2007 Neil Ellis Pinotage

*Bottle #54: 2007 Neil Ellis Stellenbosch Pinotage
*Price Tag: $23
*Running Tab: $652

Duh du du DUH! (That was my attempted trumpet horn simulation).

Announcing the second step to my new year blog approach: Guest bloggers! This week, for the inaugural guest blogger kick off, I persuaded another industry wino to consume something other than his boss’ juice. Really twisted his arm with free wine. Please welcome N.J.

Taste Off

On Thursday night, over beer, conversation turned to wine, as it often does when drinking beer. I won’t mention any names, but someone told someone that he had a “Robert Parker palate.” Bollocks. With all due praise, adulation and the calling down of the heavenly hosts for Mr. Parker, no one wants to be told he has someone else’s palate. Nobody. Them’s fightin’ words.

So, for the sake of the preservation of honor, dignity and reputation, it was agreed that we would go toe to toe. In a taste off. A no-holds-barred grudge match over wine. May the best man win.

Stanley: A Dogumentary

This from our friends at The Tasting Room:

After much anticipation, our favorite local filmmaker, Greg Johnson, has finally completed Stanley: A Dogumentary, about our beloved pooch. The film follows our four-legged, one-eyed friend around Pike Place Market and beyond as he captures the hearts of everyone he encounters with his human-like qualities and easy-going rapport. This endearing “dogumentary” will have you shedding tears of joy as you watch how Stanley connects friends, introduces lovers, and creates a fan base in a local wine shop.

Because this world premiere is just too big (and our space just too limited), we’re hosting two special screenings of Stanley: A Dogumentary. Join us Wednesday, March 11, or Friday, March 27, at 7 pm, to enjoy a glass of wine and this fabulous, 52-minute film. Admittance is just $15 and proceeds benefit Ginger’s Pet Rescue (www.gingerspetrescue.org), which specializes in death-row dogs.

Please RSVP by calling 206-770-9463 or emailing Jen at jen@winesofwashington.com. Space is extremely limited, and we may not be able to accommodate walk-ins. We hope you can make it!

2006 Novelty Hill Stillwater Creek Viognier

*Bottle #53: 2006 Novelty Hill Stillwater Creek Viognier
*Price Tag: 22
*Running Tab: $639

Being the new year – my new year of the blog, not the Chinese – I have decided to take a no-holds-barred approach. No, I will not be posting topless photos, you won’t find me making out with all of those Seattle celebrities at the club and I won’t be shaving my head any time soon (RIP Crazy Britney).

I’m talking a new blog me. First step: honor my virtues. In the case of this review, I have to be upfront, honest and admit that I am a former staff-member of the Novelty Hill-Januik Wineries.

Pendulum 2006 Red Wine

*Bottle #52: Pendulum 2006 Columbia Valley Red Wine
*Price Tag: $18
*Running Tab: $617

This right here is my 52nd review and I just happened to inadvertently post it on the exact one-year date. Yay, subconsciously brilliant me!

But why this wine for such an epic and cardinal affair?

Since I seem to be the only one celebrating (I am, however, awaiting my huge success that is to come after joining Twitter, according to my tech-infused PR friends), I went with a bottle to satisfy me. Just like a woman and damn proud of it.

Economy Scheconomy

Many have speculated that wine is recession-proof (and, indeed, WINO has lauded the wine consumer for their loyal tenacity), based on statistical and anecdotal evidence, however sketchy. On the statistical side, wine sales have reported increases nationwide; though people are buying less expensive wines, but more of it. On the anecdotal side, people are thought to be buying wine to enjoy while spending an evening at home rather than hitting the clubs; that wine adds a degree of fanciness, even while cutting costs, helping to ease the pain of tightening purse strings; or that, like most “vices,” other things will be cut out of the budget before the things we love.

WSU Official Honored by Wine Grape Growers

Robert G. Stevens, who serves as director of Washington State University’s Prosser Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center, received an Industry service Award from the Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers at the organization’s award luncheon Friday in Kennewick.

“Bob not only contributed to the success of grape and wine growers through his work as a soil scientist but also in his recent role as interim center director at Prosser,” said Vicky Scharlau, executive director of the association.

“He is truly one of our unsung heroes doing work required but largely unnoticed,” she said. “We just wanted him to know that we noticed and we appreciate all he’s done for our industry and for the other ag sectors he serves.”

