Jump Into Summer
Submitted June 1st, 2009
I thought spring was late up here this year, but now we have suddenly jumped into summer! What a year.
It’s been a big year in the local wine industry. Lake Chelan just got its AVA designation and the wineries are celebrating this weekend, up there in the lake country. I want to get back to Chelangr’la and see if the Pinot Noir is as good as I remember. Benson Estate Winery is a fun stop, as the family is so friendly and welcoming and all the wines are excellent. Each winery has a specialty we look forward to.
Not long ago when we went to Chelan for the day we either took a lunch or got a quick sandwich at Safeway. They do make excellent sandwiches there. Now, however, new eating places seem to be popping up all over. Some are not new, as is the very popular Lake Chelan Winery and the charming Vin du Lac. I enjoy the way Vin du Lac lets you taste their wines as you eat their delicious food. Now Tsillan Cellars has Sorrento. What atmosphere that has! And KarMa, with its ambiance, also has excellent food and service. All that wine tasting makes us hungry.
Some new wineries have appeared in our NCW area and more are coming. The June 13 picnic at Rio Vista Winery, just north of Chelan, should be a lot of fun. The setting is lovely, with the river nearby, and the beautiful grounds. The wine is very good, too.
Ryan Patrick Winery has just released its 2007 Rock Island Red. I haven’t seen it at Costco yet, but can’t imagine it will be long before it shows up there. They still have the Naked Chardonnay, an excellent wine for all the hot-weather foods we’ll be having as summer comes along. It’s hard to beat a wine like this for $6.49. You’ll also find the Saint Laurent 2006 Merlot for only $9.99.
Good old G.O. is expecting some new wines so we’ll stop there and see what we find.
Nebbiolo is making an appearance in our area. It’s already being produced in other areas in our state. Other varietals are getting more and more attention as we go beyond Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio/Gris and other usual and familiar wines.
The Enological Society board is working at presenting new events which will help us all to learn more about the wine industry. We’ll be comparing some French wines with their local counterparts, exploring Petite Syrah, and trying the popular Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre blend as made here and in other areas and countries. If helping with an event sounds like fun (and it is), please let us know. You don’t have to take on the full responsibility for it, but you might learn enough and enjoy it enough to want to do it again. You might even want to join the Board. We’d love to have you.
Note: The popular and familiar Waterbrook Winery in Walla Walla underwent a change of ownership in 2006. Rick Steigmeyer of the Wenatchee World wrote an interesting and very informative article about the grand new winery and the changes made there.
Joanne Saliby