Episode 43 | The Louis M. Martini legacy and where Cabernet Sauvignon is king
Michael Eddy & Brenae Royal
Winemaker & Monte Rosso Vineyard Manager, Louis M. Martini
Winemaker Michael Eddy and Vineyard Manager Brenae Royal from California’s revered Louis M. Martini winery are preserving the legacy of one of California’s most esteemed wineries. Learn how Michael became only the fourth Director of Winemaking in the history of Louis M. Martini, and how Brenae became vineyard manager in record time at one of the oldest and most desirable Napa valley growing sites, the famed Monte Rosso Vineyard.
Explore and visit Louis M. Martini
Wine storage tips & our Washington Cabernet Sauvignon picks
We examine the aging, maturation, and drinking of Cabernet Sauvignon. When exactly is the right time to open those big, bold reds? Plus, we’ll list some of our favorite Cabs from Washington state.
Photographs courtesy of Louis M. Martini
Episode 41 | Tony Rynders: Master of Oregon Pinot Noir
Tony Rynders
Winemaker, Panther Creek Cellars
Panther Creek Cellar’s winemaker Tony Rynders has had a fascinating journey as a vintner, one that’s taken him from the Pacific Northwest to California and back again. Along this path, he’s garnered one of the more stellar reputations in the industry for creating award-winning Pinot Noir and unique white blends highly prized by fans of wines from Oregon state’s terroir. Dave & Sandi will discuss wineries with a presence in both Washington and Oregon, and reveal some of the wineries with cross state boundaries between Washington and Oregon, highlighting how our shared AVA’s (American Viticulture Area) inspire collaboration. Plus, they discuss their tasting notes of Panther Creek Cellars’ three single-vineyard Pinot Noirs and the Winemaker’s Cuveé.
Visit Panther Creek Cellars website
Episode 27 | Where Washington and Spain meet
Javier Alfonso
Idilico | Pomum Cellars
Javier Alfonso grew up in Spain’s Ribera de Duero on a small family vineyard. Find out his journey from one of the best wine regions in the world to a winemaker and grower in Washington State. Hear how he thought he left his childhood vineyard life behind for an aerospace engineering, only to have it call him back. He also shares the long process of getting his Spanish Tempranillo clones into the US and how the demand for clay amphoras has left a world-wide wait list.
Visit Idilico and Pomum Cellars
Albariño blind tasting challenge: Washington vs. Rias Baixas
Albariño is one of the many great white wines you should be drinking this summer. Learn how it’s unique and what foods make it sing. Then we reveal the results of our Albariño blind tasting! We wondered, could Washington State hold up to the the Albariño masters of the world, Rias Baixas in Spain, and how different or similar would we be in comparison?
Learn more about Rias Baixas Albariño or find where to buy
Thank you, Stefanie Schwalb, Senior Content Manager at GREGORY + VINE for providing selections of Albariño from Rias Baixas.
FOOD PAIRING & RECIPE
Sole with Albariño sauce
Ingredients
- 2 whole sole
- ½ onion
- bay leaves
- 1 clove of garlic
- 1 glass of Albariño wine
- olive oil
- freshly squeezed lemon juice
- salt
Method
Clean the sole, cut the fillets and set the bones aside. In a pan, mix the fish bones with 1 glass of Albariño wine, ½ an onion, 1 bay leaf and 1 clove of garlic and gently cook on low for 15 minutes before draining through a sieve.
Put the fillets in the oven with a few drops of oil and lemon juice. Let them cook for 5 minutes on medium heat and then pour over the Albariño stock.
When the stock starts to simmer, remove the fish from the oven and serve.
Find more Albariño food pairings here.
Pomum Cellars photography curtesy of Javier Alfonso | Recipe photo curtesy of RiasBaixas.com
Episode 32 | The Cellar Muse: Tanya Morning Star Darling
Tanya Morning Star Darling
Cellar Muse | Official Bourgogne Wines Ambassador
Tanya is an official Bourgogne Wine Ambassador, a faculty member at the Northwest Wine Academy, and educator for the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, Wine Scholar Guild and the Certified Specialist of Wine courses. Additionally, through Cellar Muse, she offers focused, 2-hour wine Masterclasses and exclusive study trips to France, Italy and Napa Valley.
