Big Fat Wine

Vitiano 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot/Sangiovese, IGT Umbria

Where it’s from:Montecchio Terni Umbria Italy.

Winemakers notes: A blend of 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and 34% Sangiovese, after fermentation they let the wine age for just three months in French Never oak barrels for a hint of oak character and a touch of added complexity.

Cherries and oak blast the pallet with this young wine, and although it is extremely flavourful, I need to disagree with most reviews and say it definitely isn’t “complex”. This is a good everyday beverage wine. Overall, it gets a “THIN” Score from Big Fat Wine. An average wine with little distinction except that it is soundly made.

I think I will give this another chance in the future and hope Bacchus shakes his magic corkscrew and it develops further.

[JBC]16September2010 / BFW

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Official State Portal

Arizona is the 48th state and last of the contiguous states admitted to the Union, achieving statehood on February 14, 1912  Arizona is noted for its desert climate, exceptionally hot summers, and mild winters, however it also features pine forests and mountain ranges in the northern high country, with cooler weather than in the lower deserts.

Arizona has three major wine growing regions, all in the high desert. The first region is in southern Arizona in the Sonoita/Elgin area. The Willcox area in Cochise County was the second area to come on board. And now the Verde Valley is the third region for growing grapes. The elevation of these vineyards range between 3800 ft. to almost 6000 ft., allowing nice hot days and cool nights during the grape growing season. Another up-and-coming area up north is the Skull Valley area with three vineyards. You’ll also find grapes growing scattered around the state in other areas such as Tombstone, Benson, Payson and Portal. The state has one American Viticultural Area (AVA). The Sonoita AVA is located in southeast Arizona, south of the city of Tucson. The Sonoita area is a basin surrounded by three mountain ranges, the Huachuca Mountains, the Santa Rita Mountains, and the Whetstone Mountains.

My parents reside in Cornville. I (almost) faithfully phone my mom every Saturday. When I tire of the wet weather here in Seattle, I envy the Arizona sunshine. Of course mom gets up at 4am to work in the yard and is in by 10am because it is too hot to be outdoors. Her husband Karl is making some wonderful creations from clay and is getting tons of recognition from the art community. Check out a few pieces of his artwork which is also available for purchase at the Oak Creek Vineyard & Winery;

Wine in the Desert? Several varieties of wine grapes  do very well in Arizona, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Sangiovese. Vineyards were first planted in Arizona in the 17th century by Franciscan missionaries. Today there are thirteen active wineries in the state, with over 650 acres of grapes being grown for the purpose of wine production.

Places to visit!

Alcantara Vineyards
Phone: (928) 649-8463
www.alcantaravineyard.com

Arizona Stronghold Vineyards
Phone: (928) 639-3004
www.arizonastrongholdvineyards.com

Caduceus Cellars
Phone: (928) 639-9463
www.caduceus.org

Callaghan Vineyards
Phone: (520) 455-5322
www.callaghanvineyards.com

Dos Cabezas WineWorks
Phone: (520) 455-5141
www.doscabezaswinery.com

Javelina Leap Vineyard & Winery
Phone: (928) 649-2681
www.javelinaleapwinery.com

Oak Creek Vineyards & Winery
Phone: (928) 649-0290
www.oakcreekvineyards.net

Page Springs Cellars
Phone: (928) 639-3004
www.pagespringcellars.com

Sonoita Vineyards
Phone: (520) 455-5893
www.sonoitavineyards.com

Visit these great tour offerings to help make your Arizona Wine experience both entertaining and informative;

The Verde Valley Wine Trail connects the dots between 4 wineries: Alcantara Vineyards, Page Springs Cellars, Oak Creek Vineyards, & Javelina Leap Vineyards, and 4 tasting rooms: Caduceus Cellars, Jerome Winery, Arizona Stronghold Vineyards, and Pillsbury Wine Company.

