I just received the November Newsletter from Shannon Bird, the Executive Director of the Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail. There are a ton of great wine events scheduled for November.

Thanksgiving in Wine Country, Rattlesnake Hills Style

Nov. 28 – 30, 2008

The traditional and annual Thanksgiving in Wine Country, Rattlesnake Hills Style, is celebrated at the 15 wineries in the Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail with gourmet fare and wine pairings offered by regional chefs and winemakers (they have great palates for food as well as wine). A number of new releases will be offered for the weekend including six new releases at Eaton Hill Winery alone!

A glass is suggested this weekend. Bring your favorite goblet from home or purchase a logo glass at any winery on the Trail.

Cost: Free*
When: Friday, Saturday & Sunday, November 28 – 30, 2008
Where: Wineries located in the Rattlesnake Hills appellation, just east of Yakima in Wapato, Zillah, Granger & Outlook, WA
Times: 10 AM – 5 PM, with some wineries open until 6 PM
(*Some wineries may charge a minimal tasting fee.)

Here is a breakdown of what you can expect:

Bonair Winery will celebrate Thanksgiving by showcasing Chef Gail’s Best Ever Rattlesnake Hills Butternut Squash Soup accompanied by their buttery, smooth 2006 Chardonnay. Their new fall releases will be available: 2005 Merlot, 2005 Grand Reserve Merlot, and 2007 Dry Gewurztraminer. Back by popular demand is Dottie with her chocolate fountain, chocolate goodies galore, and samples of her famous pumpkin fudge. Hours 10am - 5pm

Claar Cellars will be releasing their Cabernet Nouveau in honor of Thanksgiving in Rattlesnake Hills’ Wine Country. They will also be giving away commemorative pins to Passport holders while supplies last. Hours 10am – 6pm

Eaton Hill Winery continues celebrating its 20th Anniversary by going “all out” for Thanksgiving in Wine Country. Decorations, pumpkins, organic apples, garlic cream dip, our world famous Gourmet Bean Soup, and discounts for RHWT passport holders. We will release several new red wines: Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Rose’ a Deux. Come talk with winemaker Ed Stear and grower Chuck Fiola. Open 10-5. 509-854-2220.

Horizon’s Edge Winery: The last weekend to purchase wines before the winter closure! Receive 12% off bottle purchases and 20% off case purchases with your Passport card. Hours 11am - 5pm

Hyatt Vineyards will be featuring their new release, Roza Ridge Roadside Market Red, paired with savory meatballs. Hours 11am – 5pm

Maison de Padgett Winery: The last weekend to purchase wines before the winter closure! Receive 12% off bottle purchases and 20% off case purchases with your Passport card. Hours 11am - 5pm

Masset Winery will be featuring Handmade Belgian chocolates as well as Jahr’s Sausages (from Selah) and smoked cheddar cheese. Pete Jahr comes from a line of sausage makers (German) and now operates Jahr’s Sausage shop in Selah where he produces full flavored handcrafted sausages that will be paired with Masset Wineries award winning red wines. This is also the last weekend of the season to visit the winery. Our Wapato tasting room is closed except by appointment in December and January. Masset Winery Downtown Cellars is open year round, seven days a week (312 East Yakima Avenue/248-5251) Hours 11am - 5pm

Paradisos del Sol Winery will be serving four different food pairings with seven different wines. Try our Artichoke-Crab dip with our dry Rosé and our off-dry Riesling, our famous Bleu Ribbon dip (glop) with our three red wines, pair a pear with our Angelica G (the original Thanksgiving dessert wine), and finish it off with a toasted marshmallow with our Botrytis Riesling. All are complimentary with a Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail passport. Some wines will be sold by the case at 50% off! Hours 10am – 6pm

Piety Flats Winery will feature their celebrated Meatballs in Special Wine Sauce for this feast weekend. Simmered in a secret sauce and paired with their red wines, Piety Flats will have your taste buds dancing. Hours 10am – 5pm

Portteus Vineyards will be serving their fabulous red wines. Receive 20% off your purchase of 6 bottles or more with a Passport. Hours 10am – 5pm

Severino Cellars: Join the Severino family in sipping wine in the Rattlesnake Hills! What’s better on a cold November day than a yummy bowl of soup with a great glass of wine? They will be serving Cream of Roasted Portobello Mushroom & Chipotle Pepper Soup. Stock up on wonderful wines for the holiday seasons and don’t forget to check out their gift shop for great holiday shopping! For more information contact Severino Cellars at 509.829.3800. Open daily from 10am - 6pm

Silver Lake Winery: Join us Thanksgiving weekend for fun and Holiday cheer! Taste some of our full bodied reds; sample our rich, buttery or tangy whites. Find the perfect bottle to go home with, or maybe use this time to cross a few gifts off the shopping list! Our Wine Sales Thanksgiving weekend will be the perfect time to do just that. Of course the day cannot be complete without Dessert. Taste decadent chocolate Truffles from Intrigue Chocolate Co. with samples of our award winning wines. Be sure to save plenty of room to bring home a bottle or two of your favorite wine to enjoy later with friends and family in front of a warm winter fire. Hours 10am – 5pm

Steppe Cellars will be celebrating Thanksgiving weekend with grapevine wreath making. We will have German-style glass ornaments for sale for decorating the wreaths. Expect a wonderful squash soup or other exquisite delicacy to pair with all of our new 2006 wines. Hours Fri and Sun 11am – 5pm, Sat 11am – 6pm

Tefft Cellars: Joel Tefft will serve chicken drumettes with a Cranberry Port Sauce made from Concord grapes during Thanksgiving in the Rattlesnake Hills this year. Made with Tefft’s delectable Cabernet Port. Hours 10am – 5pm

Two Mountain Winery: They’ll be serving ‘Mom’s Famous Minestrone Soup’ along with their fabulous award-winning wines. Receive 10% off purchases of 3 bottles or more, and 15% off case purchases with your Passport card! Winery hours are 10am – 6pm

October 2008 Edition

It is ‘CRUSH’ time at the wineries in the Rattlesnake Hills!

‘Crush’ simply means harvest, and harvest is just beginning. While the grapes are about three weeks later this year because of the cooler, wetter spring, this year promises to be outstanding with the smaller, more intensely-flavored berries. A couple of the wineries began last week by picking chardonnay grapes, and some of the Merlot grapes were harvested, too. Which grapes are picked at what time differs at each winery, based on when the blocks are ready and the location of the vineyard. Different blocks ripen at different times, so a Chardonnay block might be ready now, but a separate block of the same variety might take another week or two before it is ready. Just a few feet in elevation can make a big difference in when to pick those luscious berries. And, of course, each winemaker must decide the perfect time to pick for their style of wine. Once a block is picked, the grapes are crushed and the process begins to turn the wine into “Nectar of the Gods”.

