Wind River Cellars

I hope everybody had as much fun over Thanksgiving as I did. I enjoyed all of you who ventured up to Husum's favorite winery to pick up wine for the holidays. Thanksgiving weekend has always drawn lots of visitors to wineries and it seems that word is getting out that the Columbia Gorge wineries have a lot to offer.

The cellar is pretty much back to normal after harvest as many of you noticed over the weekend. I knew it had to be clean for my favorite visitors, Jan and Gary from Puyallup. Jan hooked me up with a box of stolen office supplies last year during my first stolen office supply drive. I'd mention all of the other people who brought me stolen office supplies but I'm afraid they would get fired. If you really want to stick it to your employer, just raid the supply closet. I will offer additional case discounts for whatever useful items you bring me.

Time is running out for you to visit the tasting room before the end of the year. Next Saturday I will be pouring at George's Wine Shoppe in Bellvue while Kris pours at another one of my favorite wine stores, Corky Cellars in Des Moines. Employee of the month runner-up, Ryan will be your host in the tasting room. December 6th and
7th will be the last weekend of the year that we will be open. The following weekend we will be heading south for the 11th annual WRC Holiday in Mexico event. If you want to order wine for the holidays do it before then. If you mention this stupid blog I'll even throw in free shipping.

Below is a picture from our annual library tasting. Dozens and dozens of past vintages were opened. If you look closely at the picture you'll notice that Wayne B. isn't in it. That's because he RSVPd and then never showed up. I sincerely apologize to those of you who wanted to come but were unable to because Wayne B reserved a spot you could have used. Wayne B. will rot in eternal Hell fire for not calling to inform us that he would not be attending. Wayne, I hope your Thanksgiving turkey got dropped on the floor and your dog ate it before you could pick it up.

Have the best holiday season ever, Husum! (Except Wayne B.)

joel

Welcome to Cloud Frickin' 9. This is where people go after they've pressed their last load of grapes for the year. Every year I go from Cloud Frickin' 9 to Mexico with stops at Corky Cellars and George's Wine Shoppe on the way. I feel like Lap Dance Jon did when he found out that the Nanny wasn't pregnant with his child. Below are pictures of the last load of grapes. This has been the best harvest we've ever had.

Thanks to all of you that came out to visit me at my two tastings last weekend. Friday night I was at D&W Fine Wines in Bonney Lake and Saturday night I was at Vino Bello in Burien. I sincerly meant to snap some pictures of both places for you to see, but like last week at Fremont Wine Warehouse, I spaced.

After the tasting at Vino Bello I went out with a few friends in West Seattle, an area where I spent my formidable years. I've seen some very spectacular things in my day. I witnessed Gaylord Perry win his 300th game. I saw the fall of the Berlin Wall. I even remember astronauts landing on the moon. But the most incredible thing I've ever witnessed is the parallel parking job that my friend Linda did Saturday night. I snapped a picture of it but for some reason the photo came out blurry. Linda, that was truly amazing. I could die tomorrow and feel like I've seen it all.

We've got Library Tasting coming up, along with Thanksgiving Open House. If you have any questions fire me an email. By the way, we're getting very close to being out of Gold Medal Winning '06 Cabernet Franc. Get some. The '07 will be dedicated to Linda.

Nice parking, Husum!

Joel

2008 Lemberger about to go into the press.

Let me begin by telling all of you how much fun I had pouring wine last Saturday afternoon at the Fremont Wine Warehouse. Fremont is the center of the universe and the Wine Warehouse is the center of Fremont. Owner Michael decided to focus on wines under $25 and judging from the number of people who came in, his shop should be a great success.

All grapes are in. Soon everything will be in the barrel and I'll be able to focus all of my attention on the WRC Holiday in Mexico. For those of you wondering, my new destemming/crushing system worked like a champ and I can't wait for all of you to taste the results in the coming months.

This weekend I will be pouring wine at D&W Wines in Bonney Lake on Friday night and Vino Bello in Burien on Saturday night. I've done tastings/bottle signings at both of these places before and had an absolute blast at both. Vino Bello will have live music. I usually limit my dancing to George's Wine Shoppe in Bellvue where a poll stands right in the middle of the room but if I can find a partner that likes to Tango you might see some of my hot moves. Speaking of George's, I'll be there on December 6th. George is very ashamed to admit that my poll dancing is hysterical. He'll roll his eyes and pretend to be annoyed but the way I work that poll is like a train wreck. You just can't help but watch.

Don't forget about our library tasting on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. I don't know of any other winery that does anything like this. Don't RSVP if you're not coming.

Come up for a visit. I'll show you my destemmer/crusher and then teach you my Tango moves.

Save the last dance for me, Husum!

Joel

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. No, not Wind River Cellars Holiday in Mexico, the end of harvest 2008. This has been a crazy week and I've been busier than a one legged man at an ass kicking contest. The only thing I'm still waiting on is Lemberger. In a year that is suppose to be down, I couldn't be happier with the quality.

Though there is still much work to be done in the cellar in the coming weeks, I'll be taking my show on the road for several tastings/bottle signings. The first one will be next Saturday November 8th in the People's Republic of Fremont at the Fremont Wine Warehouse (Seattle) This is a brand new wine shop that will host its grand opening with entertainment, food and me. If you need more details just drop me an email. The following Saturday I will make my return to Vino Bello in Burien. If you were not able to attend the last time I was there, let me just say that this is a great time. Check out Vino Bello's website and you'll get the vibe about this cool place.

Don't forget that our annual Library Tasting is coming up the Sunday before Thanksgiving. We open every bottle we've ever produced since 1995. We host this event to show our appreciation for the support you have given us over the last decade. If you've never had our wine don't come. We have nothing to appreciate you for. If you are planning on showing up to this event please RSVP. We probably won't charge anything to attend but we need to know how many of you are coming.

As many of you know, Thanksgiving weekend is a very popular time to visit local wine regions. I don't need to tell you how much the Columbia Gorge has to offer but if you would like to visit Wind River Cellars and have the smart ass winemaker take you and your friends through the cellar for a private barrel tasting please contact us. I can make it happen. I know people. I'm a big shot around here.

I'll update you soon on other upcoming events. Right now I have to make you wine.

Take it all, Husum!

Joel