Stay Green - Dispose of Green

So after a weekend of tasting a lot of great Walla Walla wines from over 100 different wineries and after the wineries pour several bottles every week to all of their customers - what happens to the empty bottles?

Many Walla Walla wineries are now working with Walla Walla 2020 Recycling and recycling their own bottles and cardboard. While glass cannot be recycled in the City of Walla Walla's curbside home containers, clean green, brown and clear glass can be recycled at several special drop boxes. The locations for these bright yellow containers in Walla Walla are:

· City Service Center, 55 Moore Street at the end of the cul-de-sac on Moore Street
· Sudbury Road Landfill, near the scale house
· Fire Station No. 1, 12th Avenue and Poplar Street, in the southwest corner of the parking lot off Birch Street
· Fire Station No. 2, Wilbur Avenue and Tacoma Street, in the parking spot adjacent to the basketball court
· Walla Walla Recycling, Inc., 827 N. 12th Avenue

Also many thanks to Sonja and Jim at Lowden Hills Winery, who not only recycles their glass and cardboard to help make our community a little more green, but they also offer their customers and community to feel free to bring their rinsed wine bottles, regardless of brand, to Lowden Hills Winery for recycling.

A Happy Walla Walla Halloween!

My childhood memories of Halloween in Walla Walla are many. Eagerly wanting to visit the haunted houses sponsored by the local Jaycees, but once there wishing I was home safe and sound. I remember placing my hand into a boxes of peeled grapes and cold cooked spaghetti at junior high Halloween parties and screaming! But most of all, I remember Trick 'r Treating.

We lived out in the "sticks" surrounded by onion fields and horses, so there weren't too many houses close by to go Trick 'r Treating. My parents packed us in the car during the chilly fall evenings and off we went to our Grandparent's house on School Avenue (near Leonetti Cellars) where we were paraded up and down School and Bryant Avenues to neighbors and nearby church and garden club friends so they could "ooo and aww" over Grace and Walter's grandchildren.

These Halloween memories got me to thinking about the wine labels from the Walla Walla Valley and how many of them were appropriately themed for Halloween. The best wine labels for Halloween goes to Charles Smith Wines for his Skull Syrah and Old Bones Syrah. Unfortunately these wines sold out - - fast! And it wasn't just about the label, but the coveted content inside the bottles.

Of course, who doesn't love the Sleight of Hand Cellars with their labels of magic and spells offering wines named Spellbinder and Levitation? Names that are very reminiscent of the Great Houdini, who died on Halloween.

Mother Nature plays a part of mystery and magic when the perfect alignment between three celestial bodies makes for a total solar eclipse. The feeling is of awe and yet very eerie. The wine labels from SYZYGY are impressive and reminds us of natural, yet mystical forces beyond a mere mortal.

When Halloween comes around every October, lovers of Walla Walla wines won't have to travel all the way to Transylvania to collect their boo-tiful labels covering their favorite red drink - - the blood of the vine.

B O O!

Helix Merlot - 2005

(In August, I reviewed this wine for the 89 Project blog and had an opportunity to taste it again last night. This wine truly deserves to have another blog - - - an encore!)

There’s a lot of Merlot that comes out of Washington State, and especially Walla Walla. I can remember the day when Walla Walla received all kinds of accolades and high scores for their Merlot. In the mean time, other red grapes from the Walla Walla Valley have appeared: Syrah, Sangiovese, Cabernet Franc, Carmenere, Nebbiolo, and Cinsault have taken some of the attention away from our faithful and steady Merlot. It’s been a grape that has not let us down, and when California was talking smack about "merlot is only a blending grape" we proved differently producing a single variety (attn: wine blogging police - or is it "varietal?") wines and have received world acclaim.

Reininger Winery made a smart move creating their second label, Helix, in 2004. (And yes, Helix is a genus of a large air-breathing land snail aka terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusc. And yes, this garden pest also includes the Roman snail and the Burgundy snail. The Burgundy snail is considered the edible snail, but whatever you do - - don't confuse this Bordeaux-style wine with Burgundy - shall we?)

