This is my new blog spot where I get to regale you with all of our adventures (misadventures?) in the wine making world. I felt a bit timid at first but as my husband would attest to, once I get going there is no shutting me up.
Sunday we picked up the last of our grapes for the season. This is a feeling akin to removing your finger from the door it was slammed in. It's really more of a sigh of relief. One part down and just fermentation and pressing to go. Stirring barrels for the next few months, selling, selling, selling................
This week we have been particularly busy. First there is the endless driving but this is an adventure in and of itself. You wouldn't believe some of the characters we meet along the way like the guy who makes dessert toppings out of ground up grape seeds, tasty too. You meet a lot of other winemakers while picking up fruit but sometimes the most interesting people are the ones producing the grapes. We were recently at Dineen Vineyard picking up Petite Verdot and the owner, a banker from Bellevue as another wine grape grower called him was actually out in the vineyard helping his pickers pick. Paul Portteus is one of the biggest characters I have ever met. His boys now run most of the wine stuff but he does the Vineyard. We got the most luscious looking Zin from him this year. I think his home and Vineyard are one of the most spectacular in Zillah. As you drive toward the buildings you are surrounded by vines, it is enough to make you look for property yourself. Yes, we have done that but decided we can't leave this little Island. As the climate heats up we may not have to go far to grow our own grapes. There are plenty of people doing just that right here on Vashon.
Patrick Rawn manages the Dineen Vineyard so we see and talk to him a lot. He and his brother Matt own 2Mountain Winery right there in Zillah. We are big fans of their wines as well since we know where they get their grapes. They are so helpful. At the Meek Vineyard we usually encounter chihuahuas first before Antonio gets us loaded up and on our way.
Connie and Charlie Crawford are also fantastic. Usually we end up in Prosser late at night somewhere around 10:00 trying to drop off bins in the dark. We drive out on this tiny little road next to the Roza Canal, just a little creepy on the side of the truck overlooking this. Did I say right next to? They have so many varieties we have not tried but their Viognier is so beautiful one of these days we may try a few other grapes. Both of them can load your truck with a precision many contractors would admire. This year they gave us some beautiful Butternut Squash I've already made soup out of.
Have I mentioned some of the fun things we are up to? I will be at Shilshole Bay Beach Club on October 28th between 6 and 9 doing a new event called the Cabernet Classic. This should be really great since our Cab is unbeatable in my estimation but then I am intimately aquainted with the winemakers. If you don't have somewhere to be come on over to the Cabernet Classic at Shilshole Beach Club for lots of Cabs and Cab blends. I think Otis Kenyon will be there also. Come on out and support your Island wineries.
I am most excited to be part of Ladies' Night at Island Lumber this year. This will happen on November 9th, between 6 and 9 and if you have never been, you gotta go! It is very fun and a great shopping night for all those tools you thought you would never need but believe me, you will. George and I will be there pouring wine so please come join us. The event is usually very well attended and there is food and now "good" wine. Great chance to buy Christmas gifts at discounted prices. Men are welcome too.
I am also pouring wine at an event called Sips and Shoes. This will be held at the Seattle Grand Hyatt on November 8th, 6 to 9. This too is mostly a ladies event but I think all are welcome. Sips and Shoes is a benefit for Ryther Child Center. We will get to preview the hottest shoes in town.
Sunday we picked up the last of our grapes for the season. This is a feeling akin to removing your finger from the door it was slammed in. It's really more of a sigh of relief. One part down and just fermentation and pressing to go. Stirring barrels for the next few months, selling, selling, selling................
This week we have been particularly busy. First there is the endless driving but this is an adventure in and of itself. You wouldn't believe some of the characters we meet along the way like the guy who makes dessert toppings out of ground up grape seeds, tasty too. You meet a lot of other winemakers while picking up fruit but sometimes the most interesting people are the ones producing the grapes. We were recently at Dineen Vineyard picking up Petite Verdot and the owner, a banker from Bellevue as another wine grape grower called him was actually out in the vineyard helping his pickers pick. Paul Portteus is one of the biggest characters I have ever met. His boys now run most of the wine stuff but he does the Vineyard. We got the most luscious looking Zin from him this year. I think his home and Vineyard are one of the most spectacular in Zillah. As you drive toward the buildings you are surrounded by vines, it is enough to make you look for property yourself. Yes, we have done that but decided we can't leave this little Island. As the climate heats up we may not have to go far to grow our own grapes. There are plenty of people doing just that right here on Vashon.
Patrick Rawn manages the Dineen Vineyard so we see and talk to him a lot. He and his brother Matt own 2Mountain Winery right there in Zillah. We are big fans of their wines as well since we know where they get their grapes. They are so helpful. At the Meek Vineyard we usually encounter chihuahuas first before Antonio gets us loaded up and on our way.
Connie and Charlie Crawford are also fantastic. Usually we end up in Prosser late at night somewhere around 10:00 trying to drop off bins in the dark. We drive out on this tiny little road next to the Roza Canal, just a little creepy on the side of the truck overlooking this. Did I say right next to? They have so many varieties we have not tried but their Viognier is so beautiful one of these days we may try a few other grapes. Both of them can load your truck with a precision many contractors would admire. This year they gave us some beautiful Butternut Squash I've already made soup out of.
Have I mentioned some of the fun things we are up to? I will be at Shilshole Bay Beach Club on October 28th between 6 and 9 doing a new event called the Cabernet Classic. This should be really great since our Cab is unbeatable in my estimation but then I am intimately aquainted with the winemakers. If you don't have somewhere to be come on over to the Cabernet Classic at Shilshole Beach Club for lots of Cabs and Cab blends. I think Otis Kenyon will be there also. Come on out and support your Island wineries.
I am most excited to be part of Ladies' Night at Island Lumber this year. This will happen on November 9th, between 6 and 9 and if you have never been, you gotta go! It is very fun and a great shopping night for all those tools you thought you would never need but believe me, you will. George and I will be there pouring wine so please come join us. The event is usually very well attended and there is food and now "good" wine. Great chance to buy Christmas gifts at discounted prices. Men are welcome too.
I am also pouring wine at an event called Sips and Shoes. This will be held at the Seattle Grand Hyatt on November 8th, 6 to 9. This too is mostly a ladies event but I think all are welcome. Sips and Shoes is a benefit for Ryther Child Center. We will get to preview the hottest shoes in town.
Since I now have a blog to write in I will send it out and you can view it or not, ask questions, make comments, but most of all I hope you will enable your computer to receive the posts as I publish them.
Thanks for listening.
Linda
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