"Master of Wine Enjoyment"
Member Location:
Woodinville, WA
Member Since:
January 2008
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WAwineman's Postings in Topic: EDUCATION
Last Entry Posted 2/7/2010
1 to 15 of 28 | Page: 1 2
GENERAL POST
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Posted
2/6/2010 at 5:05 PM PST
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A Response from Mr. Greg Harrington
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Well, this is interesting (but honestly, unintended). My last wine review (Gramercy Cellars' 2007 tempranillo) elicited some surprising responses from some unexpected readers. As a side note, for those of you loyal enough to read my wine reviews (and I thank you graciously, as well as wonder if I have irreversibly warped your views of the world!), you should know that my blogs are targeted to those who have finished a long day of work, whether it's making wine or peanuts. My columns should make you laugh, be informed, and give you a visualization of what the performance of the wine is. However, I have many weaknesses in my approach, as I am relatively new to this, so if you point one out...get in line (and email me about it!). I am first, and foremost, a consumer. My wine experience starts with a trip to the store, like 99+% of the world's inhabitants. From store to table, this is the wine experience that shows up in my review. It's important to me, and should be... ... View Full Post >>
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GENERAL POST
(1 Member Vote)
Posted
1/31/2010 at 1:56 PM PST
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Tasting Room review: Alder Ridge Estates
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Long-awaited opening weekend for the big-box tasting room of Alder Ridge Estate Winery located in the strip mall anchored by Mazatlan Restaurant at the Hollywood Schoolhouse roundabout in Woodinville. Some background: Alder Ridge's origins lie in its vast 812-acre vineyard, planted in 1997, rolling 15 miles west of Paterson (in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA...thank you ChrisinSunnyside for pointing that out), a (careful--new word coming) preciping sentinel over the mighty Columbia River. As you can imagine, a vineyard of that size in central Washington is prone to varying soils and micro-climates, making this more a "collection" of smaller vineyards, each with its own identity. Alder Ridge is owned by the Baty family, which includes 65 year-old Daniel R. Baty, chairman and CEO of Emeritus Corporation (independent living facilities) and Chairman of the Board for Columbia Pacific Management. Both companies are fully owned by Mr. Baty. With those titles, yes, it's... ... View Full Post >>
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GENERAL POST
(0 Member Votes)
Posted
1/29/2010 at 10:25 AM PST
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This Weekend! with Woodinville wineries/tasting rooms
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Lots of typing today for me...let's get it rolling in Woodinville! Roll 'em: Adams Bench wine tasting by appt. only, Sat. noon-4. $10 refundable tasting fee. The cabernet is a leading contender for 2010 Wine of the Year! Alexandria Nicole Cellars Happy Hour, Fri. 5-7:30pm. I sense they may have some of their club wines ready to taste. Try the syrah! Chateau Ste. Michelle VRC Happy Hour Fridays, 5-7pm. Columbia Winery Q&A with Ken Mansfield, North American manager for the Beatles, Sat. 2-4pm. $9.09 admission with proceeds going to cancer research. Includes complimentary tasting at the bar and autograph session. Special VIP parking available for yellow submarines. DeLille Cellars Reserve Tasting at the Chateau, Fri.-Sun. noon-3 (three sittings), $35 advance. DiStefano Winery The Art of Blending, Sat., $50. Now, I could have sworn I saw this on their website (or Facebook) but it is no longer posted, so go at your... ... View Full Post >>
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GENERAL POST
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Posted
1/22/2010 at 11:02 AM PST
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This Weekend! with Woodinville wineries/tasting rooms
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Lineup is heavy! Let's get this weekend started...roll 'em!: Alexandria Nicole Cellars Happy Hour, Fri. 5-7:30pm. Try the Wine of the Month 2007 Estate cabernet sauvignon! Then, Sat. 1-5pm at the Seattle Wine Company in Bellevue, Jarrod will be onhand for wine tasting! Meet the winemaker! And, their second tasting room will be located in the Hollywood Schoolhouse, opening April 1! Big O Wines is now on Twitter! @OWines just started yesterday (btw, I am follower number 12) and they are about to pass 100 followers by the end of today. Now, that's a loyal base of followers! The wines have funded 29 Washington scholarships so far! Stacy and Kathy, you gals rock! Their chardonnays are everywhere, but the best price is at Costco, $10.99! Chateau Ste. Michelle VRC Happy Hour Fridays, 5-7pm. Columbia Valley chardonnay is the latest to receive good vibes...check it out! Also, at 7pm in the Lobby, Chef Scott Harberts creates a memorable 'comfort foods'... ... View Full Post >>
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GENERAL POST
(0 Member Votes)
Posted
1/15/2010 at 9:31 AM PST
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This Weekend! with Woodinville wineries/tasting rooms
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Where will you be this weekend in Woodinville? So many choices!
