NEWS

Downtown Issaquah Wine Walk May 5

Friday, March 5 (6:00-9:00 pm)  Grab some friends and embark on a wine adventure of Issaquah’s Historically Hip downtown and Olde Town galleries, boutiques, and businesses. Proceeds benefit the Downtown Issaquah Association. 

Meet winemakers from some of Washington’s finest wine producers. Sip, stroll, and shop around the northwest’s funky Olde Town destinations. This is one of the Downtown Issaquah’s most anticipated events, so purchase your tickets early! 

Apr 2, 2023 at 7:27 AM Permalink

Savor Northwest Awards

Oregon's Savor Northwest just announced their annual awards, and several of our wines were highly acclaimed. 

• 2019 Squall Line Red Blend scored 97 points and received a Double Gold medal.  Only two wines scored higher!  This wine will be released in July. 
• 2020 Fly Rod Cellars Steve's Merlot scored 92 points and received a Gold medal. It was one of the highest rated Merlots in the competition.  This wine is availabe now. 
• 2019 Storm Front Red Blend scored 89 points and received a Silver medal.  A release date for this wine has not been scheduled. 

Apr 2, 2023 at 7:26 AM Permalink

April Tasting Menu

Here's our tasting menu for the month, which includes our four new Spring Release wines.  We are open on Saturdays (and Sunday April 2) from 1:00-5:00 pm for tasting and purchasing.

2022 Sunbreak Old Vines Chenin Blanc, Snipes Mountain AVA, Upland Vineyard ($20): Sunbreak shows a brilliant lemon-gold color and aromas of Asian pear-apple, white peach, honeydew melon, grapefruit, pear blossoms, honeysuckle, jasmine and lemon verbena. The flavors are deliciously juicy and vibrant, with notes of pear and grape skins, peach stone and gravelly minerals. The back picks up poire and pêche liqueurs, melon rind and grapefruit peel, followed by a crisp, faintly honeyed finish. NEW RELEASE
 
2022 Three Forks Rose' of Pinot Gris, White Bluffs AVA, Gamache Vineyard ($20): This Rosé shows a light copper-pink color and enticing aromas of strawberry, Rainier cherry, watermelon and tangerine, with scents of cherry and orange blossoms, pink roses, verbena and pink incense. The flavors are fresh and vivid, with notes of light grape skin, cherry stones, and alluvial minerals. The back picks up fraise and kirsch liqueurs, and recurring tangerine peel, followed by a juicy, dry finish.  From Gamache Vineyard, a Sustainable WA Certified Vineyard. NEW RELEASE
 
2019 Mistral Grenache, Red Mountain AVA, Ciel du Cheval Vineyard ($33): This Grenache displays a medium brick red color and rich aromas of strawberry, red currant, pomegranate, crushed roses, bright leaf tobacco, Provençal lavender, Niçoise olives and lightly spiced incense. The flavors are medium bodied but substantial, with supple red fruits that are intermixed with licorice, cocoa powder, orange pekoe tea and Red Mountain dusty earth. On the back, the wine turns velvety with pressed berries, roasted nuts, framboise and cassis liqueurs, pomegranate seeds and soft charcoal, followed by a ripe moderate tannin finish. (Rand Sealey, Review of Washington Wines)
 
2020 Fly Rod Cellars Steve's Merlot, Red Mountain AVA ($30): Aromas of cherry, vanilla, leather and anise. Flavors of black cherry, plum, herbs, chocolate and a hint of oak. Medium body with soft tannins and a juicy finish. Merlot pairs with just about anything. Our favorites are pizza, BBQ chicken, rack of lamb or ratatouille.  This wine is dedicated Steve Danton who started his cousin and friend (and our cellarmaster) John Richardson on his wine journey.  Merlot was Steve's favorite varietal.  This Merlot was sourced from Ciel du Cheval and Quintessence vineyards. NEW RELEASE
 
2018 Storm Front Red Blend, Columbia Valley AVA ($30): Our signature bold red blend of Merlot (50%), Cabernet Sauvignon (18%), Petit Verdot (15%), Cabernet Franc (15%)  and Malbec (2%).  Plum, black cherry and rosemary flavors and aromas. 94 POINTS AND DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL-Bellingham Northwest Wine Awards
 
2019 Derecho Petit Verdot, Yakima Valley AVA, Dineen Vineyard ($39): Derecho displays a deep ruby-crimson color and opulent, perfumed aromas of raspberries, Bing cherries, black plums, black currants, black roses, mulberry, sweet tobacco, sage, violets and oriental incense. The flavors are ample but deep cored and focused, interlayered with licorice, dark cocoa, black tea and earth. On the back, the wine deepens with sensations of pressed berries, roasted pecans, mocha, kirsch, crème de cassis and ground charcoal, followed by a savory, ripe dryish tannin finish. NEW RELEASE AND WINE CLUB EXCLUSIVE

Apr 2, 2023 at 7:22 AM Permalink

April 2023 Update

Our big Spring Release is this weekend (April 1 and 2) in the North Bend winery.  More info is below.  A few weeks ago was our only bottling of the year.  We created 948 cases of tasty wine--the most we've bottled at one time.  My favorites so far are the 2022 Rose' (available now) and the 2021 Squall Line (you'll need to wait a year for that one). 

While I have personally moved to Kennewick, the winery will remain in North Bend until our new space in Richland is licensed.  As usual, there are some unplanned issues, but we are working through them and hope to be open for tastings in the new location in May.  Until then, tastings will continue in North Bend on Saturdays (and Sunday April 2) from 1:00-5:00 pm.  If you're in the Tri Cities, let me know and I'll show you the new space.

--Scott Greenberg, Owner/Winemaker

Apr 2, 2023 at 7:20 AM Permalink