Washington Wine Month
Submitted March 29th, 2010
It isn’t April yet, so you have three days remaining to hurry down to the WA State Liquor Store or to your closest grocery or wine store for good buys in Washington wines while it is still Washington Wine Month. I just saw Safeway’s ad, and TOP Foods and Freddie’s. Of course, when stores have these sales, the reduction is usually from a price higher than what you are accustomed to seeing on the bottle you want. It might not be the case every time, but it pays to know your wine prices!
Don’t forget the March 30-April 3 wine sale at Grocery Outlet, with its 20%-off-all-wines sale. The Imagine Chardonnay is a very nice wine: 100% Russian River Chardonnay from the noted Chalk Hill winery in Sonoma County. We also tried Sylvester, a Paso Robles Sangiovese which we enjoyed with a light Italian-style meal. It is a light red, but one we’ll drink again. And at $3.99 plus 20% off, who can pass it up?
By the way, for Washington Wine Month, Top Foods has Martin-Scott 2006 Merlot & 2007 Zinfandel for $12.99. While most of Top Food’s other specials aren’t this good, these Martin-Scott prices are a steal. (I think the M-S Chardonnay is on sale for $12.99, too).(This from member Don Julien, host of the April Tempranillo event.)
And, speaking of the April event, the newsletter will be out by tomorrow, I hope. This month we will be learning about the Spanish Tempranillo grape, and about Washington winemakers’ attempts at making this wine–with excellent success, I might mention.
Yesterday we attended a belated Mardi Gras/March birthday party for a couple of friends who just turned fifty. No, I wasn’t one of them. I mention this because Gary Seidler of the recently opened Silvara Winery near Leavenworth – in Peshastin, really – brought a bottle of his 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, and realized he should have brought more after the reception it received. It is going to be a Good Thing, having another winery doing large events with food and entertainment close to (our) home. While some of the Wenatchee and Chelan wineries hold events, they are somewhat of a drive for those of us in this area.
Easter is coming and Rose’ goes well with ham and other spring fare. Ryan Patrick has a new one out, and Saint Laurent’s has always been good. Or you can make your own, as an acquaintance did at a party one evening. He had about two ounces of red left in his glass, reached for a white and said, “I think I’ll have a little Rose’. ” And he did.
Have a happy Easter and a busy spring. Get those plants in the ground, sharpen the lawn mower, and sic the cat on the gophers. Ours has already earned her keep for the season. See you April 15 in Cashmere at the Tempranillo Tasting, I hope.
Joanne