Let's do this in reverse, eh? Roll 'em!:
Woodhouse Family Cellars Foundation Class #2 (cooking) with Chef Missy Will, Tuesday (1/19) 6:30pm, $85 + RSVP. Early Valentine's Menu includes: golden potato with cauliflower gratin, ginger-poached salmon with lime basil cream, lamb chops with mint almond pesto, and chili chocolate-covered strawberries. Wine pairing included. My stomach is on its knees...
William Church Winery continues its "Good Pair, Bad Pair" cheese pairing with their wines, Sat. noon-4.
Sparkman Cellars will be at Cherokee Country Club for "An Evening of Orange", Sat. evening, to benefit the UT Medical Center. That's Tennessee, folks. Tasting room still open, Sat. 1-5pm. Rocky Top!
Matthews Estate After Hours, Fri. 6:30pm, comp. appetizers, acoustic jazz by Christine Sharp, and current releases at $7/glass.
Mark Ryan Winery announces its new DHC, Dead...
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GENERAL POST
(0 Member Votes)
Posted
1/8/2010 at 11:08 AM PST
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This Weekend! with Woodinville wineries/tasting rooms
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It's a New Year! It's a new decade! Best of all, it's a new weekend in Woodinville tasting rooms! Roll 'em!: Adams Bench offers two tasting days this month, by appt. only on January 9 and 30, noon-4. Go to their website to sign-up for an hour slot. $10 fee, refundable with purchase. Alexandria Nicole Cellars Happy Hour Friday, 5-7:30pm. Visit the aftermath of last night's Divas Night Out! Try the Christmas cabernet that Paul Zitarelli blinded you with. Hurry, they will be closed on Sunday the 10th and Thursday the 14th. Betz Family Winery will be offering their 2007 Pere de Famille and Clos de Betz shortly, so if you are on their customer list, get ready to order what might be Bob's best cab to date. Challenger Ridge buy 6 bottles and get a free Eagle Watching Float Trip on the Skagit River with Akerlund Guide Service. Offer good thru the 31st. Chateau Ste. Michelle Happy Hour Fridays, 5-7pm in the Vintage Reserve Club room.... ... View Full Post >>
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GENERAL POST
(0 Member Votes)
Posted
12/25/2009 at 10:52 AM PST
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This Weekend! with Wooinville wineries/tasting rooms
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Nothing's open on Christmas Day! However, expect back to business for most wineries/tasting rooms this weekend.
The following have changes to the coming week's schedule...roll 'em:
Alexandria Nicole Cellars will close at 3pm on New Year's EveColumbia Winery will close at 3pm on New Year's EveDeLille Cellars Carriage House New Year's Eve hours: 11am-4:30pmMatthews Estate buy 5 bottles of 2006 Claret or 2005 red wine and get 1 free.NW Totem Cellars 30% case discount on Saturday only, noon-4pmWilliam Church Winery mention their contest and get 10% off a bottle. Then, drink up and confess your wine experience at the "Church" by Jan. 15 to be eligible to win a year's membership in their wine club! If you're lucky, you may get to barrel taste the 2008 malbec, the recent winner of the Washington Wine Report's survey of "Wine to Watch in 2010". Saturday noon-4pm.Woodinville Wine Cellars is closed until April
deVine Wines in Mill Creek will be hosting a 'Mystery Tasting',...
