Wind River Cellars

Wind River Cellars

Sunday, June 24, 2007

 
Fantastic week here at Wind River Cellars. Employee of the month runner-up, Ryan and I bottled our butts off. We now have ample Riesling, Pinot Gris, Merlot and Tempranillo to get us through the summer. #1 son, Hollywood, filled in on the Pinot Gris bottling and convinced me that he is now able to contribute labor to the family business. If he was smart he would have screwed up a lot so that I wouldn't ask him to help again. Kind of like the time my wife asked me to do the laundry and I did all of the colored in hot water and bleach. She never asked me to do it again. Anyway, I'm proud of Connor and look forward to him helping more and more.

I mentioned last week that there will be a Fun Run in Husum on 4th of July. The night I spent in Oregon must have made me stupid because I said that the distance was less that 100 feet. Truth is, it is a .1 K which is of course, 100 meters. I apologize to all of you that were training for a fun run of less than 100 feet only to find out it will be 100 meters. Those of you that love the challenge and still want to go for it can contact us to register. $20 includes your Husum Fun Run tshirt. There will also be a parade in downtown Husum. I love a parade.

Our award winning '05 Lemberger is nearing its end so if you would like to get some you better hurry. It has certainly been one of my favorite wines but employee of the month runner-up, Ryan is fired up for the '06 Lemberger. Maybe he's just ass kissin' so that he'll actually get employee of the month.

Speaking of employee of the month runner-up, Ryan, he poured wine yesterday at the Blues, Brews and BBQs festival in Stevenson. He said it was a great turn out and turned a lot of new people on to the award winning wines of Wind River Cellars.

Visitors of the week include the four ladies from Jackson Hole who came in while I was alone in the tasting room and eyed me like a piece of beefcake man candy. Luckily Hooba showed up just in time. Other great visitors were the anniversary couple who were staying at Bonneville, the rafters from Illinois and the crazy wine lovers from Minnisota.

The WRC golf scramble is July 21. Register soon to get your foursome in. $50 gets you golf, cart and steak dinner, plus some great prizes.

I'm hauling the family down to So. Cal for some official winery business this week but EOTM runner-up, Ryan will be around to entertain you in the tasting room. I hate leaving him alone at the winery because he always discounts wine too much and loves to give people cellar tastings out of the barrels. If any of you witness this please notify me immediately.

You're worth running 100 meters for, Husum.

Joel

Monday, June 18, 2007

 
Happy Father's Day everyone. I'm very thankful that the only Father's Day cards I recieved were from Poison Rose and Hollywood. Turns out that I wasn't really the father of Anna Nicole's child.

We had a great weekend in the tasting room. I was reminded what summer around here is like. For Father's Day I was given a luxury suite at the Hood River Inn where I was joined by North Shore Cellars winemaker, Craig Sawyer. This may sound like some sort of wierd Brokeback getaway but it gave us a chance to explore the ways of Oregonians. They are a very strange culture but treated us well and were curious to learn of our ways. I shared with them stories of how in my world we pump our own gas, have quality public schools and roads, and we pay a retail tax. This was very foreign to the Oregonians and they looked at us as if we were gods. I didn't mention that Washington State makes the best wine in the world.

We will be releasing our 06' Pinot Gris in the next few weeks and I must say that it is the best one we've ever made. Also look for our new release of Syrah and Lemberger. If you call ahead I might be talked into sneaking a barrel sample for you.

In case you haven't heard, the first annual HUSUM FUN RUN is scheduled for July 4th, following the 4th of July parade. We wanted to make this an event for everyone, including fat, lazy people, so we're making it a .1 K. .1 K is less than 100 feet. You can register on our website or call. Each participant will recieve a tshirt.

Come out to the Gorge and visit Husum. We'll have the whites chillin' and the reds breathin'.

Some day I'm going to grow up and be just like you, Husum.

Joel

Sunday, June 10, 2007

 
Crazy week capped off by a crazy weekend. Monday I went to Maupin on "Official Winery Business". If you don't know where Maupin, OR is, it's half way between here and Bend. Nothing at all to do there but whitewater raft, fly fish and drink. I didn't have time to raft and I lost my fly rod somewhere. There's a small resort/restaurant in Maupin called the Imperial. The rooms were very nice and everything about the restaurant and lounge were great. They even carry WRC Lemberger and Tempranillo on the wine list. There's also a tavern in Maupin called the "Rainbow", but you all know that I don't frequent such places.
Tuesday we hosted the entire waitstaff from one of my favorite restaurants, Solstice. Imagine a restaurant owner who closes his place on a Tuesday and takes his entire staff whitewater rafting and then takes them to a winery for dinner and wine tasting afterwards. Who would ever want to work for such a person. How will he ever get the high employee turnover rate of other restaurants if he actually shows his staff that he cares about them.
Wednesday was the day for the annual White Salmon River Fest. This event is put on by community members and is meant to educate people on the state of God's favorite river. Seminars and lectures took place all day long at Hooba's and the evening gala moved up to the winery. Once again I must taunt the office cubical dwellers with "Ha Ha Ha, I get to live here."
Saturday evening we hosted our first wedding reception of the year. Every time we host such an event I always seem to tell the newlyweds that it was the best ever. Well, I did that for the last time Saturday night because this was the best ever. A new standard of wedding reception has been established. We may just never do another reception again. That's how much fun this one was. Congrats Tom and Meridith and all of you crazy relatives from the South.
Father's Day is next weekend. Bring Dad out for barrel tasting and buy him a chunk of artisan cheese from our wide selection. He'll like it more than the socks and underwear that I'm sure I'll get.
Summer is here! Don't forget to enter our "Win a dream date with WRC employee of the month runner-up, Ryan".
You're the best father in the world, Husum!
Joel

Monday, June 04, 2007

 
Is it just you Husum, or is it really hot out? It's been a fun week and someone definitely turned on the summer switch. The highlight? Easy. It was the tasting I did in Camas Friday night at Prune Hill Wine shop. You faithful blog readers know about the crush I have on Camas. I don't know what it is but everytime I go there I have a kick-ass great time. I almost feel like I'm cheating on Husum. Shop owner, Glen, has already become very popular in that great community and I wish him the absolute best.

JULY 21 IS THE WIND RIVER CELLARS GOLF TOURNY! Get your foursome together for an afternoon of hitting a ball with a stick and then chasing it. $50 gets you nine holes, cart and steak dinner. Prizes will be awarded for various accomplishments of the day.

My goal this week is to post all of the pictures from the past year that I promised to post and never did. If you have some photos that were taken here at the winery or of you enjoying a bottle of Wind River Cellars please send it. Photos will be judged and the winner will recieve a dream date with WRC employee of the month runner up, Ryan. (Ryan, this is three months in a row that you're runner-up behind me. You'll just have to try a little harder.)

Lots going on this week. Hope you're here to witness it.

I love Camas but I could never cheat on you, Husum!

Joel

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