Arizona Vines and Wines features a variety of tours suited to the enjoyment of Arizona wines. Take a look at these creative maps for planning your tour(s). NORTHERN ARIZONA WINE TOUR – SONOITA/ELGIN WINE TOUR -  SOUTHEASTERN ARIZONA WINE TOUR

Including a  picnic lunch, you are guided through tastings at four wineries.
Arizona Grape Escapes

Arizona Horseback Experience
Phone: (520) 455-5696
www.horsebackexperience.com

Sedona Adventure Tours
Phone: (877) 673-3661
www.sedonaadventuretours.com

View Larger Map

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The weekends have been so perfect here lately, that’s rare. When the sun shines, we look for the biggest wave, leap in and paddle to our hearts content metaphorically speaking. Scheduling as many activities as we can into two days isn’t difficult, actually following through is!

Saturday, we ventured into Burien. Jona grew up was raised in that area but we never seem to visit often. Some good friends mentioned a wine bar there few years ago and we’ve been meaning to go, so off we went. Vino Bello!, It had such a cool name it had to be great, and it was. 152nd in Burien is actually quite quaint nowadays. The little shops and eateries bring a certain charm to the block and it was an awesome summer evening to walk hand in hand down the sidewalk.

Vino Bello Wine Bar was a gem! Bottles and local art  lined the walls and the music was pleasantly unique. We have often discussed the ambiance in wine bars and that we would really  appreciate some music that didn’t make us feel like our parents.  Led Zeppelin played at a socialable level in the background, rock and wine make a perfect combination.  Plus, we enjoyed the tasting, “Wines of Argentina”. These were great big tastes!

The one that stood out for us both was the Tomero Petite Verdot Reserva 2006. The Tomero Wines are made in Argentina and named for the TOMERO. The TOMERO became a part of the vineyard livelihood in 1883 and his presence continues today. His job is the distribution of irrigation water in those vineyards which, by law, are entitled to use the river water.  The TOMERO is hired by the landowners, and his job is to open and close the “Toma De Agua” (water intake channel) of each estate according to the number of water hours assigned.

This wine is reportedly aged in French Oak for 15 months and its  color is a deep dark purplish  black.  Nicely balanced would be an understatement, and quite honestly, that is what made this wine stand out. Full-bodied red with black plum and blackberry aromas.  Very  concentrated but not heavy. Perfect for beefs of all varieties.

We highly recommend Vino Bello in Burien.  We plan on returning soon and taking friends and family with us. The service was perfect! They were there when we needed them and they kept us in their vision in case we had that thirsty look in our eyes. Like I said before, the music was great and it made the wine and evening that much more pleasurable and complete. We ended up keeping our tasting to one hour because we wanted to go get dinner. We could have stayed later but trying to find a good meal after 10pm in Washington is a challenge to say the least. Does everyone really go to bed that early? Can’t we just stay up a little while longer?

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A few weeks ago we attended the annual members concert @ Chateau Ste. Michelle. It is always wonderful and our daughters Fiona and Liesel attended which is always a blessing. One of the great wines of the evening was a Gewürztraminer. While we compared tastes, nobody could comfortably pronounce this wine, with the exception of Fiona. I laughed as she accentuated the syllables and it was just plain fun!

Before the music began, I stood in line to purchase a few extra bottles for the duration of the evening. Of course I asked for some Tempestade but for the life of me, could not get the word Gewürztraminer out of my lips. I simply said wine that begins with the letter “G”.

Now I am not promoting perfect pronunciation to impress your friends or those snobs in the tasting rooms. Take the time to at least learn how to say some key words that will best prepare you to order the right glass or bottle. At least you can order more of a variety, rather than only sticking to the ones you can pronounce.

Below is a partial list of words that will come in handy. Enjoy and learn!

