Wind River Cellars

It's nice to see that the price of gas isn't keeping you all away. This past weekend reminded me of what summer is like around here as we hosted what seemed like millions of visitors. I enjoyed meeting all of you who attended Zena's 40th birthday party on Sunday.

Last week I briefly mentioned what a great time I had pouring wine at Vino Bello, in Burien. This wine bar isn't the usual stuffy wine bar that thinks jazz is the only music that goes well with wine. Michelle and her staff are a lot of fun and I look forward to many returns.

2007 Riesling is now available and if you can see your face in the group photo from harvest party (mid-October blog entry) I will give you an additional 10% off on a case purchase. Get it while it's here.

I've had so many visitors this past week that It's difficult to pick favorites. The nice couple from New Jersey come to mind, as do the kayakers from Portland. Dee Dee from Beaverton and Jan from Puyallup always bring a good time also.

It's never too early to book your rafting trip on the White Salmon. Go to http://www.riverdrifters.net or http://zooraft.com. Both of these companies do an excellent job and they are both just minutes from our tasting room.

The Wind River Cellars Golf Scramble will be held July 19th. Several teams have already signed up and last year nearly every player went home with a prize. If you would like to be on my team you will be subjected to foul language, club throwing and superhuman beer consumption. Perhaps this is why I don't have a team yet.

I can always play with myself, Husum!

Joel

This weather sucks and I refuse to blog until it improves. (When I do blog I will tell you all about the great time I had at Vino Bello in Burien last Saturday.) I'll be back later in the week with an update. I'm bottling my little butt off this week. '07 Riesling will be available this weekend. This doesn't count as a blog entry because, like I said, I refuse to blog until the weather improves.

Help me with the weather, Husum!

Joel

80 degree day for the barrel dinner. What could be better? As you can see from the photos below, a lot of fun was had. The party went late into the evening and we were pleased to see everybody renew their memberships.

This Friday Kris will be pouring wine at Bonneville Hot Spring Resort. Saturday she'll be doing the same at the Inn of White Salmon. If you're in the hood stop by and say hello. I'll be pouring wine Saturday at Vino Bello wine bar in Burien. You've read my praise for this place before and Saturday there will be live music to go with the wines I'll be pouring. For those of you that haven't had a chance to get to Husum lately, this is a great chance for you to taste some our new releases.

Visitors of the week include all of you Barrel Members who came out for the annual shindig, the nice couple from Camas who were heading to Pullman to visit their daughter, and the couple from Portland who came up to pick up the very last case of 2006 Riesling. Don't worry, we'll be releasing the 2007 in the next two weeks.


Barrel Dinner is fun but I sure am glad it only comes once a year, Husum!

Joel

Vineyard Manager, Gavin offers his date, Janet, a little squirt.

Aaron from Solstice Cafe in Bingen serves up his famous Wood fire Oven Pizza for Italian night barrel dinner

Barrel Members Tom & Karen Reid informing Kris that Wind River Cellars is out of 2006 Riesling!

Barrel Members Bruce & Alicia sharing a taste of giggle

North Shore Wine Cellars winemaker Craig Sawyer dippin' into the WRC

We're off to the coast on official winery business. Former Employee of the month runner-up, Ryan will be here to greet you in the tasting room. He was bumped by Julie, who filled in on the bottling line. Now Julie is the Employee of the month, runner-up. Don't worry Ryan, she was just temporary.

Visitors of the week included the return guests from Ohio, the fun doctor and his wife from Chicago and the locals from White Salmon.

This coming Saturday is Barrel Club Dinner. I can't wait to see all of you barrel members!

You're always a barrel of fun, Husum!

Joel

The picture below is from the 19th annual Capital Food and Wine festival last weekend. I've had a lot of great times at this event over the years and this year was no exception. For the second time in two weeks, Wind River Cellars Cabernet Franc was given an award for outstanding quality. I don't care a whole lot about these judgings and to tell you the truth I don't know who the judges were, but I do care about the feedback I get from festival goers and once again they made us the top selling winery.

Kris will be pouring wine this weekend at Taste Washington in Seattle. This event has never been my cup of tea so I'm staying home and manning the tasting room. I've been on the road the last three weekends and I'm actually looking forward to turning on some music, opening the doors and enjoying the expected sunshine.

We'll be heading to the coast on Monday for some official winery business, but I'm way looking forward to the annual Barrel Members Dinner the following Saturday. Every barrel member gets a turkey baster when theyshow up and we all drink. . .er. . .uh. . .taste out of the barrels the entire night. My homies from Solstice in Bingen will be catering the dinner. If you ever get a chance to stop by Solstice, I highly recommend their wood oven pizza.

April 19th I will be doing a tasting at Vino Bello in Burien. This is a great wine bar and the owner, michelle will be throwing out food and live music.

Check out the website for other upcoming events here at the winery.

You're plenty festive, Husum!

Joel

Capital Food & Wine - 2008