We have a full calendar and plenty of fun times left in the Rattlesnake Hills this year, so read on for more info!

Coming up in the Rattlesnake Hills:

October:

1st – 31st: Taste the Grapes!

You can ‘Taste the Grapes’ yourself this month! During the whole month of October, the wineries in the Rattlesnake Hills bring fresh wine grapes in from the fields so visitors can taste the ‘wine’ before it magically becomes the delectable juice that Washington is becoming famous for.

At Bonair Winery, you can taste test a variety of wine grapes as well as table grapes. Tapas are available from noon to 4:30 Friday, Saturday and Sunday throughout the month of October. The weather is still beautiful- a perfect time to enjoy tapas and a glass of wine by the duck pond and vineyard.

3rd - 5th: Claar Cellars’ 12th annual Grape Stomp to “Help Stomp Out Breast Cancer”, held at the winery in Zillah, WA for Breast Cancer Awareness and benefiting Wellness House. Have you ever wanted to jump in a barrel of grapes and feel them squish between your toes? Now’s your chance, and it benefits a wonderful organization! The competition for teams of two begins at 3 PM on Saturday, the 4th. A fun and exciting grape-stomping event! Purchase their Busty Blush wine, knowing that $1 from each bottle sold goes to the Fred Hutchison Cancer Center in Seattle for research. Pre-registration for the grape-stomp suggested but not required. Claar Cellars for more information at 509.829.6810.

11th: Steppe Cellars’ third annual “Federweisser und Zweibelkuchen”, Steppe Cellars will be celebrating 2008 crush with its annual Federweisser und Zwiebelkuchen. This traditional German harvest celebration is always a lot of fun. We will be tasting the new and still fermenting white wines- the Federweisser, along with the Zwiebelkuchen, which is a caramelized onion tart. It is interesting to sample the wines at this stage of fermentation because the flavors are so bold. The celebration will be the 2nd Saturday of October- the 11th –from 11:00 -6:00. You will be able to purchase a glass of Federweisser and a slice of Zwiebelkuchen for $5.00. Sit out in the picnic area, and enjoy autumn in the Yakima Valley.

Steppe Cellars will also be releasing their new Bordeaux-style Blend - Artemisia - this weekend.

And — This harvest, Steppe Cellars will be selling local pumpkins and apples fresh from our orchards. Pick out a pumpkin from our “pumpkin patch” - or choose from our Gala and Golden apples. All proceeds will go to benefit Project Hope, a health-care organization Gabrielle has worked with both in Africa and after Hurricane Katrina.

Stop by the winery or call for additional information ~ (509 837-8281) or visit their website for a full listing of events.

18th: Two Mountain: Life in the Day of a Winemaker Afternoon–October 20th from 2-4pm. Please call 509-829-3900 or visit their website for information. This fun, educational event was featured in Sunset Magazine and Northwest Palate. There is limited space left, so get your reservations made before it is too late.

HalloWine2008

“I Vant to Drink Your…….WINE!”

October 25 – 26 is a themed weekend in the Rattlesnake Hills. What’s it about? Sampling great wine, costumes, artist-carved pumpkins, wine discounts, and fun – and it’s called HalloWine. Stop in at each of the wineries to discover what treats they have available, or what ‘costumed persona’ will serve you. There could be wine-bar witches, pirates talking funny, or vampires dribbling wine (not blood) down their chins as you approach the tasting bars. But don’t be afraid. “Ve only vant you to taste our vines!”

No charge – complimentary to the public. Here are some of the supernatural occurrences at the Rattlesnake Hills wineries this weekend:

Bonair Winery’s staff will greet you in their scary best for some wonderful Hallowine specials. Come in costume for a fiendishly good deal. During the month of October enjoy a sampling of our wine and table grapes, fresh from our estate vineyards. Our fall tapas menus will continue Friday, Saturday and Sunday through the month of October.

Eaton Hill Winery will have “the HalloWine works” during this special fall weekend – costumes, pumpkins, soup and their award-winning wines. Stop in 10 AM – 5 PM.

Masset Winery will host some of the best, big pumpkin carving you’ve ever seen for HalloWine. Internationally known artists will provide the carvings – you’ll have to see these up close to believe they weren’t carved from fire and brimstone! See them in action on October 17 & 18, and again on November 1 & 2. The carved creations will be on display from mid-October through Thanksgiving. For a preview, visit www.masterpumpkinscultor.com

Paradisos del Sol: Halloween – Haloo-Wine – HalloWine!

The end of October is also the end of harvest. All the wineries are just wrapping up the tail ends. Stop in to taste a bubbling frothing fermentation. Corn mazes and pumpkin stands nearby. Join Paradisos del Sol in a REAL costume and they will sell you a wine for a buck!

Piety Flats Winery celebrates HalloWine with Kris’ favorite Pumpkin Soup, a tasty orange delight that will have you screaming for more. Available at the winery.

Severino Cellars is very spoooooky this HalloWine. If you are up for sipping some yummy wines in the Rattlesnake Hills and you aren’t a scaredy cat then stop by Severino Cellars and see our 100 year old haunted farm house. All ghouls and boys welcome. Open daily from 10am-6pm. For more information contact us at 509.829.3800.

Silver Lake Winery staff will greet you in some great costumes this annual themed weekend, and for a spook-tacular HalloWine, they are offering 25% off certain wines through the 31st.

Steppe Cellars celebrates Hallowine this year with harvest décor, treats of wine, and hot cider. Samples of their newest release, Artemisia, a Bordeaux-blend sure to please the palate, will be available for the wine aficionado. And for the designated drivers, have a cup of hot apple cider while you wait for the rest of your party.

Tefft Cellars is ready for the HalloWine trick-or-treaters with their new release of Concordia – a port-like wine made from Concord grapes as a special request from local Concord grape growers and bottled in a 500 ml bottle. Peanut butter and chocolate candy will be on hand to pair with their delicious Concordia. Come visit Jack and see what spooky things are in the tasting room this year.

November:

28 – 30th: Thanksgiving in Rattlesnake Hills features all the wineries participating with specialty foods paired with their wines. You’ll find many of the wineries gorgeously decorated for Christmas, and some of the wineries will have new releases to sample and purchase. Avoid the shopping frenzy and relax at the wineries instead. You’ll find delicious foods prepared by regional chefs and some prepared by the winemakers themselves. And wine is always the perfect size! Watch our web site for updates.

Awards and Ratings:

Wine Press Northwest, Fall 2008 Issue, noted several Rattlesnake Hills wines:

Silver Lake Winery’s 2003 Grand Reserve Cabernet was rated ‘Recommended’. “This older release saw 30 months in new and 1-year old barrels. It shows off aromas of black cherries, toffee and mint, followed by robust flavors of Bing cherries and a latte’ with a dash of caramel.

