Wind River Cellars

I'm pouring all weekend in the tasting room. Come on up and enjoy one of the last nice weekends of the year. We've got some fun events the next few weeks, all of which are centered around this crazy thing we call "Harvest".

My schedule for November and early December is quickly filling up. If you would like to book a private wine tasting here in the cellar, do it soon.

I'm on my way up to Celilo Vineyard this morning to check on Chardonnay. I fondle and talk to each cluster, encouraging it to be the best grapes it can be. This kind of possitive reinforcement has helped us produce many award winning wines. If I had time I would take each cluster to Bonneville Hotsprings Resort for a spa treatment.

If you let me know you're coming out I can have my people prepare some snacks. I might even be talked into opening any bottle from the past 10 years that you wish to taste.

You make me want another helping, Husum.

Joel

Huge day yesterday. It all began around 10:00. Sure, that's what time our tasting room opens but I was just getting ready to enjoy my coffee and newspaper. I'm sure a lot of you piss away the first hour or so of work before you get into accomplishing anything. Anyway, here I was taking my first sip of coffee when up pulls an SUV. Morgan and his wife Kristine were from Hood River. While they came in and tasted wine, their son, Payton napped in the car. I was just about to call child services on them but then they expressed interest in joining our barrel club. As it turned out, Payton woke up and hung out for a bit and his parents became our newest members of the barrel club. I'm very excited about this year's membership. Our annual Barrel Club Dinner is going to be the best ever.

I was busy in the tasting room all day and enjoyed every minute of it. Lee-Ann and her husband from Gig Harbor, kept me entertained during the only break I had all day.

As many of you know, Wind River Cellars Is known as one of the Northwest's best places to kiss. Yesterday a nice couple came into the tasting room. After selecting a few bottles, they took a stroll through the vineyard. Returning 30 minutes or so later, the gentleman announced that he proposed to his girlfriend and she said yes. I tried my best to talk them out of it but they seemed quite determined. I told them that it would never work but they wouldn't listen. In the end I had to just wish them luck. Sincere congrats to both of you. I'll try to post a nice picture of the happy couple next week.

Today is my birthday. I'm going to sit on my 41 year-old ass and watch the Seahawk game. The next time I get to sit on my ass I will be south of the border at the 9th annual Wind River Cellars "Holiday in Mexico" event. There's still time to book your reservation. If you're bored today, come on out and watch the game with me. At half time we can go out and taste barrels.

You make everyday feel like my birthday, Husum!

Joel

Merlot is in and now I'm in this annual two week period of waiting for the next variety to ripen.

I'm still quite excited about our own estate vineyard. The fruit looks exceptional and the numbers are getting close.

My God! I just caught myself sounding like one of those midlife crisis winemakers. Y'all don't care what the vineyard is doing or what the merlot is tasting like. You want to know what fun things happened in the tasting room over the weekend and what's coming up for winery events. If I ever again start rambling on about boring things such as fruit developement or a wine's progress, please shoot me. If that is what you would like to read about please contact me and I'll give you some other blogs to read.

Today is Hooba's birthday. I hope he doesn't make me drink beer with him tonight. I've been getting tons of emails from all of you asking when his restaurant is going to open. He's just waiting on a little government red tape. (You wouldn't want him to open a restaurant that doesn't sell adult beverages, would you?)

Check the website for the date of our harvest party. It's always fun. I have to go now. One of the annoying customers just pulled up.

Stay friendly, Husum!

Joel

If I die tomorrow, it can be said that I crushed grapes in 2006. Today I brought in the first grapes of, what I think will be, a very good vintage. Horseheaven, at the East side of this amazing county, is where we get Merlot, Cab sauv, Cab Franc, Sirah, and on some years, Chenin Blanc. This was the first time in three years that I didn't have Poison Rose in the passenger seat. Instead, I had Gavin, our trusty intern. Though Gavin is a great guy, and old enough to drink and old enough to drive, (not at the same time) it wasn't the same without "PR".

The Merlot we harvested was a perfect 26 brix with very balanced ph and acid. Gavin and I showed up around 7:30 a.m., dropped off our containers and headed over to Alexandria Nicole Winery where brother Jarrod was pretending to work. Jarrod is right up there with Luke from Cor Cellars, James from Syncline, Ron from Marshal's, Joe from El Mirrador, Greg from Rex Hill, Bob from Cascade Cliffs and Don from Townshend Cellars. HE ROCKS!

