Top Ten Reasons To Celebrate Wine in The New Year

As we approach the ‘tween years of the new millennium, there are many things to be excited about in the world of wine. Our own Chris Chan has compiled a list of things you should definitely be checking out next year. Hell, do it now.

By Christopher Chan

#10. Tasting Rooms

There are over 100 wineries within thirty miles of downtown Seattle, and that means many, many places to celebrate wine! So much wine, so much time (a whole year) to visit, view, sip and decide before you buy! Just remember to be cool and courteous just like the tasting room staff, and you’ll have a blast. Plus, no glasses to wash afterwards!

#9. Wine Bloggers

There’s an old saying about opinions… everyone’s got a pair and now there’s more than a “million” reviews, recommendations, and write-ups on wine. In fact, this June, Walla Walla will be hosting the 2010 Wine Blogger’s Conference. Read some, write some, heck… don’t cost nothin’. So, get your iPhones ready, and come and get your “blog” on, or if you’d rather…“tweet” this!

#8. Screw Caps

Now you can look suave and debonair and as cool as your local super-Sommelier with just a twist of the wrist. Screw caps make wine easy to open and easier to close; plus there’s never any worry of the dreaded “cork taint” or TCA-246. Screw caps or “Stelvin Enclosures” are de rigueur for quality wines these days – no longer the stigma for plonk – as even a $500.00 bottle of Henschke’s Hill of Grace comes with a twist cap – party on!

#7. Wine Bars & Restaurants

Wine is the “martini” of the new millennium.  Enjoy a glass at lunch (so very European!) with food–it’s a mini-vacation, and it’s healthy as it serves as a digestif, aperitif and relieves a little stress. A double-espresso afterwards will get you back into work mode.

#6. PONCHO Wine Auction is Back

The one and only holy grail of wine auction adoration is coming May 22 at the Seattle Sheraton. Get involved, donate some wine or your summer home in Burgundy and your uncle’s mobile home in Prosser. Volunteer or buy a ticket. It all goes to keep this town a home for world-class art, dance, symphony and song.

#5. WINO Magazine

The write place at the write time – this is the space to celebrate wine! Support your local independent winozine – tell your friends, read online, follow us on twitter, and come to our events. We promise to show you how to have fun…but getting home safely is solely your responsibility. Remember, friends don’t let friends miss an story in WINO.

#4. Washington Wine Commission

From small beginnings to world-wide domination this turbo-team of savvy and seasoned marketers are helping raise the Washington Wine Flag around the globe. Just check out TASTE Washington, the Auction of Washington Wines, 20Something and a host of national and international promotional campaigns that are making the “dirt” in Yakima and vines in Walla Walla famous! Just ask Columbia Crest who received a #1 Ranking by those Spectators of Wine. Big Purple Teethy Smiles for you!

#3. Another Vintage

Every year, we have a whole new world of wine to study, learn, sip, spit, swallow and wallow in.  There’s always something special to discover or uncork…er .. twist off, so set your engines for warp speed and boldly go open a wine that we’ve never opened before! I’m pretty sure in one episode that Captain Kirk drank a Tyrilean Syrah that was from the original root stock from Dick Boushey’s vineyard in Yakima!

#2. Support Your Local Economy

In the words of some former famous politician…let the wine drop from your glass trickle-down economics. It’s simple–buy Washington wine, save the world! Everybody wins (or wines!)…Jim planted the grapes, Jill tended the vines, Javier harvested the grapes, Jerry hauled them to the winery, Joanne sorted and crushed the grapes, Jeramiah started the fermentation, Julie did the punch-downs, John racked the wine into barrels, James bottled the wine, George bought the wine, Judd stocked the shelf, and you bought it and fell in love! Buy Washington – Live Washington!

#1. In Vino Veritas

Let the truth be told… Wine is Good, It Makes Friends, and It Makes People Smile. I love Wine, I have Friends and I’m Smiling right now. Go ahead, make my day and join me for a sip hello…I look forward to seeing you out in our beautiful backyard of wine country, wineries, wine shops, events, tastings and more…share a bottle of wine with someone–anyone–it’ll make the world a better place for you and me.

Cheers to 2010!!!