Wind River Cellars

Wind River Cellars

Sunday, October 28, 2007

 
How many times have you awoke to find a stray pony in your yard? That happened to us Saturday morning. Below is a picture of Poison Rose standing next to "Seabiscuit". We did track down the owner who offered us this fine animal. I have to discuss it with Minnie the winery pig first but I've always fancied myself as a bit of a cowboy.

When I'm not rangling dogies, mending fences and bustin' broncoes, I enjoy a little hobby called winemaking. This was suppose to be my last week of crush but the weather has been so nice and warm that I decided to let Lemberger hang on the vine a little longer. I like my Lemberger well hung. Employee of the month, runner-up, Ryan and I did manage to crush more Pinot Noir than we've ever done in a single year. That's right. We're amping up our Pinot Noir production and I picked a great year to do it. The fruit was beautiful and I'm sure a lot of Willamette Valley wineries would have killed for it since most of them weren't able to ripen theirs this year. The well-hung Lemberger will come in Monday or Tuesday, then I will be finished with harvest 2007.

Friday night the fam and I headed out to Maryhill Winery for a little going away party for our friend Reuben who has worked for Maryhill the last several harvests. Reuben is a winemaker from Australia who comes out every year for crush. We had a great time and got to hang out with James and Poppie from Syncline, Luke from Cor Cellars and Craig and Vicky from Maryhill. The only thing better than being a cowboy here in the gorge is hanging out with these great people and tasting everyone's great wine. Hurry back, Reuben.

Our library tasting is coming up in a few weeks. This is where we open every vintage of every wine we've ever produced. Dozens and dozens of wines will be available for tasting at this event.
We've never charged for this event but it is limited to you blog readers and wine club/barrel club members. If you would like to attend please email me. I'll make sure Seabiscuit is combed and shoed. Also coming up is our annual Thanksgiving weekend Open House. We will have several new releases, barrel samples, snacks and live music. This has always been one of the most fun weekends of the year here at Wind River Cellars so come early, stay late.

I'll post later in the week. Seabiscuit and I have a rodeo to train for.

It's hard to quit you, Husum!

Joel

 


Adam & Sea Biscuit - Saturday, October 27th

Monday, October 22, 2007

 
I just finished entering a full page blog ripping the woman who was in the tasting room Sunday and stole two wineglasses. That was the old Joel. In the spirit of one of my best friends, Alicia, I've decided to scrap that page of insults and leave it with a simple "You must have really needed two free wine glasses and I'm sure you're a very nice person." That's the new Joel. Alicia, you've made me a better person and I know you're laughing your ass off.

This has been a fabulous post-harvest party week. I have everything crushed and nearly put to bed. We've had a very rainy week and I've been waiting for dry weather to harvest Pinot Noir and Lemberger from Celilo. So far I've crushed Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Cab Franc, Tempranillo and Syrah. I only have the Pinot Noir and Lem remaining, which will be done tomorrow and Wednesday. They both look incredible.

MVP Josh was in town over the weekend. For those of you that were at the WRC Golf Scramble, Josh was the guy giving out all the prizes. Josh and I woke up Saturday morning with the intention of pressing off Syrah. No, Syrah wasn't Josh's date. Syrah is a red wine we produce. Unfortunately, the Syrah wasn't quite ready to be pressed so we went to plan B. Plan B was to go to Hooba's and watch football all day long. I love it when a plan B comes together. Josh also brought the long awaited tshirts that say "DON'T HASSLE ME, I'M A HUSUM LOCAL!" These tshirts are selling fast and you don't want to cop an attitude here without one. Thanks Josh.

I'm getting to that time of the year when I'll be spending a little more time in Seattle. Check this blog every week to find out where I'll be pouring wine, signing bottles and sitting in traffic.

I mentioned last week or the week before that I would be announcing the visitors of the year nominations. Sorry I havn't done it yet but I need to sit down with EOTM runner-up, Ryan to discuss his picks. I'm pretty sure I know who my favorite visitor has been this year and it's not the lady who stole the wineglasses.

Stay tuned for details of our Thanksgiving weekend. It will be huge, I promise.

The new Joel loves you just as much as the old Joel, Husum!