Jarrod dropped what he was pretending to do and took us for a little barrel tasting in the Alexandria Nicole Cellar. Gavin and I only had about an hour before our Merlot was picked but Jarrod was able to reconfirm that HorseHeaven is something very special in the world of grape growing. If you get a chance, buy a bottle of A.N.

After leaving Alex Nic, which was like jumping off of the Titanic, (You know that it's time to leave, yet it just seems like a better idea to stay.) we headed just a few miles back to Andrew's Horse Heaven Vineyard. This property has been in this family for many generations and it makes me wonder where in the Hell my great grandparents were when land like this was free. My jaw is sore from dragging on the ground, looking at this beautiful property. This family has a morning commute like many of you. Just a few miles of driving down the road and your at work. The difference is that the Andrews family doesn't leave their property.

Check out our website for details on our picking party. I could tell you but I'm really not sure of the details myself.

Peoria, Ill. representatives challenged the Okalahoma people for the "Nicest" award in the tasting room. C'mon Oklahoma, I know you can do it!

If you would like to come out and experience the magic, email me. Grapes are coming in for the next five weeks. I can't believe that this is my career! Good thing that I didn't listen to those teachers in high school.

Stay happy, Husum!

Joel

I'm sure you've noticed that I've been gone for a few days. Now I understand why Oklahoma University has so many rabid football fans. There is absolutely nothing else to do there. Though they don't have mountains, salt water or healthy diets, Oklahomans are, by far, the nicest people I have ever met.

Merlot is very close! It looks like we will be picking it on Wednesday or so. If you feel like getting out of your cubical and crushing some grapes, give me a call or just come out.

Today I have to set up the crush deck, stack new barrels, get some CO2 tanks refilled and take Oreo (Poison Rose's cat) to the vet. I also have to clean fermentation totes, order glass and schedule a truck to pick up Merlot from Horseheaven. In retrospect, I'm not sure it was such a great idea going to Oklahoma to see two quarters of good football.

Special thanks to the Vancouver Children's Foundation for hosting a nice event last night. I'm glad I could participate for a good cause with such nice people. Y'all were almost "Oklahoma nice."

Stay busy, Husum!

Joel

Here's the quick version of my last four days:

Friday I poured wine at Fitzgerald's Fine Wines and Useless Advice, in Camas. This was in conjunction with Camas's monthly "First Friday". Mr. Fitzgerald and I poured lots of wine and then visited some of Camas's watering holes afterward. Possibly some of the best people watching I've ever seen outside of The Dalles.

Saturday I awoke, after a good nights sleep, and headed home. The tasting room was dead until I decided to make a sandwich. That's one of the best ways to get people in the tasting room. I don't know why it works but everytime I make a sandwich people pull in.

We ended up being fairly busy on Saturday but the crowds came late. Sunday was the same way. Dead in the morning and hopping in the afternoon. More fun people than I can remember but I do remember have a great time with "Gabe" the dog's, four friends. I hope they all come back for a visit soon.

Monday was a near record day in the tasting room. I enjoyed a few tastes with a nice couple from Oklahoma City and enjoyed seeing lots of Hood River locals. I've promised my barrel member friends from Goldendale that I wouldn't rip on people in my blog anymore so don't expect any digs on people from Oklahoma. Oklahoma is a nice place and home to great institutions such as the Rodeo Hall of Fame and the Woman's Softball Hall of Fame. See, I didn't rip on Oklahoma at all. With attractions like that I really don't need to.

Coincidentally, I'm heading into Portland Wednesday night and leaving for Oklahoma City on Thursday. Let me know if you'll be in either place. I might have time to enjoy one of those beers that I've read so much about.

Today I drove to Walla Walla on a barrel run. I'm not going to rip on Walla Walla anymore either. I've had the privilege of getting to know some very nice wine industry people from Walla Walla and they seem to really like it there. Walla Walla isn't home to any cool Halls of fame but they do have an exceptional high security mens prison. See, I didn't rip on Walla Walla.

You had me at "Hello", Husum.

Joel