumers can rejoice as we see the largest influx of new wine in years, coupled with substantial price reductions, brought to us by new, old and combined distributors. More choices and declining prices of great domestic and imported wines is wine lover nirvana; while it won't last forever, now is the time to chat with your favorite wine professional or stop by the shop to try some new bottles.

If there is a topic you would like to read about, or if you have questions on wine, you can email George@thedinnerpartyshop.com or make suggestions by contacting the Healthy Community section at the Coeur d'Alene Press.

George Balling is co-owner with his wife Mary Lancaster of the dinner party, a wine and table top decor shop in Coeur d'Alene, by Costco. George has worked as a judge in many wine competitions, and his articles are published around the country. He is the wine editor for Coeur d'Alene Magazine (www.cdamagazine.com). You can learn more about the dinner party at www.thedinnerpartyshop.com, and get all of these articles as well as other great wine tips by friending us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/dinnerpartyshop.