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GENERAL POST
(0 Member Votes)
Posted
12/17/2009 at 11:41 PM PST
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This Weekend! with Woodinville wineries/tasting rooms
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Finishing up another "road trip", tasting wines the rest of the world drinks. One knock on me is that I don't know what's out there. Let me tell you this, you're not missing much unless you prefer muted flavors from the "Old World." Sure, it's worth trying if you are ever curious to see what a gewurztraminer from 2001 tastes like. I would not hold on to a Washington State gewurz that long! To each, his/her own. I live in the "New World," I prefer "New World" wines. Simple.Not as simple is where to spend parts of my weekend in Woodinville. R U in the same boat? Roll 'em:
Alexandria Nicole Cellars Happy Hour, Friday 5-7:30pm. Celebrate another voting-poll victory by an ANC wine, this time it's the sold-out Mr. Big petite sirah, by tasting Wine of the Month for December, 2007 (Christmas) cabernet sauvignon! See and be seen at this hotspot!Brian Carter Cellars promoting their 'Abracadabra' ahead of Washington Wine Report's "Virtual Tasting" by offering 15% off just by mentioning...
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GENERAL POST
(0 Member Votes)
Posted
12/11/2009 at 4:12 PM PST
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This Weekend with Woodinville wineries/tasting rooms
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What's this? Walla Walla wineries making the smart move to open tasting rooms in Woodinville? Will it put a chink in the wine-tourism to Walla Walla? How could it not? Some terrific wineries have arrived from what I call "East Woodinville" and with it are their Puget Sound mailing lists. Walla Walla may have more wineries but Woodinville taps into more $$ due to its proximity, and that's the bottom line! I don't exactly see Woodinville wineries shopping for space over in East Woodinville... And I definitely sense a little rivalry coming on, not unlike WSU and UW. Go Cougs! Woof!Finally, a quieter weekend in Woodinville (post-St. Nick's) as everyone needs to start their holiday shopping. Short list!...roll 'em!"
Chateau Ste. Michelle An Evening of Wine and Cheese, Wednesday (12/16) 4:30-7:30pm, $20 per person, in the Wine Shop. And, Thursday (12/17) 5:30-8pm, Wine and Women in Woodinville, featuring wine tasting, live music, artist Rhonda Addison, and author Maria Hunt will be...
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GENERAL POST
(1 Member Vote)
Posted
12/6/2009 at 10:02 PM PST
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Get ready for my 2009 wine awards! A doozy it will be.
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Btw, this ends my eligible choices for 2009 releases from Washington State that qualify for my so-called "wine awards". I doubt anyone else has a later, true "eligibility" date...but, like anyone cares. Besides, as a reminder to all those big-time, hot shot reviewers...I buy darn nearly all my wines!!! I represent the "joe blow" consumer because I am the "joe blow" consumer! I speak with my money, like all wineries would ideally want and all consumers stand by. I don't always get it right. I don't have "journalistic" credentials. But, I pay for my wines and I try to visit as many wineries as I can and I am a die-hard advocate of Washington State wines despite my only-recent presence (and despite my exposure to Washington State wines since the mid-80s). I may not be a good-looking woman like my fellow local bloggers but I try to bring you a well-rounded set of reviews that reflect the Puget Sound wine scene, from $4 bangers to $200 untouchables. I do this for you, my fellow handful of... ... View Full Post >>
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GENERAL POST
(0 Member Votes)
Posted
12/6/2009 at 5:21 PM PST
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New Wineries in Washington State
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I can only try to justify the recent (and latest) explosion of new wineries in Washington State by guessing it takes about a year to clear all the regulations, financing, inspections, construction, purchasing and coordination of setting up a working, functioning winery, especially after what the economy's been like this year. An ominous sign forboding for next year?
Welcome to Woodinville!:
Airfield Estates (rumored)
Tasawik Vineyards (rumored)
WT Vintners 14818 NE 195th St.
(the Hollywood Schoolhouse...
