Wind River Cellars

C is for the comfort you bring me when I'm away from Husum.
A is for the attractive downtown community.
M is for the many great people.
A is still for the attractive downtown community.
S is for the super great time I had once again at the Camas Days Wine and Beer celebration.

I still can't figure out my attraction for Camas. All I know is that whenever I go there for an event I have a really great time. I look forward to next years event.

It has been another great week here at Wind River Cellars. It seems like all of the visitors were either from New York or Minnesota. I'm going to have to favor Minnesota visitors over the New Yorkers. When Minnesota visitors aren't familiar with a variety such as Tempranillo or Lemberger they ask about it. New Yorkers just skip it and go on to Merlot. People from Minnesota always comment on the great beer and wines that are produced in the Northwest. New Yorkers talk about New York wines (which everyone knows blow donkey ass) and think that Michelob is a fine crafted brew. People from Minnesota come up our road and comment on what a beautiful drive it was. New Yorkers walk in and say something like "We didn't think we would find you". People from Minnesota come to the Gorge and realize how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful place. New Yorkers think that we live here because we're not smart enough to live in New York. I might just change our policy and not allow New Yorkers in the tasting room.

Employee of the Month Runner-up, Ryan will be covering the tasting room next weekend while Kris, Hollywood, Poison Rose and myself take our show on the road for some official winery business. As many of you know, EOTM Runner-Up, Ryan tends to run the tasting room a little differently when we're gone. He likes to pour generous samples, he likes to give barrel tastings, and sometimes he'll even get out the guitar and entertain people on the deck after hours. If any of you see such behavior next weekend please notify me immediately.

The White Salmon river is still providing a thrilling white water rafting experience and August is always a great time to do it. Follow it up with a visit here and you've got an experience that you can only get in Husum.

I'm thinking about having one last summer blowout party here at the winery. If you have any ideas let me know. I'm thinking that it could involve some live music. If you bring someone from Minnesota or Camas you get a free glass of wine. Stay tuned for details.

It was just a fling. I could never love Camas the way I love you, Husum!

Joel

It blows my mind how many of you email and bitch at me when I go more than 7 days without
throwin' down some blog. This past week may well have been the busiest of my life. My memory is fuzzy but last week we hosted what seems like millions of guests, friends, salesmen and colleagues. I think a relative or two even came by. When it all unfolded I think I enjoyed the guests the most. Friends tend to drink all our wine, salemen seem to waste all our time, colleagues can't talk about anything that doesn't have to do with wine and relatives either stay too long or not long enough. (Felix and Michelle, it was the latter.)

On top of all the people, we also hosted the Wind River Cellars Golf Scramble on Saturday. I wasn't able to attend because a group of people called earlier in the week and said they were coming up so I stayed in the tasting room. The group never showed up and I hope they die. When I did get to the golf course for the post scramble party I got the feeling that some of the participants had been drinking. I can't remember the last time I was the most sober person in a room of 100 people. Husum locals, Jill and Steve, along with Steve's father and Gumby won the cup and $10,000. Most of the other participants went home with one of the many prizes donated by Josh and Ryan (Not to be confused with employee of the month runner-up, Ryan).

Visitors of the week include the wonderful people from Kansas, all 30 or so of them. It's lonely without them and I feel like "Dust in the Wind". Other favorites include Joe and Amy from El Mirador Winery, Bob and Denise from Cascade Cliffs Winery, Regan, Andrew, Sarah, the group from Arkansas, the brewery accountant, Josh and Ryan and most of all, Alicia, Paula and Jon. Those of you who were 1 of the hundreds to come up over the weekend had the opportunity to enjoy the great fun that Alicia, Paula and Jon bring when they work in the tasting room. Alicia worked so hard on Saturday that she had to lay on my couch all day on Sunday. She said she wasn't feeling well. She barely touched her pancakes at the Husum Fireman's Breakfast. I had so many great tasting room guest this past week that I'm forgetting several. I'm sorry for that.

This Friday and Saturday I will be pouring wine at the Camas Days Wine/beer Festival. This is always a great time to come out and buy me a cold one. Employee of the month runner-up, Ryan will be slingin' samples in the tasting room all weekend. He might even get out the guitar.

You can crash on my couch any time, Husum!