Stevens, Extension soil specialist and member of the WSU faculty for 24 years, has been serving as interim director of the Prosser center since 2004.

At Long Last…

It seems to have been a while, doesn’t it? The last bi-monthly release was in November, and we took January off for some R&R (the sparkling flowed with gusto on New Year’s Eve). Both in conversation and in countless emails, we were asked when the next issue would be out. The wine-drinking populace spoke with concern, anticipation, and a wee bit of impatience to get their hands on another WINO. Well, wait no more, friends. 

The latest issue of WINO Magazine was born on Friday, and was brought out into public yesterday with much fanfare and congratulatory back-slapping. (Cigars all around…)

This month is full of some great stuff, too. Packed, actually, since we distilled it down to 24 pages. That just means that there is more content exclusively found at winomagazine.com. Since the beginning, WINO has offered Online Exclusives–not just blog posts, but full features–and will continue to do so, so keep checking back so you don’t miss anything.

As for the print edition, we will continue distributing this week, so keep a sharp eye out. And, for all of you social-media types, feel free to follow us on Facebook and Twitter. We’ll keep leaving bread-crumb trails for you.

Cheers!

An Open Letter to the Washington Wine Industry

By Jen Doak
Manager, The Tasting Room

Dear Washington State Wineries,

I love that the turn of a new year symbolizes new beginnings. From the seasonal shifts to the start of a fresh calendar, it is a natural time to be optimistic, hopeful and curious.

It is my desire that most of you take this fresh start as an opportunity to channel your inner Curious George and realize that being complacent is no longer serving you. George left his surroundings to live in the big city, and I encourage you to mix it up as well.

Our industry is spoiled. Our landscape and geography has given us this great soil and topography to make beautiful wines. We’d been losing professionals to other wine regions due to the lack of education in enology and viticulture. The State Legislature answered our prayers by providing curriculum at the community college and university level. Wine consumption rates are increasing across the United States while beer and spirits are decreasing.

What’s missing? We can do better. We can ask for help. We can admit that not having all the answers is not a sign of weakness but rather a sign of strength.

How many of you actually have a business plan? Do you have a marketing plan in conjunction with that? Do you have a mission statement? Your vision and values should be integrated with every part of your visual and brand development.

Everything you do is a reflection on the company. You might say, “No kidding, Jen,” but let me tell you that I’ve received so many emails from winemakers inviting me to events with typos or missing information. I’ve shaken hands with winery reps wanting more information about their wines, and they didn’t have a business card. I’ve done research on the internet to find many websites are an afterthought or non-existent. And don’t even get me started about label designs that are out there. This is a critical insight into who you are and the first thing that connects you to the consumer.

I want you to succeed, and I want what is on the inside to show on the outside. The old saying “A book isn’t judged by its cover” sadly does not apply to the wine world.

Please know that this criticism is not served without praise. You have established us as a force to be reckoned with in an international arena. You have given up your day jobs in hopes of turning a passionate hobby into a profession. We are an industry known to help out our fellow winemakers in times of need. You’ll loan your crush pad to a neighbor. An industry blog posts that so-and-so has a broken labeler, and many of you step up to lend a hand. Large wineries release contracts with vineyards during a freeze so that the smaller wineries have wines to produce. You are unique. You are special. You make wines that deserve more attention.

A dedicated fan,

Jen Doak

[The views and opinions expressed in this open letter are those of the writer, and not necessarily that of WINO Magazine. -The Editor]

And…We Are Back

Neither rain, nor sleet, nor slow…

Recently, an acquaintance asked us, “So, since you’ve been into this wine thing, have you collected lots of wine paraphernalia?” Asking her what she meant, the mind immediately rested on the empty wine bottles collecting like lint on kitchen counters, waiting silently to be put to rest in the recycling bin. She clarified, referring to antique silver wine-tasting cups, corkscrews, glass tags, et al. Hmmm… The short answer was, “No.” Hell, we can’t even seem to cellar any wines, let alone accumulate a bunch of collectible accessories. That’s not to say that an antique tasting cup or some such bauble isn’t marvy in its own right. If we were to devote time to collections, there are worse things that could gather dust in our apartments than pewter tasting spoons or a wrought iron bottle holders. These trinkets, we suppose, are the equivalent of custom cell phone jackets and clever bumper stickers, a way to embellish something one loves. But, for us, it’s all about the wine.

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