Joel

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

 
My hands are stained, my voice is horse, the few muscles I have are sore but I still have a huge grin on the inside. Harvest party was an absolute hoot and not many things could have made it better. As you can see from the photo below, we had a great turn out with 80 or so fun people. I woke up Friday morning with a list of things that would take an average worker 10 hours. Naturally it took me 12. When I scratched off the last item on that list the phone rang. Celilo Vineyard Chardonnay was coming in and with the hectic Saturday just hours away, it had to be crushed that night. It would probably compare to you sitting in your cubical on a Friday afternoon getting ready to go meet some friends after work when suddenly the boss walks up and isn't satisfied with your TSP reports. Luckily, EOTM Runner-Up, Ryan stayed and helped me while Kris entertained a fun group from Insitu, a Bingen company who is very supportive of our community.

Saturday morning was like Christmas to me. Not because I was in Mexico on the Wind River Cellars Holiday in Mexico trip but because I was showered with stolen office supplies. I won't name the people who showered me. If I did they could lose their jobs and I would lose my source of free post it notes and staplers.

The weather was nearly as perfect as the grapes and everything was off the vine by 4:00, thanks to the great job everyone did. Congrats to Vineyard Manager, Gavin. The 2007 vintage might be the best I've ever seen from our estate vineyard. Special thanks go to Lap Dance Jon. I pretende to be busy on the forklift and asked him to help some folks in the tasting room. I don't think he got out of there before 5:00. Jon's great in the tasting room but the advice he gave my son for his science project sucked more than that couple from Santa Cruz.

The harvest party went late into the night with live music and Pretty Boy Jay serving up endless comedy. I can't wait until next year.

I'm coming down the stretch. Only Pinot Noir and Lemberger remain. My memories of the weekend will provide great inspiration to finish up a fantastic vintage.

Come up and see what's going on. Josh, the MVP of the Wind River Cellar Golf Scramble will be here Friday. If you want to come up and see a real treat, this weekend is the time to do it.

You were meant for me, and I was meant for you, Husum.

Joel

Monday, October 15, 2007

 
One of the people in the photo below messed up the winery bathroom really bad. I have eliminated Matt and Jill, the pickers from Washington D.C. They both ate at Hooba's the night before and were cleared through scientific analysis.

I will fill all of you in on the harvest party as soon as I get to the bottom of this. If you were at the harvest party and took some photos, please send them so I can share. Check back tomorrow or the next day for full details of a great event.

You make me wish I would have had porta potties, Husum.

Joel

Sunday, October 14, 2007

 


Harvest Celebration 2007!

Thanks Everyone~


Sunday, October 07, 2007

 
I'm seeing more bright orange and yellow in the landscape. The Fall colors should be at their peak next Saturday when you're all out harvesting my vineyard. If you haven't signed up I strongly suggest that you do so. Harvest party is one of my favorite events of the year and it always turns into a good time. In the past we've served lasagna, Salmon, Chili, and burgers. This year we will be offering Prime Rib! This is the best way we can think of to keep vegitarians away. Vegitarians are difficult to please. If you don't eat meat please feel free to bring your carrots and tofu. We will not be offering a meatless alternative. Grape pickers are meat eaters. All of the greatest grape pickers throughout the world eat meat. Email or call to sign up for this free event.
This week I have to make one more trip to Horse Heaven to pick up Cabernet Franc. From there on out all my fruit will be coming from Celilo and our own estate.
With Kris pouring wine at the Shelton Oyster Festival and Ryan pouring at the Hood River Hops Festival, I was left yesterday to work the tasting room by myself. I was so lonely that I began talking to winery pig, Minnie. She didn't say much back. She's a pig. Pigs don't talk. Finally, people began to pull in and before I knew it I was busy. Visitors of the day included the Jayhawks from Arizona, the couple staying at the tree house B & B and the couple who had their car stolen in Walla Walla. Sorry you two from Santa Cruz, you sucked.
Next week I will be announcing my VISITORS OF THE YEAR awards. These are people who left a lasting impression following their visit.
Sign up for the Harvest Party folks. I promise you a great time.
Your meat is always tender, Husum!
Joel

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