BIG FAT WINE PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
A phonetic breakdown of popular wines, grapes, and wine terms

• Albariño[al-bah-ree-nyoh]  Albariño or Alvarinho is a variety of white wine grape grown in Galicia (northwest Spain) and Monção (northwest Portugal), where it is used to make varietal white wines.
• Armagnanc[ahr-mahn-YAK] is made from grapes of the Armagnac region in Southwest France (Gers, Landes, Lot-et-Garonne). It is single continuous distilled in a copper stills and is aged in oaken casks from Gascony or Limousin. Armagnac was the first distilled spirit in France
• Barbera[bar-BEH-rah] Barbera is a red Italian wine grape variety that, as of 2000, was the third most-planted red grape variety in Italy (after Sangiovese and Montepulciano).
• Beaujolais[boh-zhuh-LAY] Beaujolais is a French Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) wine generally made of the Gamay grape which has a thin skin and is low in tannins. Like most AOC wines they are not labeled varietally.
• Bordeaux[bohr-DOH] Major wine region of Southwestern France, along the Dordogne and Garonne rivers. Centered around the city of Bordeaux.
• Brut [BROOT] A general term used to describe dry sparkling white wine
• Cabernet Franc[KA-behr-nay FRAHN (FRAHNGH)] A red grape common to Bordeaux; characteristics include an herbal, leafy flavor and a soft, fleshy texture.
• Cabernet Sauvignon[ka-behr-NAY so vihn-YOHN (soh-vee-NYAWN)] One of the noblest red wine grapes, used in Bordeaux , USA, Australia, Chile, Argentina, South Africa and wherever wine grapes grow. The predominant red grape variety in the world.
• Cava[KAH-vah] A Spanish sparkling wine typically produced in the Penedès region of Catalonia.
• Chablis [sha-BLEE; shah-BLEE] A very dry white Burgundy wine originally from east-central France.
• Chardonnay[shar-dn-AY; shar-doh-NAY] A variety of grape used to make white wine, including champagne and white Burgundy.
• Châteauneauf-du-Pape[shah-toh-nuhf-doo-PAHP] is a town and commune in the Vaucluse département in Provence, in southern France. Its name derives from a castle built by the Popes when they ruled from Avignon.
• Chenin Blanc[SHUH-ihn BLAHN (BLAHNGK) A grape of French origin that produces excellent white wines. It has proven itself highly productive in California.
• Colombard[KAHL-hm-bahrd (Fr. Kaw-lawn-BAHR)] A productive French grape that produces a dry and full-bodied good quality white wine.
• Côtes du Rhone[koht deu ROHN] (Banks of the Rhône) is a wine-growing Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) for the Rhône wine region of France, which may be used throughout the region, also in those areas which are covered by other AOCs.
• Cuvée[koo-VAY] Like the words cask and reserve, cuvee is an unregulated term that some wineries use to indicate a special (or reserve) batch of wine.
• Fumé Blanc[FOO-may BLAHN; BLAHNGK] A term coined by Robert Mondavi for California wines made from the Sauvignon Blanc grape in the style of those made of Pouilly Fumé in the Loire Valley of France.
• Gewürztraminer[guh-vurts-TRAH-MEE-NER] White wine grape best known in Alsace, Germany and the US West Coast. Grows best where there is morning fog and milder climates. Can be bone dry to semi-sweet with 3.5 or more sugar. Marries well with spicy foods.
• Grenache[gruh-NAHSH] The Grenache is grown in southern France, where it is partly responsible for the wines of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Tavel, and many others. It is the mainstay of Rioja, makes port-style and light rose wines in California, and is also grown in South Africa.
• Kir[KEER] Kir is a popular French cocktail made with a measure of crème de cassis (blackcurrant liqueur) topped up with white wine.
• Madeira[muh-DEER-uh] A Portuguese fortified wine that is treated with heat as it ages, giving it a distinctive flavor and brownish color.
• Malbec[mahl-behk] Red wine grape used as a nominal element of the Bordeaux blend, where its intense color and extract add to the wine’s body. Also used as a primary grape in the inky red wines of Cahors and in some Argentine reds.
• Merlot[mehr-LOH; mer-LOH] Merlot is a red wine grape that is used as both a blending grape and for varietal wines. The name Merlot is thought to derive from the Old French word for young blackbird, merlot, a diminutive of merle, the blackbird (Turdus merula), probably from the color of the grape.
• Muscat[MUHS-kat; MUHS-kuht] The muscat family of grapes of the species Vitis vinifera is widely grown for wine, raisins and table grapes. Their color ranges from white to near black. Muscat almost always has a pronounced sweet floral aroma.
• Petite Sirah; Petite Syrah[peh-TEET sih-RAH; peh-TEET see-RAH] Often confused with “real” Syrah, most believe it is actually the lowly French grape, Durif. It has, regardless, turned out some good California examples in both dry and sweet styles
