Wind River Cellars

Wind River Cellars

Monday, July 31, 2006

 
I would like to thank the two private groups who visited us for a VIP wine tasting in the barrel room on Saturday. Don't look at all of the wine you consumed as abuse. Look at it as charity. You were supporting very worthy causes.

This summer is wizzing by so fast I can't believe it. It seems like just yesterday when I was getting ready for Memorial Day weekend.

We have two new barrel members that I'm excited about welcoming to the club. Jon and Sarah visited from Minneapolis and were hooked like babies on crack. They'll be back for our annual barrel dinner in April, along with the rest of you existing members.

Today I'm racking '05 Syrah. Come on by and tell me what you think.

Husum needs you.

Joel

Friday, July 28, 2006

 
If any of you are sitting in your cubical at work, thinking about quitting your job working for "The Man" and becoming a farmer, don't do it. It's very hard work. Our vineyard has never been in such good shape but it hasn't been easy. I'm looking forward to seeing it harvested.

This week has been one of the busiest on record. I know I say that a lot but this time I really mean it. Aside from spraying the vineyard, bottling and office work, I've spent everyday in the tasting room. Tuesday at 5:55 p.m., right before closing time, I was pouring myself a nice citrus cocktail when Kris and I noticed a car pull up. I started to cry and Kris told me that she would come out with me and make it fun, which she always does. We walked into the tasting room and this really mean, snooty couple from San Diego were waiting to taste wine. I began pouring and with every sampled I poured, I hated them more and more. Two hours later the four of us were still in the tasting room sampling wine. They were horrible people so Kris and I invited them for dinner. These people had the nerve to say yes so we had a fish taco feast. Russ and Jenny were so rude that we opened a bottle of Syncline Viognier and one of our own older reserve wines. Finally, after several bottles we were able to get rid of them. Here's the kicker. They invited us down to their house for a weekend of surfing and hanging out with them and their kids. I hate people like that.

Last night James and Lynnette tied the knot here at the winery. Tons of wonderful people from Iowa, Portland and Seattle were here to witness it. This morning when I saw them James was holding Lynnette's purse while she used the lady's room. I asked him if he wanted to go have a beer and he said he couldn't because his wife was dragging him to look at throw rugs at Bed Bath & Beyond. To all of you that were here, stay in touch. You were all exactly what I expected to be associated with such a nice couple.

Today I've already had some fun people from Indiana, Florida, Colorado and B.C. They were all a lot more fun than Russ and Jenny from San Diego.

I have to go farm now, and dream about quitting the wine business and working in a cubical for "The Man", at least long enough to swipe some office supplies.

You are the wind beneath my wings, Husum!

Joel

Sunday, July 23, 2006

 
This very well could have been the busiest weekend we've ever had here at Wind River Cellars. For those of you that have been here and driven our road, imagine two 50 passenger tour busses in our parking lot. I thought it would have been fun to have the two busses race back to the bottom of the hill but I couldn't get the drivers to drink enough wine to do it.

Friday I had two wine industry people visit. One was a tasting room manager for a winery in Virginia and the other worked at a winery in California. I enjoyed both and am looking forward to opening the Nebbiolo that the latter left me. I also had the pleasure of hosting Eric and Alicia from New York. They are in the early stages of entering the wine business. After seeing two bus loads of people in our tasting room I think they might be reconsidering.

Friday night we had a fun wedding rehersal dinner party for 70 people from all over. I wish Kevin from Florida was in my family. My relatives would no longer look at me as the wild one.

Our tasting room is air conditioned and my ipod has "Freebird" on it. Come on in for good time.

Stay refrigerated Husum!

Joel

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

 
I've been up late the last few nights bottling my butt off. After today I will have plenty of everything for everyone. This week Kris and I have been hosting a delightful young soccer coach who has been putting on a clinic for our local kids. James is from England and it's been an absolute pleasure having him stay with us. He gave me $50 to publish this in my blog in case his mum reads it at home.

Yesterday we had a fun visit from some tourists from Colorado who are staying at Bonneville Resort. They were going to try to get home before their 3 cases of wine explode in the back of their car from the forcasted heat. Speaking of Bonneville, I've been hearing awesome reviews on the restaurant lately. We might have to put together a rendezvous somewhere in that vacinity where we all meet at Walking Man Brewery to try a beverage they produce called beer. Afterwards we can head over to the resort for a rub and a steak. I will call it "Joel's Dam Dinner".

This weekend is busy. John and Paula will be pouring WRC at the Camas Days wine & art festival and my band will be playing at "Swank Fest" in Hood River on Saturday afternoon. Aside from that I will be here at the winery hosting two very large, and hopefully fun, groups. Head on out to Camas and try to stump John with worthless 80s movie trivia. John and Paula have already signed up for the annual Wind River Cellars December in Mexico trip. Inquire if interested. The first bucket is on me.

Stay air conditioned Husum!