Silver Lake Winery’s 2006 Reserve Zinfandel was rated ‘Outstanding’.

Two Mountain Winery was rated ‘Outstanding’ for their 2005 Reserve Cabernet Franc. “This beautiful Cabernet Franc reveals aromas of red currants, raspberries, and mint, followed by flavors of black cherries and underlying sweet herbs. Its plush entry leads to silky tannins and a gentle finish.”

Two Mountain Winery was also rated a ‘Recommended’ for their 2007 Chalk Art Rosé.

“ . . . a tasty rosé that reveals aromas of rhubarb, rose hips and cranberries, followed by flavors of white strawberries and peaches.”

2004 Eaton Hill Konnowac Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon was rated ‘Excellent’. “Hidden near the Yakima Valley town of Granger is the longtime and often- overlooked producer. Yet the Stear family is crafting some remarkable wines. This Cabernet Sauvignon was aged in oak for 29 months. It opens with intriguing aromas of sweet spices, black currants, chocolate syrup, and coffee, followed by fruit-driven flavors of blackberries and raspberries. Spices and sweet herbs provide complexity.”

2006 Eaton Hill Gamay rated ‘Excellent and Best Buy’ “Gamay is best known in the French regions of Beaujolais and the Loire Valley. Very little is planted in the Northwest, yet this wine might make the argument for more. It’s a delicious and straightforward red with aromas of plums, blackberries and strawberries and flavors of plums and blackberries. A hint of chocolate provides depth. It’s not a wine you need to sit around and contemplate adjectives over–just enjoy it with lasagna.”

Tefft Cellars 2007 Pinot Grigio was rated ‘Recommended’. “Owner/winemaker Joel Tefft has been making Pinot Grigio for a number of years. This vintage shows off aromas of lemons, lychee, and honeydew melons, followed by flavors of tropical fruits. Pair with shellfish or halibut with a mango salsa”

The Better Tasting Institute awarded Hyatt Vineyards a 90/gold medal for their Roza Ridge Roadside Market Red.

AppellationAmerica.com awarded a gold medal to Masset Winery for their 2005 Petit Sirah in the ‘Best of Appellation’ competition held recently.

Wine writer/advisor Paul Gregutt visited the Rattlesnake Hills recently, and determined Bonair Winery’s 2007 Dry Gewurztraminer, $11, to be his ‘Pick of the Week’.

“This unusual gewürztraminer puts the flavor focus squarely on grapefruit and pineapple, with a bone dry, high acid underpinning. It has moderate concentration and length, with alcohol rated at just 12.5 percent. Time to practice your new turkey recipe for the coming holidays — here’s your wine.”

Notes From the Tasting Rooms:

Piety Flats Winery has just released their new red blend, Junkyard Red. Jim and Kris Russi, owners of Piety Flats Winery, report tongue-in-cheek on their newest wine:

“In honor of the Yakima County Commissioners unanimous vote to establish a new site for a wrecking yard right at the beginning of and gateway to Wine Country in the Yakima Valley, Kris and I have released a fantastic blend we call Junkyard Red”

“This is a mix of 5 different wine grapes that will blend with any food group or road kill. Now I know what the wine writers mean when they say a wine has a touch of asphalt and a hint of rock with a barnyard nose. Please do not ask where the acids come from.”

“We could have gone into a rage over the new wrecking yard site but Kris and I like to make lemonade from lemons. The boys at the County have given us that opportunity and we just want to thank them with this wonderful new wine. All joking aside, this is truly a very fine wine created by one of the most experienced winemakers in the Yakima Valley, Mr. Joel Tefft of Tefft Cellars and one of two winemakers Piety Flats Winery is associated with. The humor is only in the name and the reason we call it by that name.”

“Tasting Notes: It is a very smooth red wine that is ready to drink immediately after opening. No need to lay it down. It is ready. Low in acids but strong in flavor. This will surprise many when they hear what the five wine grapes are.”

Two Mountain Winery: Check out the new version of their website at www.twomountainwinery.com. It just went live ten days ago so be one of the first to view it. Blog postings, virtual tasting room visit and other industry resources are among some of our favorite features.

Announcements:

The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) and the CEIP Review Panel has honored Greg Masset, winemaker and co-owner of Masset Winery as well as the Executive Chef at the Yakima Country Club, by inviting him to be a member of the inaugural class for the Culinary Enrichment and Innovation Program.

Hundreds of impressive culinary talents were reviewed across the United States for this prestigious honor, and there were many well-qualified candidates for consideration, but only sixteen were chosen. It is a well known fact amongst the winery circles that if you have the palate to make fine wine, you have the palate to cook fine cuisine, and Greg Masset is proof of that fact. We are very proud of Greg and expect to hear a lot of media buzz about this talented gentleman for years to come.

Bonair Winery will be at several places in the near future for tasting:

• September 27th ~ George’s Wine Shop in Bellevue tomorrow from 2 – 5 PM
• October 24th ~ Water to Wine in Gig Harbor from 3 – 6 PM
• October 25th ~ D & W Wine Cellar in Bonney Lake, all day

As always, check the web site for more information on upcoming events, and we hope to see you again soon at the wineries on the Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail!

I apologize for being a bit late this weekend. I trust that you all had a wonderful Saturday and I’ll catch you up on things to do for tomorrow.

If you don’t mind a little bit of a drive go check out the Wenatchee River Salmon Festival. The festival offers a fun way to connect with nature and educate yourself and your family on our natural resources and the incredible environment in which we live. There will be fun for all ages, including music, food, art and cultural exchanges with Native Americans.

The Wenatchee River Salmon Festival
When: 18-21 September 2008
Where: Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery
$$$: Free

How to get to Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery

Travel to the west end of Leavenworth on US Highway 2, and turn south onto Icicle Road for a two mile drive to the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery. Follow the signs that take you left down Fish Hatchery Road, past Hatchery Park and into the main parking lot and Visitor Center area.

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It’s not too late to attend one of the coolest events in September, the Fremont Oktoberfest! “Voted one of the top 10 places to toast Oktoberfest by the USA Today. There are over 70 award winning handcrafted beers pouring.” Admission to the garden includes a souvenir cup and 4 beer tokens. Entertainment at the Adobe main stage will host live music all weekend long.

The FREE Festival area will host over 100 local craft and import vendors, a kids area featuring root beer tasting, crafts, and zucchini car races, live entertainment including the wacky Texas Chainsaw Pumpkin Carving Contest, and the Beck’s by the glass beer garden. ”

The Fremont Oktoberfest
When: Sunday, Sept. 21st, 2008 11am – 6pm
Where: 35th Ave N. and Phinney Ave. N.
$$$: $15 advance/$20 at the gate

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Sunday evening plays host to one of the most enchanting evenings in September, Luminata. You can make or buy a lantern and bring it with you to Greenlake where you’ll meet where you’ll meet with other lantern carrying folks for a magical walk around Green Lake.