• Pinot Blanc[PEE-noh BLAHN (BLAHNGK)] A white wine grape which makes a dry, full white wine. A good alternate to Chardonnay. Usually less oak than a Chard, since it is rarely fermented in wood but rather in stainless steel tanks. One often denotes scents of melon in Pinot Blanc.
• Pinot Gris[PEE-noh GREE] Pinot gris is a white wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera. Thought to be a mutant clone of the Pinot noir grape, it normally has a grayish-blue fruit, accounting for its name (“gris” meaning “grey” in French) but the grape can have a brownish pink to black and even white appearance.
• Pinot Noir[PEE-noh NWAHR] Pinot noir is a red wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera. The name may also refer to wines produced predominantly from Pinot noir grapes.
• Pouilly-Fuissé[poo-yee fwee-SAY] Pouilly-Fuissé is an appellation (AOC) for white wine in the Mâconnais subregion Burgundy in central France, located in the communes of Fuissé, Solutré-Pouilly, Vergisson and Chaintré. Pouilly-Fuissé has Chardonnay as the only grape variety.
• Prosecco [praw-SEHK-koh; proh-SEHK-koh] Prosecco is an Italian wine — generally a dry sparkling wine — made from a variety of white grape of the same name. The grape is grown mainly in the Veneto region of Italy, traditionally in an area near Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, in the hills north of Treviso.
• Riesling [REEZ-ling; REES-ling]  Riesling is a white grape variety which originates in the Rhine region of Germany. Riesling is an aromatic grape variety displaying flowery, almost perfumed, aromas as well as high acidity. It is used to make dry, semi-sweet, sweet and sparkling white wines.
• Rioja[ree-oh-hah] Rioja is a wine, with Denominación de Origen Calificada (D.O.C. Qualified designation of origin) named after La Rioja, in Spain. Rioja is made from grapes grown not only in the Autonomous Community of La Rioja, but also in parts of Navarre and the Basque province of Álava.
• Rosé [roh-ZAY] A rosé (From French: rosé, ‘pinkish’) wine has some of the color typical of a red wine, but only enough to turn it pink. The pink color can range from a pale orange to a vivid near-purple, depending on the grapes and wine making techniques.
• Sancerre[sahn-SEHR]  Sancerre is a French wine Appellation d’origine contrôlée (AOC) for wine produced in the environs of Sancerre in the eastern part of the Loire valley, southeast of Orléans. Almost all of the appellation lies on the left bank of the Loire, opposite Pouilly-Fumé.
• Sangiovese [san-joh-VAY-zeh; san-jaw-VAY-zeh] This red is the predominant grape in Chianti. Makes a hearty, dry red, with flavors of black cherries.
• Sauternes[soh-TEHRN] Sauternes is a French dessert wine from the Sauternais region of the Graves section in Bordeaux. Sauternes is made from Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle grapes that have been affected by Botrytis cinerea, also known as noble rot.
• Sauvignon Blanc[SOH-vihn-yohn BLAHN; SOH-vee-nyawn BLAHNGK] Sauvignon blanc is a green-skinned grape variety which originates from the Bordeaux region of France. The grape gets its name from the French word sauvage (“wild”) and blanc (“white”) due to its early origins as an indigenous grape in South West France.
• Semillon[say-mee-YHON; she-mee-YOHN]  Prevalent in France’s Bordeaux region, Semillon is a white wine varietal that’s often found in a blend with Sauvignon Blanc, a unique combination responsible for the region’s dry white wines and their famed sweet dessert wines from Sauternes
• Sommelier [sum-muhl-YAY]  A sommelier (, ), or wine steward, is a trained and knowledgeable wine professional, commonly working in fine restaurants, who specializes in all aspects of wine service as well as wine and food matching. The role is more specialized and informed than that of a wine waiter.
• Syrah[see-RAH] Syrah, originally from Rhne area of France, also known as Shiraz which succeeds admirably in Australia.
• Terroir [teh-RWAHR] French term which has no simple translation into English. It refers to the external influences on the ripening grapes, including the soils (depth and type), bedrock, exposure to sun and wind, water table and so on.
• Verdelho [vehr-DEH-lyoh] Verdelho is a white wine grape grown throughout Portugal, though most associated with the island of Madeira, and also gives its name to one of the four main types of Madeira wine. At the turn of the 20th century it was the most widely planted white grape in Madeira
• Verdicchio [vehr-KEEK-kyoh] A classic Italian variety of the Marche on the eastern coast of Italy, Verdicchio produces bright, lemony wines with high natural acidity.
• Viognier[vee-oh-NYAY] The classic (though rare) white grape of the northern Rhone Valley of France where it makes the expensive wine known as Condrieu. In the early 1990s, more than thirty top California producers began making viognier to much acclaim.

