Wind River Cellars

Tempranillo tomorrow, Syrah Tuesday, press Merlot Wednesday, harvest and crush Cab Franc Thursday and build Rome on Friday. This should be a very interesting week.

Fall colors have changed the canvas of our beautiful view. The bright colors of autumn should be around for a few weeks. Come on up and we'll look at them together.

Eotm runner-up, Ryan says that the new 05 Lemberger has been VERY well recieved. There will not be a lot of the '05 so I suggest that you get it while it's available.

Our annual Harvest Party is coming up October 13th. This is your opportunity to help pick grapes, see the operation in action, eat and drink as much as you want, and qualify for special prizes. Last year, Lap Dance Jon won himself a trip to Mexico for the WRC Holiday in Mexico trip. Several other people won prizes ranging from sweatshirts to large format bottles of wine. This year we might even give away a dream date with Employee of the month runner-up, Ryan.

Kris will be pouring wine next weekend at the Shelton Oyster Festival. It's been a few years since I've attended this festival but I remember it being an absolute blast. If you're in the Olympia/Shelton area check it out.

It's not too early to begin making plans for the Thanksgiving weekend. We will certainly be having our annual open house event here. You may even get to baist my Butterball.

You're worth the drive, Husum!

Joel

Here's what's up for the next few days:

I will be leaving town on official winery business until Sunday. Empoyee of the Month Runner-up, Ryan will be here to entertain visitors and punch down Merlot. Sunday I will be back to treat a group from Camas to a VIP cellar tasting, which I'm looking forward to. Monday is when poo hits the fan. I have to press off Merlot, drive to Horse Heaven for Syrah, drive back and Crush it, then drive back to Horse Heaven for Tempranillo, bring it back to the winery and press it. Cabernet Franc will be ready at the end of the week and after that Celilo Chardannay should be about ripe. What I would do to be in your cubical for the next two weeks pretending to be working.

Danae- I'm sorry I haven't contacted you but I'd still love for you to come and help crush. It's just difficult to give an exact day of when things happen.

Don't forget that our Harvest Party is October 13th. Come out and help us pick grapes. Afterwards we give you lots to eat and drink. We already have a lot of people signed up and I'm looking forward to what is always a great time.

2005 Lemberger is released! Its grand release will be Thanksgiving but because you're sophisticated and read this blog we'll let you taste it now. If you're nice to EoTM, Ryan, he might let you taste the 2005 Syrah as well.

Less than 3 months until the Wind River Cellars Holiday in Mexico. Sign up now.

You keep me busy, Husum!

Joel

A grower from Red Mountain called and wanted to know if I would make a Tempranillo with his grapes. I said yes. I wasn't planning on making a Red Mountain AVA Tempranillo but what sane winemaker would turn it down? That would be like my friend Jon LeBre saying "No thank you, I don't like lap dances."

I'll be getting Horse Heaven Tempranillo Tuesday or Wednesday. Monday is a national holiday because it's my birthday. Don't worry, banks will still be open.

HARVEST PARTY IS HAPPENING! October 13th will be the date. Sign up now for this fun event. We toss you out into the vineyard to pick grapes and then treat you to lots of food and wine when your done. You even have lots of opportunities to win a variety of prizes, including a dream date with Employee of the Month Runner-up, Ryan. I promise you will have a great time at this event.

Come up to the tasting room for a visit if you get bored. Merlot is fermenting and I'll let you "Punch it down". We have a ton of great barrels to taste also.

Thanks for the birthday present Husum! You're just what I've always wanted.

Joel

If I die tomorrow it can be said that I made wine in 2007. The merlot we crushed today is dedicated to Dana in W.V. California. Due to a severe drool, Dana is no longer able to enjoy the wines of Wind River Cellars without a bucket by her side.

Harvest party is set for October 13th. If you've been before you know how much fun it is. If you have not been before tune in to next weeks blog and I'll give you all of the details. You might also note that Pet Portrait Day is back and will be held September 29th. Dana, if you would like to come I'm sure we can photo shop your drool bucket out of the picture.

Stay Classy, Husum!

Joel

No matter what, man is not capable of postponing harvest. It comes regardless if you're ready or not. I'm 90% ready but I feel like I just finished the last press load of last years harvest. Merlot will be here in the next few days, followed by Tempranillo. From there on out it's balls to the walls.

Our harvest party will be the second or third Saturday in October. We will have a much better idea in a week or so. Planning such an event isn't just a matter of picking a day and calling it good. It's up to Ma Nature and some years she can be in a really bitchy mood.

Besides Merlot and Temp, we will be crushing Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Cab Franc, Syrah, and Lemberger. Feel free to come up and help. EOTM Runner-up, Ryan just pirated us some cable TV out in the cellar in case you get bored.


We will have a "Soft Release" of our '05 Lemberger here in the next few weeks. The Grand Release will be Thanksgiving weekend. Soft release means that it's for sale to people who know about it (blog readers, barrel members). Grand Release means we make a big deal out of it being ready and send out a huge announcement regarding its availability.

We've got some great weather here for the next several days. If you come up I'll let you taste these soon to be released wines out of the barrel.

You release me, Husum!

Joel

Despite nice weather, I consider this, Labor Day, the last day of what has been a great summer. Harvest is getting close and I'm actually excited about it. I'm thrilled to announce that 2007 tempranillo will come from my favorite wine growing region in the world, Horse Heaven. Our first four vintages of this fantastic variety were grown hear in the Columbia Gorge AVA but the opportunity to work more with the Andrews family and Horse Heaven fruit was just too good to pass up.

This has been the busiest Labor Day weekend ever. Two more barrel members have joined the flock and I'm already looking forward to the barrel members dinner in April. Visitors of the week included the couple from Oklahoma, the couple from Puyallup, the village people from Portland and the group who came up for a private tasting in the barrel room Saturday night. After the private tasting we all went to Hooba's to enjoy some food and beverage.

I've aged 20 years over the past two weeks because my pump has been broken. No, not that pump. My winery pump that I use for almost every procedure in winemaking. I finally bit the bullet and bought a new one. Now I'm pumping everything in sight.

I've had several people approach me and ask if they can come up and help during harvest. You loyal readers know the rule. If you come up to help you have to bring stolen office supplies from your cubical. I might even let you touch my pump.

The Wind River Cellars Holiday in Mexico continues to grow in numbers. EOTM Runner-up, Ryan has committed and will be serving up beverages in his company issued thong.

You still have time to come up before the fall. Don't forget the stolen office supplies.

Keep on pumpin' Husum!

Joel