Luminata - Fall Equinox
When: Sunday, Sept. 21st 2008, 7-10pm
Where: Green Lake Boat Launch
$$$: Free

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My wine lovin’ friends might want to jump in with both feet, head to Woodinville and do the Grape Stomp! Celebrate the autumnal equinox with Brian’s latest release - the 2006 Abracadabra - and appetizer’s provided by Chef Peter Kelly of Spazzo’s.

Grape Stomp
When: Sunday, September 21st, 2008, 12-4pm
Where: Brian Carter Cellars, 14419 Woodinville-Redmond Rd., Woodinville, WA 98072
$$$:
$20 Brian Carter Cellars Wine Club Members
$30 for non Wine Club Members

They warn to dress appropriately if you plan to join in the grape stomp!

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If you love cars there is a new car show in town. The First Annual West Seattle Junction Car Show promises vintage cars, trucks and hot rods. Check it out!

First Annual West Seattle Junction Car Show
When: Sunday, September 21 2008, 8:00am - 4:00pm
Where: West Seattle Junction, Sw Alaska St. And California Ave Sw
$$$: Free

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Those are my picks for tomorrow. Whatever you do, have fun and be safe!

I’ve just received an update from Shannon Bird, Executive Director, Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail with the following information regarding upcoming events on the Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail:

September:

One of the best times of the year to visit the Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail in the Yakima valley! The valley is ripe with fresh produce - from corn, tomatoes, peppers, squash to apples, peaches, pears, and of course, grapes! Which brings us to the other reason to visit – it’s the beginning of harvest in the estate wineries’ vineyards in the Rattlesnake Hills. During the months of September and October, you can often see the wine making process in full swing. And, there are opportunities

Paradisos del Sol will celebrate their annual Wedding Anniversary Weekend – August 30 - September 1, “We’re at number 8!” said Barbara Sherman, co-owner with hubby Paul Vandenberg of Paradisos del Sol. Labor Day weekend is wedding anniversary time for them. They share the joy by having ‘Wedding Anniversary Weekend’. Married 10 years? They give you 10% discount on wine purchases. Number of years = amount of your discount. Now, because they believe any two adults can be wed, they don’t care if the state of Washington recognizes your marriage as long as your friends do. It’s about commitment! If you haven’t had a ceremony, you aren’t married. “Sorry, but living together isn’t what we call a commitment. And no, it’s not cumulative over six marriages! Widows and widowers qualify; it’s not your lack of commitment that made you single.” Their biggest discount to date is 67% - now that’s commitment! So bring your parents and join Paradisos del Sol in celebrating their commitment to love and family. For more information, call Paradisos del Sol at 509.829.9000 or 509.829.5590.

Steppe Cellars would like to invite you to Apple Harvest - Enjoy Gala and Golden apples fresh from the tree along with some cheese and wine September through October. They carry an assortment of picnic snacks that you may purchase and enjoy in their picnic area.

October

Two Mountain Winery opens their fields again on October 18th to those of you who want a real ‘winemaker experience’! Shadow Matt & Pat Rawn as you pick grapes, run the crusher, take readings and taste the wine in their ‘Winemaker for a Day’ session. 12 noon-2 pm. Cost is $25. This event sold out very quickly last year so make your reservations early! Call 509.829.3900 to reserve your place.

Eaton Hill Winery’s winemaker and owner, Dr. Edwin Stear, will feature his art in the tasting room at 530 Gurley Road, Granger WA throughout the month of October. Dr. Stear is a self-taught artist who delights in painting for relaxation. His paintings are of the outdoors in acrylics and oils, and will encourage you to try your hand if you have an urge toward self-expression.

October 1-31 . . . Taste the Grapes

Ever wonder what the fruit of the vine tastes like before it’s made into wine? Have you wanted to taste a fresh merlot or syrah grape, but didn’t want to grow it yourself? Now’s your chance! All during the month of October, wineries on the Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail will be featuring “Taste the Grapes”. Wineries will have fresh grapes from the vineyards to sample, then you can sample the wines made from those grapes. Tour often during the month of October, since harvest times are different for different grapes.

HalloWine . . . October 25 - 26

HalloWine is a themed weekend in the Rattlesnake Hills where participating wineries ‘dress’ their tasting rooms in Halloween motif. Some wineries have pumpkin-carving contests, some wineries’ staff dress in costumes, and the treat at many is special discounts on wine and/or treats for visitors dressed in costumes. It is a fun time, with the wineries open from 10 AM – 6 PM. It is the weekend of October 25-26.

No ticket required – complimentary to the public. Watch their web site for updated information on which wineries are participating and what “thrills and chills” you will find that weekend. Here’s a sample of events that weekend:

Masset Winery will host some of the best, big pumpkin carving you’ve ever seen for HalloWine. Internationally known artists will provide the carvings – you’ll have to see these up close to believe they weren’t carved from fire and brimstone!

Paradisos del Sol: Halloween – Haloo-Wine – HalloWine!

The end of October is also the end of harvest. All the wineries are just wrapping up the tail ends. Stop in to taste a bubbling frothing fermentation. Corn mazes and pumpkin stands nearby. Join Paradisos del Sol in a REAL costume and they will sell you a wine for a buck!

Piety Flats Winery celebrates HalloWine with Kris’ favorite Pumpkin Soup, a tasty orange delight that will have you screaming for more. Available at the winery.

Wine Cruise

Alaska Inside Passage Cruise, 09 May 2009

Have you registered for the inaugural Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail cruise yet? Only 60 cabins were available to begin with and they are going fast! Call today to reserve your cabin, or to get the information direct from AAA Travel in Yakima, Washington - 509 248-3491

Included are special wine receptions, seminars and food pairing classes with ‘Rattlesnake Hills’ wines.

April looks like a fine month to be a wine lover. I just got a note from Jim Russi of Piety Flats Winery with a list of spring events for the Rattlesnake AVA over the next few weeks. Jim also mentions that he may have lost some email addresses when he updated his computer recently. If you find that you’re no longer receiving updates, you may want to contact Jim and get back on his mailing list.