If learning about wine, and all of its complexities seems challenging and intimidating, we assure you, you’re not alone. We realized that taking this journey of wine would be more meaningful with tangible knowledge under our belts. We enrolled in the Portland-based Wine & Spirits Archive WSET 2 certification course held at the Northwest Wine Academy. It was here that we first met, Tanya Morning Star Darling and experienced the exceptional way she connects with her students.
Level up your wine knowledge with Cellar Muse
Our guide to notable Pacific NW wine events
Washington State’s wine industry offers its enthusiasts a vast array of events that bring thousands together all the way to intimate, exclusive experiences. February and March specifically keeps us on our toes on a weekly basis. We give your an overview of the more notable 2020 events in our state along with two must-do internationally known ones on Oregon and Vancouver B.C.
So, get out your calendar and follow along!
Episode 30 | Charlie & Will Hoppes: A Red Mountain Legacy
Charlie & Will Hoppes
1st and 2nd generation winemakers, Fidelitas | Wine Boss
This episode is Part 2 about the heralded Red Mountain AVA and the generational stories that carry these wines into the future.
2019 marked Charlie Hoppes’ 32nd vintage in Washington State—and a wine making enterprise he and his son, Will Hoppes, now share together. Charlie has a storied journey having worked with Mike Januik, Waterbrook Winery, Chateau Ste. Michelle, Col Solare, and Three Rivers Winery before founding Fidelitas on Red Mountain.
Will heads up the Woodinville tasting room and he joined his father this year in the vineyards and cellar. Together, they are building a multi-generational team whose best vintages are yet to come.
Visit Fidelitas on Red Mountain
Visit Fidelitas in Woodinville
Red Mountain: A premier wine destination
Plan your trip to the Red Mountain wine destination here. Don’t miss Episode 29 for Part 1 where you’ll hear about our stay at The Lodge at Columbia Point, our interview with one of the people who started it all, John Williams, along with 3rd generation winemaker Tyler Williams. Plus our wineries to check out on your trip like the French inspired estate, Hedges Family Vineyards, Hightower and Tapteil.
Visit Hamilton Cellars
Visit Anelare
Visit Upchurch Vineyard
Visit Frichette Winery
Visit Purple Star
Thank you, Erin Osborne, President of Osborne Northwest Public Relations, a boutique PR agency specializing in lifestyle and hospitality public relations. AND thank you to Alicia Brown, the Executive Director of The Red Mountain AVA Alliance for helping to arrange the weekend’s events.
Episode 34 | Living a Legacy: Jason Gorski of DeLille Cellars
Jason Gorski
DeLille Cellars | Director of Winemaking and Viticulture
DeLille Cellars has been celebrated since its inception in 1992. Their Bordeaux and Rhone-style blends have earned them over 180 wines scored at 90+ points, totaling over 500 individual 90+ scores from leading critics, and was one of the first five wineries in Washington State to receive Robert Parker’s 5-star/Outstanding rating.
Jason Gorski leads the winemaking and viticulture helm at the new production facility and gorgeous tasting room in Woodinville, WA. He has earned numerous national and local awards, including a coveted position on the 2018 Wine Spectator Top 100 list for the 2015 Signature Syrah and recognition from Wine & Spirits “Top 100 Wineries of the World” awards for both 2017 and 2018.
Jason is guiding the legacy of DeLille with skill, attention to the detail and care for the people that help ensure DeLille will continue to be a leader in Washington’s and the world’s wine scenes.
Visit and shop DeLille Cellars
Bordeaux Basics
The region of Bordeaux is located in the southwest of France on the Atlantic coast. Near the city of Bordeaux, two rivers meet and form the Gironde estuary that flows out to the Atlantic. These rivers divide the landscape into three areas, the Left Bank, the Right Bank and the Entre Deux-Mers (between two rivers) which is situated in the middle of the two waterways.
We talk about the Big Six Bordeaux red varietals, the newly incorporated grapes due to climate change and the predominant white varietals. Bordeaux is famous for dry reds but they produce the finest dessert wines known as, “liquid gold” and we describe the general primary flavor profiles found in the region.
