September 2009 Wine O' Clock

September Outing!!!

YIPPPPEEEE! Why is it that we're always SO happy that September is here? Is it because our sweet, wonderful children are finally off to school again? Is it because the grapes are ripening and it will only be a few weeks untill they get picked? We love Fall no matter why......

Well, I keep hoping we can leave tomorrow for our jaunt, but we have to wait until Sept. 14th.

Meet at K. Syrah's house at 9am, bring your cooler or wine bag. We are off to Sunnyside to a SPECIAL location. It's a winery that is not open to the public AND was mentioned in the Wine Spectator this month. See photo of their vineyard.

I will tell you that lunch & tasting will be in Prosser at Wine O'Clock and then to another new winery around there. Are you all in suspense?

So far, the WWW that are going are: Ann, Jodi, Cindy, Pat, Karen and a newbie- TRACI !! Anyone else?

Anyone up for a girls night out at Alexandra Nicole? Thursday night, October 1st in Prosser. Mark your calendars. Makyla will tell us more later......

POOL PARTY

Women who Wine with their Husbands! Please come to a casual pool party/bbq at K. Syrah's house on Saturday, July 25th@ 5pm. We will throw something on the barbie, you can bring a bottle of vino and a side dish (or one of your wonderful appetizers or desserts). Come for a swim and stay until 10 :>) See ya'all then!
RSVP, please.
Gayle

Recipe for cinnamon fruit dip

1 cup vanilla yogurt
1 cup sour cream
2 Tablespoons Honey
2 teaspoons cinnamon

Combine and refrigerate for a couple hours or overnight.

Sleeping Dog

Dan and I made a little trip out to Sleeping Dog this weekend "Spring Barrel Tasting". Check out the side bar for a new blog I found via Larry, I Drink Your Wine. Scroll down to April 20th, where his winery is featured. We had a good time and a great visit with Larry. I ended up liking his Syrahs. Which as you all know are not mine and Merlot Jo's favorites :) So I am wondering if Jo liked his 2002? Not the tang on the front of the tongue thing and fruit forward. So funny he knew exactly what I was talking about. There must be a real wine term for that??? Dan and I both liked the 2005 it is hard sometimes to find a wine that suits us both :) Dan and I both agreed with Gayle, Tail Wagger was a yummy red blend.

I would love to hear about anybody else Spring Barrel tasting jaunts??? We finally did get into Maison Blue, and had a great tasting at Wine'O clock and some great tapas. Might be a thought for May's luncheon spot?

March Tasting

We had 11 W.W.W today. It was a beautiful, sunny, 80 degree day. Perfect for our drive around the countryside. All the fruit trees were in bloom and very fragrant.

Our first stop was to Canon De Sol. Victor was a charming host and I have to say that I loved every wine that he made. Did you feel the same way? The girls learned a lot from him.Our second stop was in Benton City at Sleeping Dog Winery. When we finally found it, Larry was there patiently waiting for us. We enjoyed learning about his wine making techniques as well. I finally found a rose' that I liked. The Malbec Rose- tasted like cherries and cranberries. The Tail Wagger Cab blend was YUMMY.....

Lastly, up to Tapteil. We were starving by then, so we broke out our feast and devoured it. We have such great chefs in our group. Our new member, Vicky, brought Chocolate Covered Strawberries. She's welcome back anytime! We had Chinese Chicken Salad, Tortilla Roll ups, Phylo Cups with Gorgonzola and nuts, Fruit Kabobs with a cinnamon roll flavored dip (I want that recipe). There were cheeses, hummus, dolmas, meats, veggies, and crumb cake.



Then we got down to business tasting the wine. Thanks Jane for the fun time and to Argus for the Twinkie gift. We all enjoyed the Argus wine, Cabs, and of course- the best Syrah in the world! (I'm a little biased).

A big thanks to our drivers: Mary Ann, Pat, and Karen. We couldn't have done it without you.

Please post your photos here, too.

May 11 is our next trip. Please help me remember where it is we're going?
June 1 is Tulip Lane in Richland.
July is our BBQ, poolside, with hubby's. Here are some dates to consider: 24, 25 or 31?????????

K. Syrah

Spring Fling

Spring is here and it's time we get out of the house and have some fun!

 

The Women Who Wine will be meeting on Monday, April 20th at Gayle's house at 9:30 a.m. Bring your Starbucks and an appetizer to share as we are heading out Cottonwood Canyon for our first tasting at Canon De Sol. Then on over through the cherry orchards to Benton City and Sleeping Dog Winery. Next stop is the top of Red Mountain to our picnic site, Tapteil Winery. There will be Italian Olive oils and Balsamic Vinegars to taste there, too.

We will definitely be back to Gayle's house by 3pm.

Bring a friend and carpool with us! Please have a full tank of gas if you are willing to drive. We pitch in with the cost.

 

Please RSVP to me by Sunday, April 19 for a head count.

February Luncheon

It was a wonderful day to take a drive out to Merlot Joe's for our February luncheon. This time, you guessed it I am sure. We were blind tasting Merlot. If my notes serve me correctly the big winner was an out of state wine Twomey 2005, from Napa Valley, CA. I believe miss Michelle lifted this particular bottle from her husbands stash? Correct me if I am wrong =/ It was delicious! We did find ourselves a little confused at times through out this tasting, some of the ladies snuck in some blends and even a cab or two. But in the end this wonderful wine won out.

Merlot Jo was the perfect hostess and the appetizers and desserts were amazing.

Gayle's yummy molten chocolate cake!

A good time was had by all. Some new gals have joined our club and I would like to introduce you to them.

Starting on the left is Nancy B. She is still in search of a WhINE name. Maybe we can help her out here and give her a few suggestions. She lives smack dab in the middle of wine country and runs a B&B.

The second gal on the left is Muscat Pat, who is also a recent transplant to the region and just so happens to be a lover of good wine and a wonderful cook. You should be posting some recipes here Pat?

Next I believe is Mary, at first time attendee!

Another gal who is fairly new and hasn't chosen her name, or maybe I just didn't catch it is Jody. She was getting such a kick out of her switcheroo with a cab during the Merlot tasting. She is the little cutie in the middle, between Merlot Jo, and Rou.

So next month we are again staying in town for some authentic Italian cuisine, and Italian wine tasting at K Syrah's.

Maybe she can fill us in here on the date and time. All I can remember is that I am bringing the salad !

A Taste OF Tuscany

Bring your favorite Italian appetizer or dessert, and wine (Chianti, Super Tuscan Sangiovese, Pino Gris?) to K. Syrah's at 11 a.m. on March 16.
Ciao Bella's! Perfecto!

Recap on the Past

The Woman Who WhINE have been busy these last few months. Instead of visiting wineries we have opted to stay home during the winter weather and have instead enjoyed two wine tasting luncheons. They have been a great success, and a wonderful learning experience for all.

Our first luncheon in December was hosted by C.C. at her lovely home in Richland WA. Since Carol is a recent transplant from California and is a big chardonnay fan, we decided to do a chardonnay blind tasting. Everyone brought an undisclosed bottle of chardonnay.

Surprise, surprise, we had a three way tie for First Place. We voted using three pennies each to place in front of our favorite wines. As we sipped along and tasted the chardonnay's some of us took notes and then we voted. Quite simple, but oh so revealing especially when cost of our top three contenders was made known.

$22.99

Milbrandt Vineyards

Evergreen Legacy

2006

Washington State

$18.99

Montes Alpha 

2005 

Casablanca Valley,Chile

$6.99

Columbia Crest 

Two Vine Wine

2005

Washington State