Spring is a beautiful time to visit the Yakima Valley wine country. Without further ado, here is a list of upcoming events:

April

18, 19 & 20 Pre-Barrel Tasting on Friday, Saturday and Sunday The annual weekend before Spring Barrel Tasting is PRE-BARREL TASTING weekend, where the wineries roll out the barrels in a quieter, more intimate event featuring new wine releases, conversations with the winemakers about their hand-crafted wines, and great wine specials. Avoid the crowds that will be at all the wineries next weekend. Come to the wineries this weekend to sample new releases and blends. What’s the difference between this weekend and Spring Barrel Tasting the next? It’s all about the wine this weekend! Smaller crowds, no live bands, no fees or tickets, and more one-on-one with the winemakers. Some wineries will offer futures for sale on their soon-to-be released, hand-crafted wines. (Complimentary – no ticket required)

25, 26, & 27 Spring Barrel Tasting on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (Three full days of wine sampling and festivities.) Wine is not all you’ll experience during Spring Barrel Tasting weekend in the Rattlesnake Hills. Several wineries will have other things to tease you out of your winter doldrums, including live bands, BBQ at reasonable prices, and artists displaying their art. But the real entertainment is the barrel tasting, where winemakers offer samples of their hand-crafted wares while discussing terroir, grape cultivation, fermentation, or the fruit forwardness of the barreled wine. Learn the art of tasting the fruit of the vine, made and refined in the newest American Viticulture Area that is so close to Yakima, the Rattlesnake Hills! (Complimentary – no ticket required) Most of the wineries do not charge a tasting fee, except for their reserve wines, and no ticket is required to visit any of the wineries on the Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail. We want you to experience the wines in the Rattlesnake Hills. Once you do, we’re sure you’ll want to buy! However, great discounts and/or free reserve tasting can be yours with a $5 Passport. Ask about them at any of the 15 wineries on the Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail or at the Visitor Center in Yakima off I-82 at exit 33A. Three exciting days of great new wines, live bands, BBQ, artists, and more are on the Trail during the annual Spring Barrel Tasting! Just 2 hours from Seattle, and 2.5 from Portland, the Rattlesnake Hills wineries are just outside Yakima, WA and offer full estate wineries where the grapes for many of Washington’s premier wines are grown. For more information on this or any other Rattlesnake Hills event, E-mail info@rattlesnakehills.com or call 888.375.RHWT..

Those sampling wines from the barrel will need a glass. Glasses may be purchased at the wineries.

WINERY EVENTS during SPRING BARREL TASTING:

Bonair Winery – The fun and fabulous Bonair staff will offer barrel samples of our 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, Rattlesnake Hills, Morrison Vineyard. This intense full-bodied 100% cabernet is from the oldest vineyard in the Rattlesnake Hills, planted 40 years ago in 1968.
Claar Cellars - Claar Cellars will be barrel tasting our 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon. Rattlesnake Hills Passport holders are also invited to try a special barrel tasting of our Fouled Anchor Port. Bruno Corneaux, our winemaker will be on hand the 25-27th to talk about our wines.
Eaton Hill Winery – While St. Patrick was in the Rattlesnake Hills chasing out the snakes, he blessed Eaton Hill with Angel’s Posole’ – A heavenly soup divinely perfected to compliment our devilishly delicious Hungarian Oak Estate Rose’ de Franc and Riesling.
Horizon’s Edge Winery – Enjoy a bottle of wine while listening to the music. Live Band from 12:00-3:00PM on Saturday the 26th. Tasting from the Barrel: Vanilla Port Style Desert Wine. Passport holders receive free Food and Wine Matching Wheel with any Case purchase (one wheel per person) and 12% off all wine purchases, and 20% off with each case purchase.
Hyatt Vineyards – Barrel samples and new releases are featured this fabulous weekend. Don’t miss the live band, Blind Lemon Pie, on both Saturday and Sunday afternoons until closing, General Grant’s BAR-B-Q, and Ron’s Original Kettle Korn. Also, bottled water will be for sale, benefitting Beta Sigma Phi Sorority. This is always the weekend to be at Hyatt Vineyards!
Maison de Padgett Winery – Stop here for the fun and wine! Live Band from 12:00-3:00PM on Saturday the 26th . Tasting from the Barrel: Malbec Port. Passport holders receive a free poster with any 3 bottle purchase (one poster per person) 12% off all wine purchases and 20% each case purchase.
Masset Winery - Masset Winery will feature two unique wines to sample from the barrel and we will also be showing off our new releases! Also, please stop by to check on the progress of our latest Masset art project! Chairs and a gazebo on the lawn to relax in front of the historic 1905 Angel Farmstead Barn, maybe some cheese from our gift shop/tasting room? Don’t miss our new Chardonnay and dry Rose’ - perfect for summer. See you soon, the Massets
Paradisos del Sol Winery - For the 24th year, The Man in the Wild Pants will attempt enlightenment in the Arcane Magick of barrels and wines. Barrel One – Lemberger resting for 30 months. Barrel Two – Lemberger, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Tempranillo, and Sangiovese married for 30 months. Dave Ettl will also be attempting enlightenment via his own brand of Magic on Saturday afternoon, April 26.
Piety Flats Winery – Sample our scintillating 2006 Syrah direct from the barrel, browse the famous gift shop for wonderful treasures, or picnic on the lawn with a bottle of one of our award-winning wines.
Portteus Vineyards – We’ll have a couple of delicious reds from the barrel, but you’ll have to stop in to discover what they are!
Severino Cellars - Join Severino Cellars for it’s very first Spring Barrel Tasting! We will be serving wines from 10am-6pm and can’t wait to share our wine with you. Our new spring release is a 2005 Chardonnay and we will be sampling Cabernet Sauvignon from the barrel. For those of you who may need a snack during the day, we will have oysters on the half shell, hot off the BBQ (we really enjoy them with the Riesling). For more information please contact us at 509-829-3800.
Silver Lake at Roza Hills - Come Taste what the future has in store for Silver Lake Winery’s award winning wines during the Spring Barrel Tasting event! Sample newly fermented wines straight out of the oak barrels and compare them to their already bottled counterparts. Enjoy your sipping and sampling while relaxing in front of an incredible panoramic view of the valley with a great meal and some wonderful music all afternoon and into the evening on Saturday, April 26th. Stop here for your bottled water, too. This weekend only, take home all your favorite Reserves and Grand Reserves with our weekend 25% off Sale!
Steppe Cellars - Steppe Cellars will be sampling its 2007 Malbec from the barrel during the spring barrel tasting weekends. This will be one component of our Bordeaux style blend. Enjoy a fantastic picnic on Saturday prepared by Guerra’s Gourmet. We will serve grilled local asparagus along with grilled sausages, bread and salad on the Saturday of Barrel Tasting - (April 26). You can always purchase picnic goodies from the tasting room and make your own picnic. If you are looking for a great way to spend evening Friday evening, come to Steppe Cellars’ wine-maker’s dinner at Buhrmaster Bakery in Yakima. Wine-maker Anke Friemuth-Wildman will discuss our wines as you sample them with this delicious and thoughtfully paired dinner.
Tefft Cellars - We have a Vintage Wine Dinner on Sat 4/19 $35.00 Spanish Tapas ending with Paella and tasting older vintages. All SBT specials will be in effect. By reservation only 5-8 P.M. Limited seating – make reservations early! During Spring Barrel Tasting, we will be offering samples of our 2007 Viognier from the barrel and many other ‘specials’.
Two Mountain Winery – During Barrel Tasting weekend, not only will we offer barrel samples of our delicious wines, but for the first time, we will be having the band ‘Distant Satellite’ playing from 4-6pm on Saturday! Mariano’s famous Tacos Uruapan will be available for purchase all day. Per co-owner Pat Rawn, “They are the best tacos in town (or Mexico in my opinion).”