Joel

Monday, July 17, 2006

 
Record weekend for traffic, sales and fun. Friday I had four of my closest friends come into town for the annual Wind River Cellars Golf Tourny. We teed off at 4:00 and I was still in the tasting room pouring wine at 3:50. Good thing the golf course is so close.

We had visitors from New York, Michigan, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, New Mexico, Florida and even Oregon. I had to speak very slow and use simple words for the Oregonians.

Congrats to Matt Rankin and his family for winning the tournament. I guess others can cheat as well as me. Thanks again to Huba who manned the BBQ for the post tourny feast.

Visitors of the weekend include the couple from Bellingham, Corey, Gavin and Gavin's dad, Bruce from L.A., and Pat and Bob from Seattle.

It's going to be hot this week. I'll have whites chillin' and Huba grillin'.

Stay cool Husum!

Joel

Thursday, July 13, 2006

 
I've been on the coast for the last few days celebrating the seventh birthday of the Poison Rose. He had a blast and was showered with gifts galore. I came home to empty tasting room shelves so evidently a lot of people visited Dan who was pouring in our absence.

Saturday is the annual WRC Golf Tourny. Lots of big names coming into town to play. I'm not worried because none of them can play better than I can cheat.

I've got tons of stuff to do which is punishment for leaving for 3 days. Come out to Husum this Sunday. You can enjoy the annual Fireman's breakfast, Husum Duck Race and taste a dozen wines here at the winery on the hill.

Don't go changin' Husum!

Joel

Sunday, July 09, 2006

 
Yesterday the tasting room was a zoo. Two rafting parties, a family reunion and the normal summer traffic contributed to a full house. I rewarded Kris by taking her out to dinner. Actually, she took me out with a gift certificate she purchased at an auction last year. We ate at Abruzzo in Hood River and enjoyed a great bottle of Italian wine.

Today we're off to the coast for Adam's (aka Poison Rose) birthday. If you don't know Adam he's my 7 year-old son. Poison Rose is Adam's super hero alter ego. For those of you that do know Adam you probably don't believe that he's my son because he's smart, handsome and polite.

Rumor has it that Husum is close to getting another great restaurant. Stay tuned for more information. The person opening it is a bit odd but he looks great in womens clothing. There will be an incredible party when this place does open.

We have rafting trips to give away. Email us a photo of you enjoying a bottle of WRC wine and the trip could be yours.

You complete me, Husum.

Joel
joel@windrivercellars.com

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

 
4th of July with James and Poppie from Syncline Cellars, Ron John from Marshal's Winery, Anthony from Shady Grove Winery and the crew from Maryhill Winery. We all hung out together at a very low key wine festival in Stevenson. Once again I was reminded of how good of friends I have here in the gorge. You would think that when we get all of us together there would be a lot of swirlin', smellin' and sippin'. I found it a bit funny when I looked around and noticed that we were all enjoying the devil's drink. No, you idiot. Not Tequila! Beer.


Have I mentioned lately that we have White Water Rafting trips to give away? Sign up for the WRC Newsletter and you have a chance to win.

Keep it real, Husum!

Joel

Sunday, July 02, 2006

 
How about that picture below! That was my outfit for our "Running with the bulls celebration" last month.

Fun last few days. Friday night we attended "Last Friday" in Bingen. Many of the businesses open their doors after hours and offer music, wine, and food. I visited Syncline Cellars, Gorge Wine Merchants, Bad Seed Cider House, Beneventi's Pizza and Red Fish Gallery. The latter was serving a strange beverage called "beer". If you've never had beer, it is usually served cold and can be quite refreshing.

Saturday I spent most of the afternoon in a very busy tasting room. Lots of fun visitors included the rafting group from B-wet, which is a Boeing employee club, an old high school teacher of mine, Nate Ziglier and his family and friends, and a very nice couple from Spokane and their son.

Yesterday I got one of those rare bummer visitors too. A short, fat snobby guy who claimed to be a winemaker from a nearby region came in with his equally fat and snobby wife. I'm often visited by other wine industry people and 99% of the time it's a lot of fun. As a matter of fact, we usually end up tasting barrels, trading wine, and throwing meat on the BBQ. I usually don't even charge them for the bottles they want to purchase, knowing that when I visit them at their winery, they will return the same hospitality. I'm guessing this guy was picked on as a kid and was jealous that his pretentious approach to wine will never generate the fun atmosphere of the Wind River Cellars tasting room. At least the other guests and I had some good laughs after they left.

By the way, wine industry people who I've had awesome visits from include: Luke, Bob, Anthony, Ron John, Rob, Dave Minnick, Mike Andrews, Joe Dobbs Sr., Wade Wolfe, Ryan and Greg, the dudes from Latitude 47, and several others from Washington, Oregon, California and New York.

I've got a busy week ahead so I have to get off my ass now.

Don't go changing, Husum!

Joel@windrivercellars.com

 

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