9/12/11

Randy shared his knowledge with us during lunch. One of the things we learned was about what it means to be a bonded winery. His family has been doing this for many years. Sharon and Randy really made this tour special.

Sept. 12, 2011 Chinook

Kay from Chinook giving us the tour, history, and nice wine tasting.

Labeling Day 8/30/11

Lunch in the garden at Wine O'Clock. Yummy Pear/Bacon Pizza and Organic Salad

Mary, Gayle, Cyndy, Karen, and Marilyn labeling for John Gabriel behind Coyote Canyon.

Release Party at Tapteil

Beautiful evening at Tapteil Vineyards. Over 60 people came to enjoy the food, wines, music and ambiance. Anton Sinkov played his classical guitar for us. His # is 551-9882 if you'd like to hire him.

Gayle

Women Who Wine released their new Rojo Hermoso Blend (70% Graciano% 25%Tempranillo with a 5% splash of Syrah ) John Gabriel the wine maker at Coyote Canyon joined the celebration that night. In January he guided us through the blending of some rare to this region, spanish varietals.
These luscious grapes are grown in the beautiful Horse Heaven AVA at Mike Andrews 11oo acre vineyard. Mike who is the owner of the vineyard and Coyote Canyon Winery is making a name for the winery with his great selection of spanish grapes. His Alberino has won 5 double golds since it has been in production. They released their 2009 Michael Andrews Spanish Red this weekend. Check out the link to read John's tasting notes!

Enjoying the wine, the food, and the company set a top Tapteil's lovely vineyards on Red Mountain Friday night, you felt you could have been in the south of France. Thank you Larry and Jane for hosting such a wonderful evening. I am in love with your 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon!!! Cindy

Columbia Crest...Best Wine Tour of the Year!

I think we should make this an annual event! Our spring tour to Columbia Crest was just simply outstanding. As the largest winery in Washington State we tend to overlook this giant in the land. Big is not always better. Well in this case it most certainly is! Did you know they have 6 tiers of wine? Most of us are familiar with the Two Vine, Grand Estates and H3...but there is so much more to this great winery.

As special guests on an amazing tour of this mammoth facility

This was a diagram of the bottling line...it was huge!

WWW were treated at the end of our tour with a special tasting of a champagne called Luxe which is only sold to the restaurant industry. As we all took our first sip our eyes opened wide as our palettes were opened up to new levels of delight. I bought two bottles. The best champagne I have ever tasted, and even though you may say what do I know about champagne?   Well not too much...ha ha, but we did taste 24 different bottles in November and I learned what I did not like. (Check out our adventure on Bubbly Day) We were then treated to several wines from the Grand Estates collection and then the H3 goodies. What came next was a special treat. As we were on the tour we passed by a few private tastings going on.

I was able to catch a quick picture of "Ray Einberger whose 2005 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon became the first Washington wine to be named ‘Wine of the Year’ by Wine Spectator in 2009."   while he was conducting a tasting with a dignitary from India.

Waltor Clore Reserve

Our tour guide Michelle Getchell  said, why let the opened bottles from the Waltor Clore Reserve collection go to waste?  She then ran down to the winery and gathered the open bottles for us from the private tasting and to our great delight shared these bottles with our group. I was actually floored by the hospitality we received on this trip.  Just one example of this was a new gal that I had invited to join us who was fairly new to wine tasting and was only into tasting a few light white wines.

Head White Winemaker Laura Surge sharing her vast knowledge and enthusiasm with our gals.

Well that did not even begin to daunt Winemaker Laura Surge for one second. Next thing I knew she was setting my friend up at a special tasting to give her palette a chance to discover the wonders of Columbia Crest white wines. I had to take a peek at what was going on when I myself discovered the delicious white Grand Estates Moscato which I then purchased for our Easter brunch.  Really...I was so impressed. Then to top off the whole event we were as a group treated to a very special discount and I am telling you what~ our WWW did not disappoint. We bought their wine by the case load.

Touring Ideas

Go to : http://www.winepressnw.com/2010/06/07/4827/100-great-northwest-wine-country.html to find some new ideas for your next wine tour.

Coming this October!

During Crush, we will become Winemakers for a Day. A special winemaker will show us how wine is made, from the vine to the glass. This is a hands-on class. More details to come..........

We won AGAIN!

I went to Katya's in Richland tonight to join the Brown Bag Monday group. They were blind tasting Tempranillo's and Blended White Wines.

There were more white wine entries. The winners were:

First Place= Willow Crest Pinot Gris (even though it wasn't a blend)

Second Place = Waterbrook Melange'

Third Place + Bookwalter Cuplet

Tempranillos:

First Place= Women Who Wine Rojo Hermoso

Second Place= Creta Roble

The others smelled like barnyards, so they didn't even place.

Next time you go to Katya's, order the spinach/artichoke/red pepper/cheese dip with the grilled flatbread- to DIE for!

The Brown Bag group is a lot of fun (they all take notes on their I-Phones and Twitter). Ran into our favorite farmer Neil, too.

Name that Winery or Event!

                                                            Our latest and greatest event!

I was looking back through some WWW pictures and I thought some re posts would be fun.  So... can you name the winery we are at and or which event?  Post your answers under comments, extra points for year and month =)  Hint, hint one picture is of our very first winery and one of our last.

  Picture 1

Picture 2

Picture 3

Picture 4

Picture 5

Picture 6

Picture  7

Picture 8

Picture 9

Please feel free to add on any group pictures you have of a different event!  If you are not sure how to post a picture send the file to Cindy or Gayle.

Gayle's answer:

1. Columbia Crest
2.MaryAnns Red Wine & Chocolate
3. 1st trip for WWW- Basel Cellars in WALLA WALLA
4. Carol's Chardonnay tasting
5. Bottling behind Coyote Canyon- 1st vintage
6. Portrait Cellars in the cellar with Neil Cooper & Eve Shaw
7. Milbrandt
8. Makyla's Red Wine & Chocolate
9. Bubbly Day at Miss Vicky's

April 23, 2011 7:43 AM

Great job!

Columbia Crest Tour

Best tour of the year by Michelle Getchell (Guest Services) and Laura Surge (Winemaker)