Joel

You still have time to get your team together for the WRC Golf Scramble. We have about 15 or so teams already which will make the post golf party a great time down at Hooba's. It's been a great week here. The tasting room has been busy all week and lots of fun people have found their way to the winery. Our new friends, Ryan (not to be confused with employee of the month runner-up, Ryan)and Josh visited on Friday and didn't leave until just minutes ago. They had a meeting in Pendleton this morning but both of them woke up not feeling well. They seemed fine last night. You've read my blogs before where strangers come into the tasting room and end up staying for dinner or whatever. These guys stayed the weekend and might just go back to Huntington Beach and pack their bags for the move to Husum.

This week will be a busy one. We're going out to dinner tonight with Hooba (His restaurant is closed Mon-Wed.). Call if you would like to join us. Tomorrow night I'm looking forward to dinner with Bob from Cascade Cliffs Winery. Wednesday we get a visit from Joe from El Mirador Winery in Walla Walla, Thursday we're hosting a business after hours Chamber of Commerce function and Friday begins another busy weekend. Somewhere during the week Ryan and Josh might even return.

Harriot's Port is selling fast. I had no idea the response would be so huge. I promise we'll make more next year but if you want any of the 2006 vintage you'd better get up here.

My goal today is to post pictures on the blog of things I always say I'm going to post but never do. If you have a picture taken here at the winery I would love to post it. Please no sick pictures of Mini the winery pig. Her self esteem is low enough.

If you're coming out with a group give me a call. I'll make sure I'm around to give you the experience that only me, the employee of the month, can give. Sorry Employee of the month runner-up, Ryan. Maybe next month.

You rock, Husum.

Joel

What a week! It actually seemed like one long weekend. Thanks to all of you that came out for the Husum .1K Fun Run and the parade on the 4th of July. People are still talking about it. Make plans for next year. I promise you'll have a great time.

We were busy all week beginning with the day of my last blog. Our UPS driver is going to be pissed when he sees how many shipments of wine are going out this week. Good thing he drinks so much wine while he's here. I'm trying to talk him into throwing away all of his packages and using the brown van to shuttle people between here and Cascade Cliffs.

Visitors of the week include the nice family from Puyallup, Doug and Kelly from Tacoma and regulars, Justine and Roger from Vantucky. Oh yea, I almost forgot about the sissy boys from Los Angeles who came up for some white water and wine activity. They almost bought as much wine as the girls celebrating the wedding shower party.

Saturday Poison Rose, Hollywood and myself were treated to a fantastic white water trip. The river is fantastic this time of year and River Drifters (Riverdrifters.net) provided a great time. I strongly suggest you make a point to do it.

This week I'll be messing around in the cellars with some blends. As always, if you need to escape your cubical come on out and participate. (I love stolen office supplies.) I'm open to suggestions when it comes to blending.

There's still time to sign up for the Wind River Cellars Golf Scramble. $50 gets you golf, cart and steak at Hooba's.

If you have photos taken here at WRC email them to us and we'll post them. If your photo is selected it will make you eligible to win a dream date with Employee Of The Month Runner-Up, Ryan.

How do you stay so cool when it's so hot, Husum?

Joel

You have no idea how happy I am to be back home to Husum. As mentioned in the last blog entry, the family and I had to go to So. Cal for some official winery business. You barrel members have met Bruce at our annual Barrel Club Dinner. His son turned 13, and though Camden is still 8 years away from legal drinking age, I felt it was important to begin the recruiting process now. If I continue to recruit Camden hard I think he will mature to enjoy as much Wind River Cellars wine as his father. It was also nice to see Barrel Member Eric as well. Happy birthday Camden! You other barrel members need to pick up the pace. Don't forget you all recieve a barrel tasting party for you and your friends as part of your barrel membership. Email me some dates before we get into harvest.

The Husum .1K Fun Run is the morning of July 4th. This will be a great way for you all to participate in something that will reward you with a sense of accomplishment, as well as give you a chance to pop up to the winery to taste our current releases. Register now!

EOTM, Ryan covered for Kris and I while we were in SoCal on official winery business. It looks like many of you read last weeks blog and took my advice. From the stories I've heard nobody was disappointed. Ryan poured generous samples and treated many visitors to barrel tastings. He recalls the two gals from Chicago and the people from New York as his favorites of the weekend. You can also sign up to win a dream date with EOTM runner-up, Ryan at the Husum .1K Fun Run. I don't know what he likes to do on a date but I know he'll bring the wine.

I hope to see you all on the 4th of July. Keep it safe. Maybe even keep one of those buckets of water handy.

You make me bleed red, white and blue, Husum!

Joel