Wind River Cellars

Great week. Early in the week the fam and I were treated to a fantastic meal at Stonehedge in Hood River. Owner, Mike Caldwell has done a great job there and he and his wife are some of our oldest friends here in the Gorge. (BTW- Thanks Ma and Pa for the dinner. Sorry that Poison Rose and Hollywood went for the lobster when they found out you were buying.)

I had the joy of going to Seattle on Thursday for some deliveries and a tasting at Seattle Wine Co. in Bellvue. If you've read this piece of crap blog you know that I have a few favorite wine shops here in Washington. I've hyped Corky Cellars, in Des Moines, Wine Alley, in Renton, Yokes, in Tri Cities. Hell, I've had some really good times at Fitzgerald's Fine Wines in Camas. Seattle Wine Company has launched itself into one of my fave's. Amazing selection, VERY LOW PRICES, and people who have fun with wine. (Thanks Lee Ann and Peter for some laughs.)

Speaking of favorite wine shops, one of my top five's is closing its doors. Go back to this blog's archive and read about how much fun I have every year in Duvall. The owners have decided to move on and spend more time with their daughter. That is the only reason I can think of for closing such a great place. (Duvall folks, you can still find a great selection and low prices at Seattle Wine Company, in Bellvue.)

While in Seattle I stayed at WRC barrel member, Alicia's house. She's really boring and nothing fun ever happens when I go out with her. Alicia, you really need to lighten up and learn how to have fun. I'll see you at the Barrel Dinner in April.

Visitors of the week include the nice couple who had to come up to my house to get me, the party staying at Bonneville Hotsprings Resort and the fun couple from Olympia.

Next weekend is the Chili Cook-Off. What happens there, stays there. Sunday is Superbowl. I have nothing to do. Invite me to your party and I'll bring wine.

This week I have more cellar work and blending to do. As usual, you're welcome to come by and help/observe.

Congrats to Poison Rose and Hollywood. They were both awarded gold medals in their snowboarding races today. I told them that they were still losers because our Syrah has won several gold medals.

You make me wonder why Seattle Wine Company is in Bellvue, Husum.

Joel

By now I'm sure that many of you have figured out that I didn't have a tasting in Bellvue over the weekend. If you went down to Seattle Wine Company to see for yourself what kind of moron I am in person, I apologize. The tasting is next weekend. At that time you will be able to see what kind of moron I am in person. This past weekend I assumed tasting room duties and was delighted to see that people are starting to get of their butts and go wine tasting again.

Several couples were celebrating birthdays and anniversaries over the weekend. I still think that room 339 at the Bonneville Hot Springs Resort is the best gift of all. Visitors of the week included the two young ladies from Wisconsin, the two women from Vancouver and the couple from Seattle who threatened to return upon the release of the '05 Pinot Noir.

Kris escorted Hollywood to his first snowboard race on Sunday. He won a silver medal. He was feeling pretty good about it until I burst his bubble and told him that I bribed the judges with bottles of our '04 Cabernet Sauvignon.

This week I am expecting 25 new barrels to show up, which means I'll have a few days worth of work. Filling barrels is actually a good time. If you can break away from your cubical come on out. I'll let you scrub some tanks.

Check our website for upcoming events.

You fill me up, Husum.

Joel

Is anyone else having trouble getting back to work after the holidays? Yesterday I was pleasantly suprised to see several groups make their way to the tasting room. Four laughing friends from Japan, Jim and Karen from Redmond, and the four people from NY made the cold day a little bit more fun, so much so that I almost forgot about the Seahawk loss.

Today Kris had hours and hours of boring paperwork. I knew she could really use some help , so I took the boys to the mountain for a sunny day of snowboarding. When you own a small business with your spouse, you must work as a team, and obviously I'm here to help anyway I can.

If my memory serves me, I think I have a tasting at the Seattle Wine Company (In Bellvue) next weekend. I've only done a tasting there one other time and I remember having a fun time with the couple who owns it.

A winemaker's dinner has been scheduled for February 17th at Viento, in Bingen. Viento is one of my favorite restaurants here in the gorge and I've always had great meals there. Stu and Kathy, the owners, are very supportive of the local wine industry. If you want to attend please email us for details.

Don't forget about our chili cook-off February 3rd. It's a fun event for the eve of Superbowl.

Keep the dream alive, Husum.

Joel

I have been to the mountain, and it is good. Yesterday Kris and I were invited out to do a tasting at Bonneville Hot Springs Resort here in the Columbia River Gorge. I'm sorry to say that up until 12 or so months ago, the reviews we heard from visitors in the tasting room have been very mediocre at best. Again, that was until about 12 months ago. I don't know who's responsible. Could be new management, could be new chef, could be new white robes in every room. Whatever they did, they did it well. I left this morning not wanting to leave.

The actual tasting was fun. Guests were treated to heaping plates of cheeses, bread, grapes and nuts to go with the wine I was pouring in front of a huge fire place in the Great Room.

After the tasting we headed to the Dining Room for possibly the best steak I've had in the Gorge. I'm not sure I've had a better steak anywhere ever. (We washed it down with a fantastic bottle of Viento 2004 Sangiovese.) If it sounds like I'm being a kiss ass, I'm not. The hotel is beautiful, the rooms are some of the nicest I've ever seen and the food was awesome. When you stay there I strongly recommend getting a room with a hot tub. If you turn your TV just right you can watch a football game while soaking in 104 degree water. Throw in the whole spa treatment thing and you have a perfect weekend getaway just 30 minutes from Portland.

This week it's back to the cellar. I have lots of reds to blend and I invite anyone to join me in what is my favorite part of winemaking. By the way, we're almost out of our '04 Pinot Noir. It was just released a couple of months ago and will be gone very soon.

Don't forget about our chili cook-off on February 3rd. Many of you always talk about how good your chili is but only a very few of you have the sack to enter. It's one of my favorite events of the year so come on out with or without your chili.

You owe yourself a spa treatment at Bonnevillie, Husum.

Joel

Happy New Year! I'm excited to be back to the greatest place in the world. The 10th Annual WRC Holiday in Mexico was a lot of fun and I enjoyed everyone who made the trip. I will post some pics this afternoon.

One of the highlights of the trip was our annual wine social with another winery group that comes from New York. For the past few years our group has joined the crew from McGregor Vineyards from the Finger Lakes region. This year we were able to enjoy their 2002 and 2004 Pinot Noirs and their 2005 Semi-dry Riesling. I hope they enjoyed our wines as much as I enjoyed theirs. I you want to attend next years event email us for details. There's only about 345 days until we leave.

A nice group of food and wine freaks were treated to a fantastic meal on New Years eve at Hooba's. The wait was well worth it. Hooba will open again on Superbowl Sunday for a more casual affair.

Don't forget the 5th Annual Wind River Cellars Chili Cook Off will be held the Saturday before Superbowl. (I think it's February 3 this year) This is a great time here at the winery. All year long we hear from people who claim to make a great chili. Shut up and put your money where your mouth is. Many prizes will be given.

This weekend I will be doing a wine tasting event at Bonneville Hot Springs Resort on the 6th. Email me for more details, it will be a lot of fun and Bonneville Resort is a great place to stay this time of year.

Check our website for more upcoming events.

I have to go clear snow out of the driveway now. I just realized that I'm not in Mexico anymore.

You make me warm and cuddly, Husum.

Joel