One of the thing about Washington State is they have such a unique set of wineries. Whether it is Riesling or stony Syrah, Washington has a near unrivaled range of wines that it can produce — and also do well. One of the more unique business models in the industry that focuses on crafting limited production Rose, SMAK Wines is the new project by Fiona Mak out of Walla Walla. Mak is a graduate of Syracuse University’s hospitality management program. Originally from Hong Kong, Fiona had a formidable career in the restaurant industry, making a host of great spots like Morimoto in Philadelphia, Haru Sushi in New York, and Quality Meats, in Manhattan. Fiona is also a certified sommelier through the Court of Master Sommelier.
In 2013 she traveled across country to begin her wine education at the Walla Walla Community College Enology and Viticulture program. She then was employed as a lab manager at Artifex Wine Company. Her wines are inspired by her travels to Provence and I can see that feeling of delicacy and nuance in each bottle. Rose is quite difficult to make well and I was very impressed with her latest set of releases. Her 2019 SMAK Wines ‘Summer’ Rose (WWB, 90) is fresh, vibrant and has delicate melon tones and really good range. With its brightness, this will be hard to resist on a hot day. Even better is her 2019SMAK Wines ‘Fall/Winter’ Rose (WWB, 91) which has more substantial weight and a great, lasting finish. Learn more about this great new winery at https://www.smakwines.com Here are the great new releases by SMAK
2019 SMAK Wines ‘Fall/Winter’ Rose- Made from Syrah grapes, this has a kiss of sweetness with melon and minerals, as well as delicate red cherry and rose water flavors. Fresh, vibrant and elegant, the long finish lingers. Drink 2020-2024- 91
2019 SMAK Wines ‘Spring’ Rose- Made from Sangiovese, the wine has damp earth tones that linger with red rose petals on the nose. The palate is bright and mineral driven with delicate red fruits and wet stone tones that mingle with shades of unripe cantalope. Drink 2020-2024- 90
2019 SMAK Wines ‘Summer’ Rose- The ‘Summer’ Rose is made from Pinot Gris and shows layers of white rose and pear tones that mingle with the earthy undertones of the wine. The palate has really good verve, with delicate melon and orange zest flavors with minerals and lighter damp earth tones. Drink 2020-2024- 90