• Majority of definitions gathered from Wiktionary.org

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Celebs sure know what to do when they want to enjoy life!  Below is a partial listing of celebrities who own commercial wineries, wine brands or vineyards.

(If you are a celebrity who owns a winery, wine brand or vineyard or you know of one that we missed, let us know and we will add you/them to the list)

Vince Neil
Lead singer Motley Crue
Vince Vineyards (article)Vince Neil Official Site
Sonoma County, California

Francis Ford Coppola
American film director, producer and screenwriter
Rubicon Estate Winery
Napa Valley, California

Fess Parker
American film and television actor /featured in the movie Sideways
Fess Parker Winery
Santa Ynez Valley, California

Tommy Smothers
American comedian, composer and musician
Remick Ridge Vineyards
Sonoma County, California

Sam Neill
New Zealand actor
Two Paddocks
Central Otago, New Zealand

Gerard Depardieu
French actor and winemaker
Chateau de Tigne
Anjou, Loire Valley, France

Mario Andretti
Italian-American world champion racing driver
Andretti Winery
Napa Valley, California

Greg Norman
Australian professional golfer and entrepreneur /Collaboration with Beringer Blass
Greg Norman Estates
South Australia and California

Peggy Fleming
American figure skater who won an Olympic gold medal in 1968 / Founded with her husband, Greg Jenkins
Fleming Jenkins Vineyards and Winery
Santa Cruz Mountains, California

Ernie Els
South African professional golfer / Collaboration with Engelbrecht Els Vineyard
Ernie Els Wines
Stellenbosch, South Africa

Savanna Samson
American pornographic actress / Her first wine Sogno Uno is a red blend consisting mainly of the obscure Italian grape variety Cesanese
Savanna Samson Wines
Tuscany and Lazio, Italy

Jeff Gordon
American race car driver / Collaboration with August Briggs Wines
Jeff Gordon Wines
Napa Valley, California

Raymond Burr
Established by the late actor in 1986. Currently run by his partner.
Raymond Burr Vineyards
Dry Creek Valley, California

Bruce Cohn
Cohn was manager of The Doobie Brothers
B.R. Cohn Winery
Sonoma County, California

John Lasseter
American animator, director and the chief creative officer at Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios.
Lasseter Family Winery
Sonoma County, California

Diane Marie Disney
Owns winery with husband, former professional football player Ron W. Miller
Silverado Vineyards Winery
Napa Valley, California

Carmen Policy
Attorney and American football executive
Casa Piena
Yountville, California

Tom Seaver
Major League Baseball pitcher
GTS Vineyards
Napa Valley, California

Dan Aykroyd
Also produces a Sonoma County, California, series of wines
Dan Aykroyd Wines
Ontario, Canada

