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

Snohomish Wine Festival

The Snohomish Wine Festival at Thomas Family Farm is Saturday, March 4 from 11:30 am-8:00 pm.  This is an annual fundraiser for the Snohomish Chamber of Commerce.  Featuring 22 wineries (including us), plus, beer, spirits, cider, and kombucha! https://www.snohomishchamber.org/winefestival

Mar 1, 2023 at 11:16 AM Permalink

March Wine of the Month

Our March Wine of the Month is the 2020 Boushey Vineyard Reserve Syrah: Only 33 cases of this wine were produced.  It was aged for 16 months in a new Dargaud & Jaegle French oak puncheon.  Deep ruby colored, this wine emits intoxicating aromas of blackberries, mountain blueberries, black currants, crushed black roses, mulberry, sweet tobacco, cedar, sandalwood, black olive, peppercorn, wild violets and smoldering oriental incense. On the palate, the flavors are thick and bold, yet refined, marked by licorice root, dark cacao, Earl Grey tea and alluvial minerals. The penetration continues on the back with sensations of macerated fruits, grilled walnuts, mocha, kirsch and cassis liqueurs, lanolin (“legs”) and light oak, followed by a lengthy sweet-dry tannin finish. Tastes like a $50 Syrah. (from Review of Washington Wines) 

Buy three bottles of 2020 Boushey Vineyard Reserve Syrah and save 20%. Normally $35 each, on sale for $24.50 each plus tax. Wine Club members save more!  BUY NOW

Mar 1, 2023 at 11:12 AM Permalink

The Library Is Open

The door to our cellar is open until April 2.  This is a limited and rare opportunity to purchase perfectly aged older Convergence Zone wines.  The first group of wines below are available until they are sold out.  White wines are $20 and red wines are $33.  Wine Club benefits apply.  Order online to save your bottles, and pick up at the winery on Saturdays.  It's that easy!  When one wine sells out, we'll add another to the list.  Visit our library wines webpage to purchase and for updates.  Ready, set, GO!

• 2011 Black Cloud Malbec Blend
• 2011 Storm Front Merlot Blend
• 2013 Black Cloud Malbec Blend
• 2013 Mistral Grenache
• 2013 Virga GSM Blend
• 2013 Drizzle Pinot Gris
• 2013 Sunbreak Chenin Blanc
• 2014 Squall Line Cabernet Blend
• 2016 Virga GSM Blend 

Mar 1, 2023 at 11:11 AM Permalink

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