NEWS

February 2024 Birthday Sale

It’s birthday month at Convergence Zone, with three birthdays in February: Assistant Winemaker Troy, Punchdown Princess Erica and my birthday.  To celebrate, we are offering 50% off a case of Fly Rod Cellars wines along with $19.98 flat rate shipping.  You can choose from the Cat’s Away Chardonnay, Plastic Surgeon Pinot Noir and Steve’s Merlot.  Mix and match whatever you like.

You can purchase at the winery or online for pickup or shipping.  No other discounts apply to this limited offer.  Order online or purchase at the winery by Feb. 29.  Discount will automatically be applied in your cart.

Feb 2, 2024 at 9:44 AM Permalink

Wine and Chocolate Event--Feb. 9 and 10

We cannot live by chocolate alone. That's why there's wine!  Please join us on Friday, February 9 and Saturday, February 10 from 1:00-5:00 pm for a wine and chocolate pairing at the winery. I’ve partnered with Baum’s Chocolates in Kennewick to create a special chocolate made from our Squall Line Cabernet Sauvignon. The first one is on me but if you have a sweet tooth, you can purchase one of the packages to accompany your tasting or to enjoy at home. 

Feb 2, 2024 at 9:43 AM Permalink

February In The Winery

After a prolonged blast of winter here in the Tri Cities, I'm actually happy it’s been raining! The snow has melted, and we can look ahead to mid-winter winery activities without dealing with ice and snow.

Bottling prep is going well.  The 2023 Sunbreak Chenin Blanc, Drizzle Pinot Gris and Rose’ are fruity and crisp.  I am very pleased with this new vintage of wines and can’t wait to share them with you starting in April. The 2022 reds are lively, balanced, and full of flavor, with soft tannins and a juicy finish.  These will age in bottle for at least 12 months before release.

All the 2023 red wines have completed malolactic fermentation in barrel. These wines will remain in barrels until at least 2025 and 2026 when they’ll be blended and bottled.

Feb 2, 2024 at 9:42 AM Permalink

Recent Scores and Awards

Sean Sullivan has been writing about and reviewing Northwest wine since 2004 and has written more than 400 magazine articles, published over 2,000 articles on his blog, and reviewed over 17,000 Northwest wines.  He was also a contributing editor at Wine Enthusiast Magazine from 2013-2022 focused on northwest wines. 

Sean recently reviewed several of our wines in his Northwest Wine Report.  The 2021 Mistral Grenache and 2021 Virga Red Blend both scored 91 points.  The 2019 Squall Line Red Blend received 89 points and the 2019 Storm Front received 88 points.  You can subscribe to Northwest Wine Report at https://www.northwestwinereport.com/. 

Jan 2, 2024 at 10:28 AM Permalink

Low Stock Alert: 2018 Squall Line Cabernet Sauvignon

We only have 24 bottles remaining of the 2018 Squall Line Cabernet Sauvignon.  It’s 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, the wine has  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. Purchase at the winery or online for pickup or shipping.

• 96 points: Washington State Wine Awards
• 92 points: American Wine Society.  

Jan 2, 2024 at 10:26 AM Permalink

January White and Rose' Case Sale

Our January White and Rose’ Case Sale is now on!  Mix and match 12 bottles of our Cat’s Away Chardonnay, Drizzle Pinot Gris or Three Forks Rose’ and enjoy a 25% discount with $10 flat rate shipping.

Wine club members’ discounts are stacked for stocking up (shipping included as always):

• Silver members - 45% off
• Gold members - 50% off
• Platinum members - 55% off

Order online or purchase at the winery by Jan. 31.  Discount will automatically be applied in your cart.

Jan 2, 2024 at 10:25 AM Permalink

January in the Winery

Happy New Year! I hope your holidays were filled with joy, family, tasty food and outstanding wine.  Now that it’s 2024, it’s time to get busy again in the winery. 

In January, we need to file annual State and Federal wine production and sales reports and taxes.  It’s the part of winemaking I detest, but it’s better than filing monthly!  I bet you also stress over preparing for and filing your taxes.  When you need a break, stop in for a glass and we'll commiserate.

We also start preparing for spring bottling: stabilizing white and rose’ wines and ordering bottles, corks, screwcaps and labels are some of the tasks ahead this month.

Finally, we monitor whether the 2023 red wines have completed the malolactic fermentation in barrel. This second fermentation converts malic acid to lactic acid, softening the wine.  We use paper chromatography for this testing.  Once complete, we can top off the barrel (completely fill it with wine) and start the aging process.

Jan 2, 2024 at 10:24 AM Permalink

September 2023 Winery Update

The 2023 Washington grape harvest began a few weeks ago.  Our first pick will be Red Mountain Merlot.  This varietal forms the base for the Storm Front Red Blend.  The sugars are where we want them, but the flavors haven’t quite developed yet.  With Goldilocks weather (not too hot, not too cold) predicted, we will let these juicy morsels hang on the vine a bit longer.  However, forecasters predict slightly below normal temperatures and a modest increase in rainfall from Sept. 7-13, so we will need to watch the skies carefully. 

Nothing else seems close to being fully ripe, so we’re probably a few weeks away from the next pick.  Interestingly, the Chenin Blanc is ripening quickly.  We usually harvest that in October.  The Pinot Gris is still very green for early September.  The Snipes Mountain Tempranillo has massive clusters and is tasting great.  Watch our Facebook and Instagram for updates.

Remember to send your Eastern Washington friends and family in for wine tasting Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 1:00-5:00 pm.  If they are referred by a club member, they will receive that member's club discount!

Sep 3, 2023 at 2:01 PM Permalink

Savor Northwest Review of Squall Line--97 Points!

Thank you to Savor Northwest for the great review of the new 2019 Squall Line Red Blend.  This is our highest scoring wine to date with 97 points and a Double Gold Medal from the judges.  Here's what they said:

"The red blend of Bordeaux varietals includes 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Malbec, 7% Petit Verdot, 4% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc. On the nose, it's complex and enticing with aromas of ripe dark fruit, baking spice, cedar and pipe tobacco. On the palate, it's rounded and juicy with flavors of plum with peppery spice and finely textured tannins carrying earthy notes and a finish alluding to graphite."

Squall Line can be picked up at the winery or ordered online for $33.00. 

Aug 1, 2023 at 8:42 PM Permalink

Rose' Case Sale

To celebrate WAugust, we are having a case sale on Three Forks Rose'.  You can save an additional 10% (25% total) on 12 bottles of this summer sipper.  Wine club members save an additional 10% on top of your regular club discount.  Order online for pickup at the winery, or we can ship to you when the weather cools.  This offer ends August 31 or when sold out.

Aug 1, 2023 at 8:40 PM Permalink