Mick Hucknall
Lead singer of the British band Simply Red / Collaboration with Italian winemaker Salvo Foti
Il Cantante
Sicily, Italy

Olivia Newton-John
Founded in 1983 with business partner Pat Farrar
Koala Blue Wines
South Australia

Cliff Richard
Indian-born English singer, musician, performer and actor / Collaboration with Quinta do Miradouro
Adega do Cantor
Algarve, Portugal

Mike Weir
Canadian professional golfer
Mike Weir Wine
Niagara Peninsula, Canada

Madonna
Collaboration with her father Silvio “Tony” Ciccone
Ciccone Vineyard and Winery
Leelanau Peninsula, Michigan

Wayne Gretzky
Collaboration with Creekside Estates
No. 99 Estates Winery
Niagara Peninsula, Canada

Alex Spanos
Real estate developer and self-made billionaire who owns the San Diego Chargers. Also owns Bell Wine Cellars in Yountville
SpanosBerberian Winery
Napa Valley, California

Dick Vermeil
Collaboration with OnThEdge Winery
Vermeil Wines
Napa Valley, California

Kevin Buckler
American racecar driver and entrepreuener
Adobe Road Wines
Sonoma County, California

Arnold Palmer
Collaboration with Luna Vineyards
Arnold Palmer Wines
California

Mick Fleetwood
Collaboration with Langtry Estate and Vineyards
Mick Fleetwood Private Cellar
Lake County, California

Jonathan Cain
American musician, most known for his keyboards and songwriting roles in the rock band, Journey
delaCain Vineyards
Sonoma County, California

Kyle MacLachlan
Collaboration with Washington winemaker Eric Dunham
Pursued by Bear Wine
Columbia Valley, Washington

Drew Bledsoe
Collaboration with Washington winemaker Chris Figgins of Leonetti Cellars
Double Back Wine
Walla Walla Valley, Washington

Maynard James Keenan
Lead singer of the multi-platinum rock bands Tool and A Perfect Circle / Also owns Merkin Vineyards in Arizona
Caduceus Cellars
Arizona

Richard Childress
NASCAR driver and the owner of Richard Childress Racing (RCR) in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series
Childress Vineyards
North Carolina

Dave Matthews
Blenheim Vineyards
Charlottesville, Virginia

Jason Priestley
The British Columbia born actor is a co-owner in the estate
Black Hills Estate Winery
Okanagan, British Columbia

Antonio Banderas
Anta Banderas
Ribera del Duero, Spain

Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Co-owns winery with brother in law. To avoid a conflict of interest with his wine rating publication The Wine Advocate, Parker delegates the task of rating Oregon wines to another associate.
Beaux Freres Vineyards & Winery
Willamette Valley, Oregon

Dave Del Dotto
Former real estate investor who sold a course he called the “Cash Flow System” through infomercials / In 2007, experimented with fermenting wine in amphorae
Del Dotto Vineyards
Napa Valley, California

Mike Ditka
Collaboration with the Mendocino Wine Company
Mike Ditka Wines
Mendocino County, California

Sting
Sting and Trudie have just bottled their first vintage of wine (though it needs to age for three years before it will be released). Il Palagio’s vineyards.
Il Palagio’s vineyards
Figline Valdarno, Italy

Bob Dylan
Teamed up with Antonio Terni (a life-long Dylan fan) in La Marche, Italy, to produce the Planet Waves (the title of Dylan’s 1974 album) signature label.
Fattoria Le Terrazze
Numana, Italy

Dan Marino
Vintage 13 Marino Estates
California

Charles Woodson
American football cornerback for the Green Bay Packers. / Under NFL regulations, Woodson is currently prohibited from endorsing his own wines publicly until he retires.
TwentyFour Wines
Napa Valley, California

Cathy Schembechler
Named after her late husband, former University of Michigan Football coach Bo Schembechler
Bo Schembechler Wines
California

