O'Shea Scarborough Winery Vist! Well wine fans, its blog time. This wino has delayed and demurred writing for long enough nad its high time Wine on the Waterfront had a voice for whats new and exciting in its own four walls...and beyond to other grape havens. Our management team recently traveled to Seattle to investigate O'shea Scarborough Winery on a tip from one of our recent guests. After driving South from Seattle we careened into the industrial area of Tukwila to find a building described by Darren O'Shea as "the one with a huge 18 on it". I found this to be curious foreshadowing if the numbers were on some sort of industry drive rating scale. Travis Scarborough and Darren met us outsed their, well, garage and greeted us warmly with the admonition that it was colder inside than out. The boys were proud to let us know that they had upgraded from a small garage to a much larger facility, or, larger garage. The temperature and surroundings did nothing but add verve and interest to an array of unique and pioneering wines that blew the palate off this author. Energetic and very knowledgeable, these young men wowed W.O.W. into a frenetic buying spree. We have brought four different wines home with us for your drinking pleasure: a truly distinct and lovely segue from traditional Washington style Syrah's, they offer their "The Immortal" from Lewis Vineyard, Horse Heaven Hills Proprietors Chardonnay and a fabulous Cabernet Sauvignon, also out of Lewis Vineyards. The real treat for all of us was their 2006 "The Haymaker" Riesling which can only be purchased in half bottles. We jumped at the opportunity to swoop up a case but their only available bottles had not been waxed...what to do? They let us wax them ourselves! Come in and grab a bottle of this herbal, off-dry treasure in a bottle while they last. Also, we are proud to have the boys from O'shea Scarborough visit us on Monday, March 16th. Come early because seats will fill up quick! Happy Wine Drinking, Cheers, Joel
Reserve Wine Blog As we add the finishing touches to our reserve wine room I though it fitting to discuss the purpose and mystique around sometimes misunderstood “Reserve Cellar”. First of all, what should we really call it? Her Majesty’s Royal Wine Larder? Solomon’s Antebellum Trove di Vino? Expensive Wine Grotto? Reserve wine is a term given to imply that the wine is of a higher quality than usual, or a wine that has been aged before being sold, or both. Traditionally winemakers would “reserve” some of their best wine rather than sell it immediately, coining the term. We are at a crossroads on what to dub our room but what we do know is that we have a lovely array of wines from all over the world now neatly tucked away in our air conditioned facility, adjacent to our event room. I will say that I have grown attached to all of these wines since their purchasing, to the tagging and felting, the inventorying and sorting, and of course gingerly lying them down. It is an emotional process. I feel now more than ever that I am prepared to rear many children with sagacity and patience…so long as they just sort of lay there. Although, please come and adopt any of these bottles as it is extremely difficult for me to give them the time and attention each deserves individually. Please do the right thing and bring one or many of these little gems to your home. By the way, I am taking recommendations for a quality name for the wine room and if yours is chosen, a free bottle of wine could be yours…or just a thank you…or both. Cheers, Joel
Welcome to the perplexing and unpredictable world of wine nomenclature. Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio represent another area of ridiculous confusion. Same type of grape, two different names? Old World and New World style? In Italy and California it’s best known as Pinot Grigio, while in France and Oregon its best know as Pinot Gris. In Germany Pinot Gris is know as Rulander…but, well we are not gonna go there. The Pinot Gris grape is in essence a white mutation of Pinot Noir, a red grape; that is good to know. So, what you have here are two different styles of wine from the same grape, which are only different because of where they are grown and who makes the wine. Some people love one style and are and hate the other, it all comes down to what you look for in your Pinot Gris, Grigio…whatever.
Regional Tips: Italian version: Crisp and dry with a clean minerality. Many Californian producers aspire to this style and prefer the term Grigio. French Style: More fruit forward with spice and creamy texture. You will find this style in Oregon more often than not, and in my Fridge, but please procure yours from Wine on the Waterfront and not my home. Happy drinking and I hope you all can make it to our next tasting on Monday, March 2 and join us for a tasting of two whites and three reds from the French region of Burgundy! ~Joel~
Get Ready for Whidbey Whidbey Island is coming to the Olympic Peninsula…or rather, the Winey is. Either way, I’m exciting. The small and esoteric Winery is bringing its fleet of esoteric and fabulous small vineyard wines on Monday the 30th. Leah Waaramaki, the Assistant winemaker (we will all practice name pronunciation together on Monday, so don’t stress yourself out needlessly) will discuss each of their wines and be happy to field any queries we may have for her. Whidbey Island Winery really is trailblazing new wines and different approaches in our state. I was amazed last month when Leah told me she would be bringing a Dolcetto, Rousanne, and Siegerebbe to our humble winery. These are not the expected grapes to come out Washington State. If you are wondering what Siegerrebe is, then here is a quick overview: Siegerrebe (literally “Victory Vine” in German) is a white grape that is grown primarily in Germany. This wine has an intense aroma akin to Muscat and tends to be used in blending rather than varietal wine, however the flavor is closer to Guwerztraminer. Sounds like a very unique wine to me! I am really looking forward to this wine tasting and I hope that all of you can make it! Happy drinking wine fans, Joel
6 comments:
Hi, what I wanted to say was Rick Small> Sorry for the confusion? Great f*ing wine. See you tomorrow.joy and Benoit
O'Shea Scarborough Winery Vist!