Remember the most important thing. Bring a glass or purchase one from any of the wineries.

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I’m not sure where February disappeared to but it seems that March is upon us. February was crazy weather month, wasn’t it? While Seattle was getting snowed upon, here in Austin, Tx, we hit a record high of 92F this week. Yes, I said 92F! That’s just not right!

For those of you just tuning in and wondering why someone from Austin, Texas is writing for Seattle well that’s because the Seattle writer moved on to bigger and better things and I offered to take over short term because I’m familiar with Seattle. This blog would love a permanent Seattle based writer and if you’re interested please write to us.

There are a few fun things happening around Seattle this weekend. One of those things is the I Heart Rummage sale. What’s more fun than a rummage sale? A rummage sale with 35 of the of the best indie crafters in the NW! Admission is free and there will even be a live DJ. I’m just jealous I can’t attend!

When: Sunday, March 2nd 2008, 12pm - 4pm
Where: Chop Suey, 1325 E. Madison, Seattle, Wa 98122
$$$: FREE

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Also up this weekend is the Seattle Erotic Film Festival. Founded in 2002 by the nonprofit Foundation for Sex Positive Culture, this event is a fundraiser to present a full Seattle Erotic Art Festival to enthusiasts in the Spring of 2009. With their audience continuing to grow, they have moved to the Exhibition Hall of Seattle Center, the regional epicenter for arts and culture. Special guest artists include Midori, David Steinberg, and Michele Serchuk. Performers include Arnaldo!, Seattle’s premiere drag chanteuse; world-class aerialist artists; live psychoclassical music by EQlateral Ensemble; daring bondage suspension; seductive world-class tango; a selection of Seattle’s finest burlesque stars; erotic spoken word and more. Participate in interactive installations: have your photo taken at Barb Penoyar’s popular Photo Booth, or if you prefer, The Virgin Project will sketch your portrait. Feel like making some art yourself? Dr. Sketchy will be there to lead you through a tantalizing life-drawing session that you’ll never forget.

When: Sat, March 1 2008, 6:00pm - Sun, March 2 2008, 1:00am
Where: Seattle Center, 305 Harrison Street, Seattle, WA, (206) 216-0877
$$$: $20 in advance, $25 at the door

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For you wine lovers out there, check out the Poverty Bay Wine Festival in Des Moines. Taste wines from 15 Northwest wineries, sample gourmet foods, and listen to live jazz. Held in a historic mansion with panoramic views of Puget Sound.

When: Mar 01, 2008 (Sat)-Mar 02, 2008 (Sun), 12:00PM - 6:00PM
Where: Landmark on the Sound, 23660 Marine View Drive South, Des Moines, WA 98198
$$$: $20 advance, $25 at the door

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The Piety Flats wine tasting room is one of the most charming wine tasting rooms I’ve ever visited. Located in the historic Donald Fruit and Mercantile, the building dates back to 1911. Inside you’ll find that the charm doesn’t end at the door. Store shelves are packed with delicacies, many of which are produced locally. From honey to chocolates to gourmet cheeses, they’ve got it all. If you plan to make a day of it want to grab a bottle of wine with cheese and crackers, this would be the place to stop. They even provide the picnic benches and grassy area if you’d prefer to spread out a blanket. If you have room after all your goodies, you can enjoy a peach sundae to top off your meal. Perfect for a sunny day.

We made it by Piety Flats on a slow day which gave us an opportunity to stay a spell and chat with co-owner Kris Russi, who was as delightful as her tasting room. Our conversation spanned politics, Europe, the locals and of course, wine. It was Kris who solved our dilemma of how to get our wine safely home. By the time we hit Piety Flats our wine purchases had exceeded a dozen bottles and we’d begun to wonder how much wine we’d be allowed on the plane and how we’d box it up. Kris told us about the wine boxes and inserts which, lucky for us, they happened to sell. The inserts allowed us to transport the wine laying on it’s side, which is the best way, of course and were made of a sturdy plastic that stacked, with each layer holding 3 bottles and each box holding a dozen bottles of pretty much any size and shape. The boxes weren’t terribly expensive and all our wine survived the ride home so they were worth every penny.

We’d been to Piety Flats two years prior but didn’t find anything that we loved enough to cart the bottles back to Texas. This time around we found the wines much more to our liking. Whether the wines were just better or our palettes improved, it’s hard to say but we enjoyed many of their wines. Their Syrah was full-bodied and intense with a lovely oak finish. The Late Harvest Viognier tasted of pineapple and apricots, lovely and crisp. My personal favorite was the Black Muscat, sweet but not cloying. I was also a big fan of their Cabernet-Port, a rich ruby port that is very satisfying.

All in all a great stop on the Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail. Don’t miss it!

Piety Flats Winery and Mercantile
2560 Donald-Wapato Road
Wapato, WA 98951
Tel. (509) 877-3115
Info: info@pietyflatswinery.com

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If you’ve taken a couple of days off for Thanksgiving and you’re wondering what to do with yourself, consider heading to the Yakima Valley. I’ve just heard from Jim Russi at Piety Flats Winery with a reminder that Yakima Valley Wineries will be opening their doors the day after Thanksgiving for a special tasting event that’s becoming a Northwest tradition.

Jim assures me that they’ll have their famous meatballs. However, Jim also suggests getting tickets because a lot of the wineries will have some “goodies that are a lot fancier then meatballs and will require the tickets.”

Tickets are $20 each and include the following wineries:

Barnard Griffin Winery, 10% off on all wine purchases

Chandler Reach Vineyard, private tasting for ticket holders includes Italian wines paired with Antipasta salad and garlic bread. My mouth is watering already!

Chinook Winery, open only to ticket holders

Claar Cellars, Thanksgiving Wine collectors pin and a free tasting of Claar Cellars’ Corneauxcopia red table wine for ticket holders. Be sure to taste their Syrah, it’s heavenly! Turkey and cranberry soup is on their menu.

Cowan Vineyards, Warm up with a cup of homemade soup paired with Cowan Vineyards wines and don’t forget to try the WSU’s famous Cougar Gold cheese

Desert Hills Winery, enjoy a tour given by the winemaker himself. What a treat!