David Ginola
French international football player who has also worked as an actor and model
Coste Brulade
Côtes de Provence, France

Michael Seresin
New Zealand cinematographer
Seresin Estate
Marlborough New Zealand

Jarno Trulli
Italian Formula One racing driver
Podere Castorani
Abruzzo, Italy

Valeri Bure
Professional ice hockey right winger from Russia. He played ten seasons in the National Hockey League / In partnership with his wife – actress Candace Cameron.
Chateau Boswell Winery
Napa Valley, California

Günther Jauch
Prestigious vineyard from at least the 16th century, listed cultural heritage site, since 1805 owned by Jauch’s ancestors. Jauch, one of the most popular Germans, is owner in the seventh generation.
Weingut von Othegraven
Mosel (wine region), Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

Frank Sinatra
American singer and actor
Sinatra Family Estates
Napa Valley, California

(If you are a celebrity who owns a winery, wine brand or vineyard or you know of one that we missed, let us know).

We look forward to building this list as celebs enter the lifestyle.

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The members concerts at Chateau Ste. Michelle are one of the highlights of our year.  Because we have duel memberships we get 4 tickets every year and usually attend both events.  This year they set the members events to fall over one weekend.  Woodinville is only about an hour away from home but since we had events both Saturday and Sunday we  booked a room so that we didn’t have to drive home in between (also so we can write about the Willows Lodge in Woodinville, but that’s another blog).

Our two oldest daughters meet us at the winery every year(they are both members too).  After Joel’s surgery Friday I wasn’t sure that we were going to make it, but Joel refused to be kept away.  Spending time with the family is our top priority so we packed up the car and and headed out.  Our timing was perfect.  We arrived, parked and made our way to the line just as the girls walked by.  It couldn’t have been better choreographed if we had planned it ahead of time.

We were also meeting friends and they had gotten in just ahead of us and were setting up our spot just to the left of the stage.   Over the next five minutes we had blankets down, cooler and picnic basket set, plates out and headed up to get our glasses.  The lines for tasting weren’t too bad this year so we had our first tastes quickly.  Over the next two hours we tasted, we talked, we laughed and we enjoyed the perfect day.

Joel bought a couple of bottles of the 2006 Columbia Valley Tempestade – Limited Release  for the concert.

2006 Columbia Valley Tempestade – Limited Release WINEMAKER NOTES
“This is the second Tempestade Red Wine from Chateau Ste. Michelle. Sourced from Portuguese varietals in our Cold  Creek vineyard, this earthy wine delivers pronounced aromas of chocolate, coffee and spice. On the palate, the Tempestade is dense and full, with a rich, layered finish. It is a very bold wine not for the timid.”

And what a bold wine it was.  There were six wines to taste but this was our favorite.  Me, flavors of chocolate and coffee?  You can’t go wrong with that.

The Girls liked the 2009 Columbia Valley Gewürztraminer.

2009 Columbia Valley Gewürztraminer TASTING NOTES
“A fan favorite, this Gewürztraminer is such an enjoyable wine with exuberant fruit and clove spice. This is a lush style of Gewürztraminer with a lot of floral character, yet it still maintains the grape’s natural crisp character. A touch of Muscat offers citrus notes and a deeper spice character. Try this wine with Thai food or any cuisine with a little “bite” to it.” -Bob Bertheau, Winemaker

Natalie MacMaster came on stage and the place lit up.  Ms. MacMaster is entertaining, and plays the hell out of that fiddle. The crowd wanted good music to go with the wonderful day and they weren’t disappointed.  There is something so right about a summer evening, great wine and fiddle music, it just feels natural.

I didn’t know much about Ms. MacMaster before the concert (it never matters who is playing, we always have fun) but I will certainly pick up a couple of CD’s for in-car enjoyment.

We had a wonderful time at this event and this is only the beginning of one fabulous weekend.

As Always,
Love, Laugh, Learn… LIVE!