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GENERAL POST
(0 Member Votes)
Posted
12/4/2009 at 11:57 AM PST
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This Weekend! with Woodinville wineries/tasting rooms
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Still comatose after last night's Twaste-off, but got enough in the tank to let you know it's another big weekend in Woodinville! Roll 'em!:
Vintage Bothell Wine Walk on Main Street, Fri. 5-8pm, only $5 and you get to keep the glass! Enjoy ten 1-ounce pours (what a deal!) from five participating wineries located in five stores/buildings on Main St. Interesting concept that benefits the Bothell Arts Council. Featured wineries are: Barrage Cellars, Des Voigne Cellars, Red Sky Winery, Covington Cellars, and Northwest Cellars.
Woodinville Wine Country presents St. Nicholas Day Open House, Sat.-Sun. 11am-4pm. Still have a few more 2-day passes ($50) and Sunday-only pass ($35). See the website for the list of 33 wineries participating.
Hutch Holiday Gala, benefiting Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Saturday 6pm, Sheraton Seattle Hotel, $500, black tie attire. Check out the items for auction! Big O Wines will be one of the five...
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GENERAL POST
(0 Member Votes)
Posted
11/27/2009 at 5:03 PM PST
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This Weekend! with Woodinville wineries/tasting rooms
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The holiday shopping madness has begun, as evidenced by the lack of parking spaces at the mall. All the better reason to visit your favorite Woodinville winery/tasting room and pickup a few deals! Roll 'em!: Alexandria Nicole Cellars Black Friday = White Madness Special, Friday only, closes at 7:30pm. Wine Club members get 30% off bottles or 40% off cases. After you buy that lovely case of viognier (reviewed last night), stick around for Happy Hour which starts at 5pm. Big O Wines will be served at the Girl Power Hour at The Red Door Spa at the Bravern, Wednesday (12/2) 6-8pm, $20 (sold out). An intimate spa party featuring mini-spa treatments, swag bags, door prizes, and sweet and savory treats. Challenger Ridge Thanksgiving Weekend at the Tasting Room, Fri.-Sun. noon-5. Bring your out-of-town family to taste the new release of sauvignon blanc. Bring a BNIP children's pj or underwear to donate to Survive The Night and receive 15%... ... View Full Post >>
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GENERAL POST
(0 Member Votes)
Posted
11/20/2009 at 12:09 AM PST
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This Weekend! with Woodinville wineries/tasting rooms
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Did the bus stop off in Seattle lately? Some dunderhead set off a business alarm at 6:35am in Capitol Hill and police quickly found the robber with an armful of stolen merchandise. With all the excitement going on, the fool suffered "an adverse reaction" from his cocaine and wine cocktail combo and ended up in the city hospital. Once discharged, he will get his own custom-embroidered uniform with the initials "KCJ" on his back. That's King County Jail for all you visitors out there. It doesn't pay to be fat in Peru...A gang in the remote jungle confessed to the police, (I can't make this stuff up folks!), of killing five people for their...money?, cars?, jewelry?, no...their fat. Also found on them were two jars of liquid fat, which reportedly fetches $60k a gallon that is then sold to European cosmetic companies for products to "keep skin supple." Think about that when you see all those glam-wannabes at the cosmetics counter of your favorite upscale department store!...
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GENERAL POST
(0 Member Votes)
Posted
11/13/2009 at 10:40 AM PST
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This Weekend! with Woodinville wineries/tasting rooms
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Busiest weekend of the season! Let's get right on down...roll 'em!:
Alexandria Nicole Cellars Happy Hour, Friday 5-7:30pm for glass pour specials! November's Wine of the Month is the 2008 Late Harvest riesling.
Anton Ville release party for the 2008 Harmony (60% viognier, 40% dry riesling), Sat-Sun noon-4. Food, chocolate and music...and lots of crafts!
Challenger Ridge Survive the Night PJ Kickoff Party, Sat. noon-6. Bring a brand, new children's PJ and underwear (size 12m-6T) and receive 15% off wine purchase. Donations go to Survive The Night. Offer good 'til the end of the year.
Chateau Ste. Michelle presents An Evening of Wine and Cheese, Wed. (11/18) 4:30-7:30pm, $20. The Wine Shop will be pouring award-winning wines with gourmet cheeses.
Columbia Winery presents Taste of Red, Sat-Sun noon-6, $20 (includes logo'd glass). Columbia's premier wine tasting and social event! Features unique and current selections of red wines,...
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