Desert Wind Windery, Ticket holders will be given an exclusive opportunity to taste soon-to-be-released 2004 La Puerta (port-style wine) straight from the barrel. Pumpkin risotto and live music top this menu.

Goose Ridge Estate Wineries, is pairing up with Craven Maven of Seattle for hors d’oeuvres paired with their Goose Ridge 2005 Reserve Malbec which is only available at their winery. 10% discount on all wines purchased by ticket holders.

Hogue Cellars, VIP tasting room for ticket holders. Chef Roger Hazzard of Bon Vinos will be at the winery with savory morsels specially matched to these wines. Take advantage of our case discounts of up to 50% on selected wines to stock your cellar for the holiday season.

Seth Ryan Winery, Pumpkin Chili and cheesecake. Live music. Final weekend of the $10 a bottle $100 a case red wine. Ticket holders will be able to sample and order the Syrah, the Late Havest Riesling, and the Chardonnay Ice Wine. Mmmm… I loves me some Ice wine!

Terra Blanca Estate Winery, guest chef Mike Riley from Smart FNB Catering will be preparing house-made flat breads and crepes paired with Terra Blanca Estate wines Friday and Saturday. Ticket holders
will receive a sample of our limited release 2005 Forte, a Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon port to pair with Crepes prepared with “Red Mountain” Port Macerated Dried Cherries in a Terra Blanca Ice Wine Syrup.

Steppe Cellars, ticket holders will be able to make grapevine wreaths while sampling wine. Enjoy salmon cheesecake on crackers, along with samples of Steppe Cellars Semillon, Dry Reisling, Gewurztraminer, Syrah, Merlot and Late Harvest Reisling.

Tapteil Vineyards, Ticket holders will enjoy a special vertical tasting of Tapteils 2002, 2003 and the newly released 2004 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain, plus 20% off any Tapteil case purchase.

Thurston Wolfe Winery, ticket holders will enjoy tastings out of the barrel. Wines will be paired with a caramelized onion and pear crostini topped with blue cheese.

Wilridge Vineyards, Celebrate the Grand Opening of Yakima’s Newest Winery. Early 1900s farmhouse. They will be serving Grilled Pork Loin on Rosemary Crocantini with Estate Granny Smith Apple Chutney along with a selection of complimentary wine tastings from Harlequin Wine Cellars, Naches Heights Vineyards and Wilridge Winery. Event ticket holders will be escorted to the Reserve Room where they will be served a reserve selection of wine with an artisan cheese pairing.

Windy Point Vineyards, award winning wines and various cheeses paired together by Big John Caudill. Beautiful vistas. $5 event fee for non-ticket holders.

Wineglass Cellars, event ticket holders at Wineglass Cellars will compare the different oak treatments of two vintage 2000 Reserve wines in a private tasting with winemaker David Lowe. You will also enjoy Biscotti and new releases including the 2005 Zinfandel.

Willow Crest Winery, ticket holders will receive a complimentary tasting of Willow Crest Millenium Port paired with spiced chocolate dessert in the barrel room and a 20% discount on wine purchases.

For a complete listing of participating wineries and what they’ll be offering, check out the website.

If you’d like some information on pairing wines with your Thanksgiving meal, check out Farley’s article over on Wine Outlook.

To learn more about Yakima Valley wineries and the Rattlesnake Hills Trail, check out my reviews.

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Two links I want to pass on before I forget. One is a link to some wine tour packages for the Yakima Valley. They are very reasonably priced but then it’s not a real fancy area. It’s mostly a lot of nice country folk. There is an opportunity there for an enterprising person to set up a nice B&B and perhaps offer a bus tour that takes you around to each winery.

The second is a link to “Go Taste Wine”, a website that maintains a calendar of Washington Wine Festivals & Events.

Next on our stop is:

Portteus Vineyards
5201 Highland Drive,
P.O. Box 1444, Zillah 98953
Hours: Daily 10-5
509.829.6970
Fee: Free for the first 7 wines, $1 for each additional wine & their port

The drive into Portteus Vineyards was undoubtedly my favourite and takes you right through the vineyard. They have a beautiful new tasting room with a helpful and knowledgeable wine steward.

Portteus boasts that they have been the “red-wine lovers destination for over 20 years!” which was enough to tempt us into their wine tasting room. Not that we need a lot of encouragement. Right off the bat I noted that they had 3 red wines priced at $10. Even more impressive is that they were all decent wines. We decided to just go for it and try all their red wines as well as their port. There really wasn’t a bad wine in the bunch. Their 2004 Rattlesnake Ridge Syrah was particularly nice and well priced so we bought a bottle. The passport deal for Portteus was half price on their 2004 Estate Bottled Reserve Red Wine so we gave it a try and found it to be a nice full-bodied red wine so we bought a bottle of that as well.

Finally, we tried their 2003 Portteus Port. Oh baby! I could have sat sipping that port all day. It’s a ruby port with lovely complex layers that just roll across your tongue. It starts off sweet on your tongue but it doesn’t end there, it goes on to many more layers of flavour.

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Once a part of the Columbia Valley appellation, the Yakima Valley appellation was determined to be a distinct appellation in 1983 and became authorized as an official American Viticultural Area (AVA/appellation). An appellation is a geographical-based term used to distinguish where the grapes for a given wine are grown. Appellation rules are governed by the country in which the wine is produced. In the United States appellations are governed by the American Viticultural Area (AVA) The Yakima Valley AVA was the first AVA to be established in the state of Washington.

Although the Yakima Valley is a booming wine region currently making headlines, vineyards aren’t exactly new to the region. In fact, the first vines are said to have been planted in 1869! People who are not native to Washington state are often surprised to learn that Eastern Washington is semi-arid desert. The combination of sunshine, volcanic enriched soil and the benefits of an early established irrigation system makes it the Yakima Valley an area ripe for farming. On average the Yakima Valley region has 300 days of sunshine a year, a far cry from it’s western sister cities! Apparently that nets them approximately 200 growing days per year. Volcanic soil is said to be twice as productive as regular soil. In addition, the desert nights are up to 40% cooler thereby helping to preserve the acids while the daytime heat develops the sugars. That’s rather hard combination to beat. There are places in the Valley where you can stand at four corners and see four different crops growing, apples, hops, grapes, corn. Speaking of corn, I’ve never had better sweet corn than in Yakima Valley. In fact, the county ranks first in the nation in the production of apples, winter pears, fruit trees, hops, and mint, with pears, grapes, cherries, peaches, and apricots also coming in as major crops. As a final note, the Yakima Valley shares the same latitude as the Bordeaux region in France.

Now that you’ve had your history lesson for the day, let’s talk about my visit to Bonair Winery.