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Friday morning at 3:00 AM Joel wakes me to tell me that he is in pain and going to drive himself to the hospital.  I was sound asleep so my first reaction was, “okay honey, call me when you know what’s up.”  Thirty seconds later, when I came to my senses, I said, “oh, hell no.”  I threw some clothes on and my cell phone in my purse and we headed for the local ER.

Luckily it wasn’t crowded so we got in fairly quickly.  The doctor came in and ordered x-rays and a series of tests with promises of pain relief once he knew what was going on.  About 30 minutes later he came in with a syringe of something magical to go into the IV and the news that Joel had a gallstone about an inch in diameter and that he had called a surgeon and they were getting a room ready to admit him.   The Gallbladder had to go.

I was in deep trouble by the time 8:00 AM came around and I started making phone calls to the fam.  Once the kids found out that Dad was in the hospital and I didn’t wake them up before we left they were not happy with me, not at all.   They finally took him into surgery about 2:00 PM.  Our whole motley crew took over the surgical waiting room, watching bad daytime TV, reading out-dated magazines and waiting for word.   Everything went well and he was out of recovery before we knew it.  When they finally got him settled in his room he asked if he could eat and actually asked if they had a wine list.  He was completely out of it but still had a sense of humor.  By the way, the nurse didn’t have a sense of humor at all.

Joel made it very clear that he did not want to stay the night, he was ready to go home NOW.  Actually we had members events at Chateau Ste. Michelle and a stay at the Willows in Woodinville booked for the weekend and Joel was not going to miss out just because of some dumb gallbladder.  It took a bit of convincing and promising but by 11:00 PM the nurse finally signed Joel’s walking papers and we were on our way home – less one gallbladder and one nights sleep.   I was ready to cancel the events but Joel was totally committed.  We did end up spending the weekend at the winery, but that’s another story.

Joel met with the surgeon this morning and is healing perfectly.  Looks like the crazy long weekend was actually good for him.    Go figure.

As Always,
Love, Laugh, Learn… LIVE!

From day one, starting Big Fat Wine, we decided to take a “no rules” approach to the entire wine lifestyle. That doesn’t mean there aren’t certain rituals that go with the experience but if you get too carried away with proper etiquette you miss out on some of the romance. Following the basic rules about enjoying wine and sharing the joy with your friends is of primary importance. Don’t get bogged down in jargon or complex rules. Don’t pretend to know it all because you can spend a lifetime learning about wine and yet not know enough.

People, who let themselves get intimidated by wine and let that stop them are missing out. They’re missing out on good conversation because each bottle comes with a bit of history and a slice of geography. There’s no other beverage that excites as much animation at the dinner table. They’re also missing out on really enjoying the full experience of good food, nothing enhances good food like good wine.  It’s one beverage that brings out the best in chefs around the world. There is always a wine that is waiting to be paired with just about everything we eat, with the exception of… (nothing I can think of). That’s what makes the wonderful world of wine so exciting, so full of discoveries that take you by surprise.

But you can spoil the party for others by being a wine snob, dropping jargon that other people find hard to understand. There are no rules of wine etiquette, but there’s definitely an unwritten code, and topping it is the commandment that requires you not to bore the hell out of others

You won’t see us displaying or flaunting our wine certifications or degrees in enology here at Big Fat Wine. For one, they simply do not exist. Secondly, to quote Tommy Boy, “I’d rather take a
butcher’s word for it”. Translation: Listen to your friends that truly enjoy wine. Ask them what they like and why they like it. Practice – practice – practice. Try new wines wherever you go. You will only know what you like by identifying what you don’t like. Comparison shopping made simple.

This is not my private vigil to demean education. By all means, listen to the educated. I have read more material this past year than in my entire life! In fact, plans do exist, to register in some educational courses in the future. So I can flaunt my own sommelier red badge of courage? I think not. Just the idea of  learning more about a subject matter that I am so passionate about is extremely exciting! If the credentials come, it will obviously provide a feeling of accomplishment but I presume it will also be a constant reminder of what I still don’t know and have yet to learn.

And lest  we forget…

Rest in peace Chris Farley! We miss you.

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