Picnic! Rubbing Elbows With the Wine Makers
Date: Fri, Aug 15, 2008 Wine Tasting
Yesterday was the 2008 edition of Picnic, a part of the Washington Wine Commission’s Auction of Washington Wines. The event featured a silent auction of Washington wine, games to play to win wine, and a barrel auction of future limited production wines from several different wineries. The event brings out many from the wine industry [...]
Auction of Washignton Wine Weekend Preview
Date: Thu, Aug 14, 2008 Wine Tasting
I’m sitting in my hotel room right now about to head out to Picnic, part of the Washigton Wine Commission’s big summer event that is the Auction of Washington Wines. You can read more about it all here. I’ll be out tasting tonight, having dinner with the winemaker and owner of Delille Cellars tomorrow, and Saturday [...]
Sparkman Cellars Release Party!
Date: Thu, Aug 14, 2008 Wine Tasting
I had the pleasure of going to Sparkman Cellars release party this past weekend up in Woodinville, Washington. Sparkman started up in 2004 and this release is their biggest to date. What was especially fun about the release party is that we had the chance to try some wines that are not yet available to [...]
Cabernet Franc Tasting!
Date: Wed, Aug 13, 2008 Wine Tasting
Tonight I participated in an experiment: three Cabernet Francs from one state. Of course, my state of choice was Washington. I wanted to taste wines from different years as well as finding different labels. I am on a big Cab Franc fix this summer, but until now I haven’t really written about it. Tonight, I [...]
Walla Walla Wine Tasting Summaries
Date: Tue, Aug 12, 2008 Wine Tasting
Here are my summaries and selected notes from several different wineries in Walla Walla, Washington. Our goal for this trip to Walla Walla was to try and visit some truly boutique wineries. I learned at Long Shadows that a boutique winery is defined as a winery with less than 10,000 cases each year. àMaurice Cellars: This [...]
Longshadows Winery Visit and Tasting
Date: Mon, Aug 11, 2008 Wine Tasting
Longshadows is the brain child of famed Washington wine VIP Allen Shoup, the former CEO at Chateau Ste Michelle. The idea is a simple one: pair world class wine makers with Washington grapes. We had the pleasure of getting a tour of the winery as well as tasting three of the wines. Technically speaking, each [...]
Shining Hill: Col Solare Tour and Tasting
Date: Sat, Aug 9, 2008 Wine Tasting
Chateau Ste Michelle is the largest and oldest winery in Washington State. Their top of the line wine is Col Solare, a partnership with the famed Antinori’s of Tuscany. I had the pleasure of being able to take a private tour of the facility and taste both the 2004 and 2005 vintages. -The front of the [...]