Bonair Winery
500 South Bonair Road, Zillah 98953
800.882.8939
509.829.6027
Fax: 509.829.6410
www.bonairwine.com
winemaker@bonairwine.com
Hours: Daily 10-5. Winter hours daily 10-4:30

The thing that first attracted me to Bonair was the simple fact that they make mead. That’s fairly non-traditional and I just had to try it! I was surprised to find that the folks at Bonair had carved out a little European-looking villa. One side looking very German and the other looking more Italian all with a beautiful little pond, complete with ducks! There was even the sweetest baby gosling.

The second thing that caught my attention was that they served tapas, and I was hungry. A hungry diabetic is a not a pretty sight. The Bonair Winery produces grapes from two vineyards, the Château Puryear Vineyard and the Morrison Vineyard. Planted in 1968, the Morrison Vineyard is the oldest of the Rattlesnake Hills vineyards. I started with the Sweet Mead, but I didn’t find it to be all that sweet, nor to my liking. Their Riesling, however, was just lovely, with silky pear undertones. I liked it so well that I bought a bottle! Next I tried the Bonny Bonair, a dryish Pinot Noir that was fruity, light and ideal for a summer luncheon. Finally we tried the ports. Oddly, they carry a white port! I’d never heard of a white port so of course we had to try it. The Yakima Valley Gewurztraminer White Port was certainly interesting and nice but for me it lacked the complex flavours of a ruby or a tawny port. Their Cabernet Franc Port, on the other hand is a rich and complex ruby port that I’d welcome on my table any day of the week.

With the tasting out of the way we shared a tapas plate of summer sausages and cheeses and settled onto their patio to watch the ducks, sip a glass of Bonnie Bonair and relax.

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Rattlesnake Hills, Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail, wineries, Yakima Valley, Bonair Winery, Bonair, Morrison Vineyard, mead, wine, vineyards, Washington, ducks, duck pond, tapas

Something I failed to mention in my previous entry is the Wine Passport. You can purchase your Rattlesnake Hills Wine Passport at any of the 16 wineries on the Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail (or the Visitors Center) for a nominal fee of $5. I suggest you purchase yours at your very first stop in order to reap the benefits right away. As you visit each winery, present your passport and get it stamped. Each winery has it’s own unique stamp and each winery offers a unique gift ranging from 10% off your purchase to 50% off a specific bottle. After visiting 10 of the 16 wineries you will receive a special prize and an invitation to attend the annual Passport Party where I’m given to understand that there are lots of great prizes as well as wines to taste. Your passport NEVER expires so if you can’t hit all the wineries, just hold on to it for your next visit.

Here is a list of the current benefits.

Okay, now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, on to my next winery.

Paradisos del Sol
3230 Highland Drive, Zillah 98953
Phone: 509.829.9000 or 509.829.5590
Fax: 509.829.6227
Hours: Daily 11-6. Winter hours may vary, please call ahead.
Wine Tasting: Free

After reading through the descriptions of the various wineries, I settled on Paradisos del Sol“We, Paul and Barbara, drink more of our wines than anyone else. It has to be wholesome, wholistic, hedonistic, and yummy. Traditional wines with our unique twist. Slow wines for slow food, friends, family, and fun. No faux château here—it’s “the House” with chickens, geese, cats, dogs, fish, frogs . . . family friendly. Kevin’s Jellybean Store (Valley’s best cherries and melons). Come Taste Paradise in a garden of the sun!”

True to the description we were greeted upon our arrival to free-range chicken strutting around the yard and a very humorous sign reminding you not to leave your wine to bake in the sun.

Owner, Paul, was busy installing a new roof with the help of his brother. He thanked us for getting him in out of the heat for more enjoyable pursuits. A man after our own hearts, Paul immediately brought out food to pair with his wines; and act that would only endear him to us. First up was a wonderful Artichoke Crab Dip which Paul served with their Rosé Paradiso. The pairing worked well and the Rosé Paradiso had a crisp, lightness to it that was perfect for a summer day.

Next Paul traded the Artichoke Crab Dip for their Bleu Ribbon Dip (aka Glop) paired with the Paradisos Red, a full-bodied red with the aroma of oak and berries. This is a wine that would be perfect with our homemade pizza, with lasagna or any hearty red sauce.

My current favourites are dessert wines and ports so with that in mind, Paul pulled out his Flaming Pears with Angelica G, a dessert wine so yummy that I wanted to crawl inside the glass and lick it clean from the inside!

Lastly, Paul brought out brought out a bottle of Late Harvest Botrytis Riesling. He told us that it took his 9 year old son to find a food to pair with this wine. He set two candles out and lit them. What Kevin suggested was toasted marshmallows. Paul brought out a bowl of mini-marshmallows and we slowly cooked them over the flame. What resulted was indeed a match made in heaven. Finally a wine you could sit by the fire sipping while toasting marshmallows with the kids!

Our visit to Paradisos del Sol was our overall favourite. Paul is a down-to-earth kind of guy who has let success grow his wines, not his ego. Be sure to stop by and shoot the breeze while trying out some fabulous wines and tell him you read about his winery in my blog!

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There are few cities that I love more than Seattle and since I am fortunate enough to be spending a couple of weeks in Washington state, I thought I’d share my experiences. I once lived in the area but long ago moved due to a great job opportunity. The job took me to Atlanta which I hated and eventually left for Austin, Tx. I never expected to like living in Texas but Austin isn’t at all like living in Texas. When Austinites ask me about Seattle, I often tell them that Austin is sort of like a sunny Seattle. However, as one of my friends says, “when it comes to recycling, Seattle makes Austin look like eco-terrorists.” Or something like that!

But… let’s back up a few steps and talk about the Yakima Valley, one of Washington’s fastest growing industries and one of the wine industries newest darlings. I first started exploring the new wineries about 2 years ago and while I took home some excellent wines I was even more impressed this trip. I found more diversity and more maturity in the wines available.

My first stop along the Rattlesnake Trail was Tefft Cellers, located in Outlook, Washington. Tefft Cellars has some great wines but what really drew me back there was a wonderful Black Ice Wine I purchased a couple of years ago on my first visit. Luckily they had some in stock and I bought a bottle. They don’t always have the ice wines because they are dependent on having had a frost. This batch was partially frozen and was helped along by modern technology so the wine had a reduced price. Thankfully that did not affect the taste. Their Syrah was very nice and we left with a bottle of Huckleberry wine, since this is something we’d never see outside of the northwest.

Eaton Hill was just down the road from Tefft so we popped over there for a wine tasting. The building it’s located in was very interesting. Once the home of a tomato cannery, it apparently took some 5 years to clean it out and repair it for use. There is a double row of windows at the top of the building and all the glass had to be replaced. I’m bummed now that I didn’t take pictures of the interior. Today I’ll be touring around a few more wineries and I’ll let you know how that goes.

Tune in tomorrow for the next stop along the Rattlesnake Hills Trail!

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