Punches

AQ_PUNCHES from John Wiseman on Vimeo.

Eden Cellars 2003 Forbidden Red Wine

*Bottle #33: Eden Cellars 2003 Columbia Valley Forbidden Red Wine
*Price: $13
*Running Tab: $447

On a hedonistic indulgence binge, I consumed a large amount of wine, all starting with this little number from Eden Cellars. I thought if I’m going to intentionally sin, I might as well do it with a wine sporting devilishly good fashion.

Smartly positioned and coyly playing off the biblical and sinful desire for the prohibited, Eden Cellars’ Forbidden Red quotes the great Mark Twain with such tact and perfection. “There is a charm about the forbidden that makes it unspeakably desirable,” Twain wrote. Nicely said and kudos to Eden Cellars for making the connection. If there are two things we all know I love together, it is wine and well-versed older men. No point in denying it anymore.

An SNL Tribute to Cork Soakers

This has nothing to do with wine…

But it has everything to do with awesome. It gets really good at about :55. Enjoy.

A British Eye on Washington

Peter Grogan published a nice article for the Telegraph in the UK yesterday, singing the praises of Washington Wine.  In it, he pointed out to the world what we’ve already known in Washington for quite some time–our wines are outstanding.

He speaks of the desert climate of Eastern Washington (for the record, Peter, it’s not a desert, it’s a semi-arid grassland…”desert” is merely a colloquialism), the influx of European winemakers into the state (for example, at Col Solare), the quality control and sustainable practices of our vineyards and wineries, and the awards we’ve been winning, including 277 “outstanding” 90+ ratings by Robert Parker in 2006, which he believes is “a sure sign that the wines are progressing in leaps and bounds.”

While this last note merely means that many Washington wines may be getting closer to Parker’s personal preferences, it’s true that the Washington wine industry is “progressing in leaps and bounds.”  Some wines are getting better, and other wines have been great for quite some time.  Take, for example, Bainbridge Island Vineyards & Winery, who have been making fantastic Siegerrebe and Müller-Thurgau for over three decades. (Oh yeah, Peter, we don’t only have vineyards in Eastern Washington.) But much of the “progress” comes from the sheer size of the industry in Washington. A new winery is bonded every week, on average, and the quality bar is already set very high, so the learning curve for new wineries is steep, forcing wines to be “outstanding” nearly at the onset.

Thanks to Peter Grogan for recognizing Washington Wines. Tell all your friends to buy them.

Misadventures in Wine

Meet the Smiths, a Maryland couple who traveled through Washington and Oregon wine country buying up the amazing wines offered here, and who had a wonderful time doing so.  But, according to Paul Gregutt’s column in the Seattle Times, things went awry when the Smiths tried to take their wine home.

Travelers are not allowed to take alcoholic beverages onboard commercial airplanes, but are allowed to check them as luggage.  However, there are laws that regulate how much you can take.  According to the TSA, “You may take up to five liters of alcohol with alcohol content between 24% and 70% per person as checked luggage if it’s packaged in a sealable bottle or flask.  Alcoholic beverages with less than 24% alcohol content are not subject to hazardous materials regulations.”

Unfortunately for the Smiths, the folks at SeaTac airport weren’t familiar with these regulations.  They told the Smiths that they could only take five bottles each, forcing them to dispose of the rest of the three cases they were hoping to take back to Maryland.  When trying to do so, the TSA agent actually asked if she could have it.

Shipping wine is an option, but each state has different laws about shipping wine, so that can be a bit tricky.

As you begin to travel for the holidays, take a lesson out of the Smiths’ book, and plan ahead. Gregutt advises that you call the airline first, and also take a printed copy of the regulations with you to the airport.  It’s good advice.  We at WINO would hate to see all that juice go to waste.  However, if you need to dispose of your wine, we might also suggest sending it to:

WINO Magazine
2222 2nd AVE STE 100
Seattle, WA 98121 

The “Elixer of Life.”

You read about it all the time in the news, and even here on winomagazine.com–wine is good for your health. It turns out, however, that back in 1715, a wine concoction was being sold in an Italian pharmacy as a secret to long life, according to an article at Thaindian News.

An old secret recipe was recently discovered for an elixer made of Chianti infused with honey, cherries and secret herbs. Giovanni De Munari, who found his ancestor’s recipe, brewed up a batch of the the stuff, and declared it a “low-calorie, highly digestive alcoholic infusion, which tasted delicious.”

Until the mid-19th century, Chianti was made exclusively from Sangiovese grapes, and De Munari decided to use Sangiovese exclusively in his brew. A red grape, Sangio has the resveratrol that is all the rage in the science community right now.

So, the next time you stop by your local GNC for all of those dietary supplements, maybe you should just stop by your local wine shop instead.

Balsamroot Winery 2007 Edelzwicker

*Bottle #32: Balsamroot Winery 2007 Columbia Valley Edelzwicker
*Price: $18
*Running Tab: $434 (yowza!)

See that picture in the bottom right? That was at the adorable little house that is Balsamroot Winery, home of Ivan the Red, Endless Summer Rose, plentifully abundant antipasti boards and a pourer who claimed to not wear his wedding ring because he was above the restraints of symbolism.

Later that night, after excessive wine-ing and a few dozen tequila shots down, we ran into said winerd who was acting much more like he just didn’t believe in marriage, let alone the symbolism of the marital band not on his finger. Men.

WWC Hosting Elite Road Trip

The guys and gals at the Washington Wine Commission have cooked up a state-wide tour for 48 “elite” wine buyers from around the country. The tour begins in Seattle and manages its way through Yakima Valley, Columbia Valley, and Walla Walla Valley, stopping at various wineries and vineyards along the way. The why? “[To introduce] Washington wine producers and grape growers to key wine buyers from across the United States, facilitating new markets and increased sales.”  The tour begins on September 27th and goes through October 1st. Three of the stops on this OMG-so-jealous wine tour are Woodward Canyon vineyard, Bookwalter Winery, and Boushey vineyards.

A Crushing Opportunity

Vin Du Lac Winery in Chelan has made a call for help in this year’s crush. If you’re a true wino, you will find yourself at one of the hundreds of crush and harvest events this season… and next, and next. Below is the info you need:

September 14th-16th- Looking for volunteers to help with bottling. Sunday thru Tuesday. Please call 509.682.2882 or email Stacy@vindulac.com to sign up for a time.

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