NEWS

March Tasting Menu

Here's our tasting menu for the month.  We are open from 1:00-5:00 pm Saturdays for tasting and purchasing.

2021 Fly Rod Cellars Plastic Surgeon Pinot Noir, Oregon, Erratic Oaks Vineyard ($33): This Pinot displays a medium brick red color and engaging aromas of strawberry, cherry, red currant, rose petals, lavender, orange peel and whiffs of cut grass. The flavors, as well, are attractive, with ripe red fruits that are imbued with red licorice, cola, orange pekoe tea and and alluvial minerals. The allure continues on the back with fraise and cerise liqueurs, crème de cassis, recurring orange peel and light oak (33% new), followed by a juicy moderate tannin finish. This is what the French call a ”vin du plaisir.” (from Review of Washibgton Wines)
 
2020 Reserve Syrah, Yakima Valley AVA, Boushey Vineyard ($35): See description under March Wine of the Month. 
 
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
 
2018 Squall Line Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley AVA ($33): 100% Cabernet Sauvignon with aromas and flavors of blackberry, cherry, plum, rosemary, cedar and mocha. 96 POINTS AND DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL-Washington State Wine Awards.  93 POINTS AND PLATINUM AWARD-Great Northwest Wine
 
Library White Wine ($20) and Library Red Wine ($33): This is a great opportunity to taste older wines kept in perfect cellar conditions.  Each Saturday, we will select an older white wine and an older red wine from our cellar for you to taste and take home.  You can also order these and any of our wines online for pickup on Saturdays.  

Mar 1, 2023 at 11:09 AM Permalink

March 2023 Update

March will be a busy month for us.  The picture above shows the first truckload of empty barrels and harvest equipment moved to our new location in Richland.  The other half of the space (behind the wall on the left) will be used for tastings, sales and storage. We still need State and local licenses before any wine can be moved there.

This is also bottling month.  We plan to bottle just under 1,000 cases of white, rose' and red wines on March 20 in North Bend.  During the previous week, we will be preparing our wines for bottling, making final adjustments and organizing bottles, labels, corks and screwcaps to make for an efficient day.  This is followed by Spring Release on April 1-2 and more moving! 

Finally, March is Taste Washington Wine Month.  While we will not be at Taste Washington this year, we are offering a rare opportunity to purchase some of our extremely limited quantity Library Wines in March.  

Mar 1, 2023 at 11:05 AM Permalink

February Wine of the Month

Our February Wine of the Month is the 2018 Squall Line: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from three vineyards: Phinny Hill (60%) and Coyote Canyon (10%)--both Horse Heaven Hills--and Boushey (30%) in Yakima Valley. Deep ruby colored, this possesses classic varietal aromas of blackberry, cherry, plum, crushed black roses, tobacco, cedar, rosemary and wood smoke. The flavors, as well, are direct and true to variety, with dark fruits that are intermixed with licorice, dark chocolate, French roast and Horse Heaven scorched earth. The penetration continues on the back with roasted berries and nuts, mocha and pulverized charcoal, followed by a sweet-dry tannin finish. Pairs well with roasted or grilled meats, good friends and stormy nights.  This wine received 96 Points at the Washington State Wine Awards and 92 Points from the American Wine Society.  

Buy three bottles of 2018 Squall Line and save 20%. Normally $33 each, on sale for $26.40 each plus tax. Wine Club members save more!  /product/2018-Squall-Line

Feb 3, 2023 at 12:30 PM Permalink

Spring Release Save the Date: April 1 and 2

Save the date for our annual Spring Release, Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2 from 1:00-5:00 pm at the North Bend winery.  We will be releasing the 2022 Sunbreak Chenin Blanc, 2022 Three Forks Rose', 2020 Fly Rod Merlot and 2019 Derecho Petit Verdot.  Wine Club members will get a separate email in mid-March with ordering instructions.  

Feb 3, 2023 at 12:29 PM Permalink

February Tasting Menu

Here's our tasting menu for the month.  There is also an extra library wine available for Wine Club members. 

2021 Fly Rod Cellars Plastic Surgeon Pinot Noir, Oregon, Erratic Oaks Vineyard: 100% Oregon Pinot Noir from Erratic Oaks Vineyard offers pretty aromas of perfume, lavender, cherry, cinnamon and fresh cut grass. Flavors of cherry, raspberry, mushroom, olives, and green tea. The finish is juicy and long with medium tannins.
 
