May 23, 2012
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Saturday, April 14, 2012
OMGosh! Great day with the guys!
Our little outing turned into a BIG outing! We started at the Grill On Gage. We felt like royalty as we sat at our long table and the food was already prepared for us. Every single dish was EXCELLENT! We can't wait to go back there again. Maybe it could be like our "Cheers" home away from home....:>)
2nd stop was at Market Vineyards where Erin and Allison told us all about the winery, the grapes, the partners, the wine club, how to properly cut the foil on a wine bottle and about each and every wine. There were more than a few Charlie fans in our group (and some Market members). I think we should seriously think about doing the Big Boss tour on Fathers Day weekend......
We did a little unscheduled stop at Hamilton Cellars. It wasn't on our list, but we had a 1/2 hour to kill before our next appointment. So we meandered through the little Queensgate Village over there to taste the '07 Malbec. Worth the meandering. Is that a word? Thank you Stacie!
Back in our carpool and over Badger Mountain to Canon De Sol Winery. It was a beautiful sunny and warm day, they had the large barn doors open, music playing, a little appetizers, and we tasted Victors wines and Analare's wines. I wish they wouldn't have teased us with the one white that was all gone! It's ok, we bought plenty of reds here. Wonderful people in THIS tasting room- we even nabbed us a new WWW member! Welcome Brenda!
Back in the cars down Badger Canyon Rd to Webber Canyon Rd and over to Benton City where we found Portrait Cellars off a private gravel road. Everyone said it was the highlight of the day. Eve and Ed Shaw make you feel like you are part of their family. The tasting room is in their home kitchen/ great room where you get to hang out with the darling pooches. We all marveled at Eve's art, book, posters, labels and Ed's magnificently crafted Red Mountain wines. He even let us see his basement facility. For those of you that visited here before- remember the awesome Reisling in the tank? We got to buy some and taste next years vintage, too. We are so thankful that Ed is feeling better and that they shared their wonderful gifts & talents with us.
You think we were done? Well, we definitely had our limit, but we had to go up to Tapteil to have a little Sunset Service on the patio.
A great way to end a GREAT day!
Pictures to follow.........
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
March in Walla Walla
Our trip started out on a snowy morning, but it turned into a beautiful day. We headed south to Milton Freewater to Zerba Cellars. Second stop was at Watermill Winery. We tasted their wines as well as their hard cider. Lunch was downtown Walla Walla at Sweet Basil's Pizzeria. And then we had time to do a little shopping (where the girls found vintage Chanel and Coach handbags at DeBouche). Our last stop was at Plumb Cellars and Mansion Creek- we went PLUMB CRAZY! You have to go there to see the "Julia Show"-she's a hoot!
Our last stop was at the Cugini Italian Market where we sampled cheese and homemade Cugini sausage with fennel. Some of us went back the next day for more!
Here are some photos...
Monday, February 13, 2012
Red Wine & Chocolate
A lovely luncheon at Jan Wisness' home today. Great food, decadent desserts and 18 red wines. The winners were:
First place tie went to Kiona Cab/Merlot 2004 and 14 Hands 2002 Merlot.
Second place tie went to Columbia Crest Distant Bay Merlot and Hamilton Cellars 07 Cab.
Third place went to Cooper Cab. Sauv. 2007.
Monday, February 6, 2012
3rd Wine- New Label
Here is a peek at our new label. I will enlarge it later.....
It means "Red Rhone Wine" and " Together with Friends".
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Moonlight Cellars
On, January 1oth, we had the opportunity to tour Moonlight Cellars in
His background with Korbel and St. Michelle, inspired him to start his own company. He makes sparklers for Cave B, Hard Row to Hoe in Lake Chelan, TRU in
We learned that you need a wine with high acid and low sugar. Allan adds a sugar syrup and yeast to the pre-made wine. The yeast carbonates the wine, the bottles are then stuck upside down in ice to freeze the yeast plugs in their necks. Then the metal caps are removed, the plugs blow out, then the bottle is topped off, corked, then wire caged. This is the simplified version.
Here is the corking machine he uses:
http://www.moonlightcellar.com/news/article.src?ID=1
See another tutorial about riddling:
http://www.riddlingracks.com/pages/history.htm
Tips:
Drink within 1 year.
Store your sparkler upright in a cool, dark place. Chill no more than 2 days before serving. Serve in a fluted glass. Don't use a saucer type glass unless you like your bubbles to go flat. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champagne_stemware
To open bottle, remove wire cage, remove foil, hold cork and turn the bottle slowly (not turning the cork) while holding the bottle away from you.
If you'd like to learn more about WA sparklers, get the Winter 2011-2012 issue of Washington Tasting Room magazine (free at any local winery) and turn to page 34.
I think we ought to try following the Europeans example and serve a bubbly as a welcoming wine with appetizers (or even with popcorn or hamburgers!).
We will start this tradition at our next luncheon, Red Wine & Chocolate, Feb. 13. Cheers!
PS. It was great having Miss Vicky back from AZ with us today, too! We miss you girlfriend!
Monday, December 19, 2011
Holiday Party
A wonderful afternoon of holiday merriment at Debra's. We had a blind Cab tasting, awesome food, and party poppers. Click here for how to make one!
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Dream Dinners
We had a really fun day at our Taste & Sip at Dream Dinners- thank you Pat & Terri!! We had some scrumptious meals & appetizers while we sipped on Crystal Light Mango Peach Tea. Here are some photos from the afternoon. Thank you to all the gals that attended and Dream Dinners thanks you for all the new orders. You are gonna love it!Here's what they served us:
Pecan Crusted Pork Chops with Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Chicken Mirabella, Coconut Shrimp with Sweet & Sour Sauce and Jasmine Rice, Herb Crusted Flank Steak and Sesame Teriyaki Glazed Meatballs with Jasmine Rice
Update: A note from Margaret:
I went Thursday to Dream Dinners and prepared my meals, ordered for January and prelim for February. THANKS. So far, Gene has liked everything I've prepared.
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