Well wine fans, its blog time. This wino has delayed and demurred writing for long enough nad its high time Wine on the Waterfront had a voice for whats new and exciting in its own four walls...and beyond to other grape havens. Our management team recently traveled to Seattle to investigate O'shea Scarborough Winery on a tip from one of our recent guests. After driving South from Seattle we careened into the industrial area of Tukwila to find a building described by Darren O'Shea as "the one with a huge 18 on it". I found this to be curious foreshadowing if the numbers were on some sort of industry drive rating scale. Travis Scarborough and Darren met us outsed their, well, garage and greeted us warmly with the admonition that it was colder inside than out. The boys were proud to let us know that they had upgraded from a small garage to a much larger facility, or, larger garage. The temperature and surroundings did nothing but add verve and interest to an array of unique and pioneering wines that blew the palate off this author. Energetic and very knowledgeable, these young men wowed W.O.W. into a frenetic buying spree. We have brought four different wines home with us for your drinking pleasure: a truly distinct and lovely segue from traditional Washington style Syrah's, they offer their "The Immortal" from Lewis Vineyard, Horse Heaven Hills Proprietors Chardonnay and a fabulous Cabernet Sauvignon, also out of Lewis Vineyards. The real treat for all of us was their 2006 "The Haymaker" Riesling which can only be purchased in half bottles. We jumped at the opportunity to swoop up a case but their only available bottles had not been waxed...what to do? They let us wax them ourselves! Come in and grab a bottle of this herbal, off-dry treasure in a bottle while they last. Also, we are proud to have the boys from O'shea Scarborough visit us on Monday, March 16th. Come early because seats will fill up quick! Happy Wine Drinking,
Cheers,
Joel
Reserve Wine Blog
As we add the finishing touches to our reserve wine room I though it fitting to discuss the purpose and mystique around sometimes misunderstood “Reserve Cellar”. First of all, what should we really call it? Her Majesty’s Royal Wine Larder? Solomon’s Antebellum Trove di Vino? Expensive Wine Grotto? Reserve wine is a term given to imply that the wine is of a higher quality than usual, or a wine that has been aged before being sold, or both. Traditionally winemakers would “reserve” some of their best wine rather than sell it immediately, coining the term. We are at a crossroads on what to dub our room but what we do know is that we have a lovely array of wines from all over the world now neatly tucked away in our air conditioned facility, adjacent to our event room.
I will say that I have grown attached to all of these wines since their purchasing, to the tagging and felting, the inventorying and sorting, and of course gingerly lying them down. It is an emotional process. I feel now more than ever that I am prepared to rear many children with sagacity and patience…so long as they just sort of lay there. Although, please come and adopt any of these bottles as it is extremely difficult for me to give them the time and attention each deserves individually. Please do the right thing and bring one or many of these little gems to your home.
By the way, I am taking recommendations for a quality name for the wine room and if yours is chosen, a free bottle of wine could be yours…or just a thank you…or both.
Cheers,
Joel
Wine Blog
Pinot Gris Vs. Pinot Griggio
Welcome to the perplexing and unpredictable world of wine nomenclature. Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio represent another area of ridiculous confusion. Same type of grape, two different names? Old World and New World style? In Italy and California it’s best known as Pinot Grigio, while in France and Oregon its best know as Pinot Gris. In Germany Pinot Gris is know as Rulander…but, well we are not gonna go there. The Pinot Gris grape is in essence a white mutation of Pinot Noir, a red grape; that is good to know.
So, what you have here are two different styles of wine from the same grape, which are only different because of where they are grown and who makes the wine. Some people love one style and are and hate the other, it all comes down to what you look for in your Pinot Gris, Grigio…whatever.
Regional Tips:
Italian version: Crisp and dry with a clean minerality. Many Californian producers aspire to this style and prefer the term Grigio.
French Style: More fruit forward with spice and creamy texture. You will find this style in Oregon more often than not, and in my Fridge, but please procure yours from Wine on the Waterfront and not my home.
Happy drinking and I hope you all can make it to our next tasting on Monday, March 2 and join us for a tasting of two whites and three reds from the French region of Burgundy!
~Joel~
Get Ready for Whidbey
Whidbey Island is coming to the Olympic Peninsula…or rather, the Winey is. Either way, I’m exciting. The small and esoteric Winery is bringing its fleet of esoteric and fabulous small vineyard wines on Monday the 30th. Leah Waaramaki, the Assistant winemaker (we will all practice name pronunciation together on Monday, so don’t stress yourself out needlessly) will discuss each of their wines and be happy to field any queries we may have for her. Whidbey Island Winery really is trailblazing new wines and different approaches in our state. I was amazed last month when Leah told me she would be bringing a Dolcetto, Rousanne, and Siegerebbe to our humble winery. These are not the expected grapes to come out Washington State. If you are wondering what Siegerrebe is, then here is a quick overview: Siegerrebe (literally “Victory Vine” in German) is a white grape that is grown primarily in Germany. This wine has an intense aroma akin to Muscat and tends to be used in blending rather than varietal wine, however the flavor is closer to Guwerztraminer. Sounds like a very unique wine to me! I am really looking forward to this wine tasting and I hope that all of you can make it! Happy drinking wine fans,
Joel
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