2019 Mistral Grenache, Red Mountain AVA, Ciel du Cheval Vineyard: Our 2019 Mistral features fruity and aromatic Ciel du Cheval Red Mountain Grenache with a splash of Columbia Valley Mourvedre and Syrah for body and spice. 90 POINTS AND GOLD MEDAL-Bellingham Northwest Wine Awards
 
2020 Reserve Syrah, Yakima Valley AVA, Dineen Vineyard: This Single Barrel wine is 100% Syrah. Bright aromas of raspberry, chestnuts, eucalyptus, olive, northwest forest floor and fig lead into flavors of dried cranberry, Bing cherry, pie cherry, raspberry, and cassis. The finish is long and juicy with hints of leather.

2020 Virga GSM Blend, Columbia Valley AVA: This highly acclaimed blend is 42% Mourvedre, 34% Syrah and 24% Grenache from Weinbau, Dineen and Ciel du Cheval vineyards.  Blackberry, pepper, vanilla, and baking spices. BEST RED BLEND AND BEST WASHINGTON WINE-American Wine Society.  BEST RHONE-STYLE RED BLEND AND PLATINUM AWARD-SipMagazine.

2018 Storm Front Red Blend, Columbia Valley AVA: 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
 
2018 Squall Line Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley AVA: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon with aromas and flavors of blackberry, cherry, plum, rosemary, cedar and mocha. 96 POINTS AND DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL-Washington State Wine Awards.  93 POINTS AND PLATINUM AWARD-Great Northwest Wine
 
2013 Dewpoint Riesling, Columbia Valley AVA, Bacchus Vineyard (Wine Club Only): 100% Riesling with aromas of lemon zest, lime and peach. The palate features pineapple, green apple, lemon, and star fruit. The 1.6% residual sugar of 1.6% (slightly sweet) gives it a honeyed finish.  This wine has mellowed with age, reminiscent of great German Rieslings fetching twice the price (or more) on resale markets.  

Feb 3, 2023 at 12:28 PM Permalink

We're Moving This Spring

It is with a blend of sadness and excitement that Convergence Zone Cellars will be moving to the Tri Cities this spring.  Due to a major change in my life, I can no longer keep the winery in its current location.  I'll be closer to the vineyards and have more space for winemaking.  Plus 300 days of sunshine sounds pretty good!  Details on our new space and expanded hours will be announced soon.

Our current North Bend location will continue to be open for tasting through the Spring Release weekend, April 1 and 2, and possibly later.  Everything is dependent on permits and licenses.  Once we move, Wine Club members will receive free shipping on orders of three bottles or more.  Release parties will be held at the new winery as well as a location in the Snoqualmie Valley. 

More details on the move and new location will be coming soon.  

Feb 3, 2023 at 12:27 PM Permalink

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE WINERY IN JANUARY?

Happy New Year!  We hope you have a healthy, happy and prosperous year with full wine glasses.  This month we begin the process for bottling in March.  Ordering supplies, blending our wines, and updating wine labels are a few of our tasks.  The 2022 white and rose' wines need to be stabilized so they don't re-ferment in the bottle or create an unappetizing (but harmless) haze in the bottle. Our 2022 red wines are all in barrels going through malolactic fermentation which converts the harsh malic acid to the softer lactic acid. Once they are all finished, the wines will be pumped into clean barrels--a process known as "racking".

Jan 1, 2023 at 9:30 AM Permalink

ENUMCLAW WINE AND CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL--FEBRUARY 2 AND 3

The annual Enumclaw Wine & Chocolate Festival will be Friday, February 3 (4:00-10:00 pm) and Saturday, February 4 (2:00-10:00 pm).  This is a fun two-day event that showcases 15 small Washington family wineries (including us), local chocolatiers and unique hand-selected vendors. You will also enjoy live entertainment in both event halls as you shop and sip!  Tickets available at https://www.enumclawexpo.com/p/events/wine--chocolate-festival

Jan 1, 2023 at 9:27 AM Permalink

GREAT NORTHWEST WINE MAGAZINE PLATINUM AWARDS

Great Northwest Wine has awarded the 2018 Squall Line Cabernet Sauvignon a "Platinum" award and 93 points in its annual end of the year competition: "Snoqualmie Valley winemaker Scott Greenberg picks up his third Platinum in three years, thanks to these lots of Cab he hauled across Snoqualmie Pass from vineyards that are represented repeatedly throughout each Platinum--Phinny Hill, Coyote Canyon and Boushey.  It's a classic Cab with notes of cherry and cola, cigar box and allspice, forest floor and orange oil, all tied up with plum skin tannins."  Click here for more information about this highly respected wine.

Jan 1, 2023 at 9:25 AM Permalink