For the Helix label, Reininger sources fruit from the larger Columbia Valley. This allows Reininger to increase production and expand distribution. This also allows the Reininger label to continue to maintain a limited production. The Reininger label is produced with fruit that is sourced from only the Walla Walla Valley. Helix can target a new group of wine lovers while keeping costs down. When I discovered the Helix Merlot - 2005 received a 89 from the Wine Enthusiast, I had to wonder why? Is it because of a second label thinking it should not be as good or is the real problem here - - another Merlot? I also thought about those "pointy people" who walk into a winery or wine store only wanting to buy 90+ scored wine, and often without tasting. What wines do they drink for every day sipping and especially when their pointy-friends are not around? Do they drink costly 90+ scored wines? Perhaps they are secret 89 secret sippers when nobody is looking.

My opinion: this is a Merlot that you could take to a dinner party and still be proud of it at $22. Overall, it is 97% Merlot with a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon. At the first sip of this dark wine, the taste is full bodied with hints of cherries. It’s a mouthful with just a hint of spice and cedar. This Helix Merlot should definitely paired and enjoyed with foods, such as a native Washington State salmon to grilled vegetables or beef. A pocket full of Hershey kisses works for me (or my pumpkin chocolate chip cookies). This ain't no blending grape. It’s a Merlot that can stand up to the best - - even stand up to a Merlot with 90 or 91 points! Cheers!

Cookies Are Not Just For Milk Anymore: Pumpkin Chocolate Chip

This is the time of the year when I turn on the oven and start baking. In fact, just tonight one of my sisters called and asked if I was going to bake her favorite pumpkin chocolate chip cookies and if I would deliver. Last week a co-worker sent an email and asked if I would bring pumpkin chocolate chip cookies to work this week. The answers are: yes, yes and yes.

If you haven't smelled Fall yet, the smell of these cookies baking in the oven will awaken your senses and remind you that Fall is here. It is now! And ya know - - milk isn't the only beverage that pairs great with cookies. So does wine. I discovered a silky Merlot with notes of cocoa and cigar box or a spicy Syrah with mocha and blueberry notes really makes for a perfect pairing with pumpkin and dark chocolate - - especially with the chocolate. And of course, a late harvest wine or even a sparkler will make a happy pairing if you prefer a white wine.

I suppose you could mull the wine if you want, which sometimes can add a bit of warm and rosy cheer, but if you are going for hot spiced wine whatever you do - - DO NOT use wines from Walla Walla! GASP! SHOCK! Clutching my pearls! The horrors and humanity of it all!!! I think most winemakers in the valley would feel verklempt for having their wines abused over heat and then muddled and masked with spices and fruit. That's why my dear, Bacchus invented cheap California and Italian jug wines - - to make hot spiced wine with.

Enjoy my Fall recipe for Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies. They are moist and cake-like!

1 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 cup canned unsweetened pumpkin (not the pie filling with sugar)
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon (or pumpkin pie spice)
1 tsp vanilla
1 (6 0z) pkg dark chocolate chips (1 cup)

Beat shortening at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy. Gradually add sugar, beating well. Add egg and pumpkin, mixing thoroughly. Combine flour and next four ingredients adding to pumpkin mixture. Stir in vanilla and chocolate chips. If you wish, here is where you may add 1/2 cup of chopped pecans (optional). Drop dough by tablespoons onto lightly greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 13 minutes. Let set a minute before removing from cookie sheet to cool. Yields about five dozen.

Don't forget the wine or milk!

A Very Cool Walla Walla Winemaker With the Very Cool GaryV

There is nothing more I can add. The video speaks for itself. Enjoy!

Investment tip for the day: Drink your profits

By Steve Bjerklie

So the economy’s tanking and even successful investors these days -- both of them -- are looking in their closets and sock drawers for hidden investment opportunities. Investment-minded wine lovers are naturally tempted by the profit possibilities residing cork-down in their cellars.

Understandably so. Wine has a long history as an investment vehicle. Those bottles of Roaring Twenties-era Bordeaux that occasionally show up at auction didn’t survive that era’s excesses because someone forgot they were in the cellar. No, they were secreted away for future sale. Back in 1928 a first-growth Bordeaux might’ve cost no more than several francs; at auction today they bring tens of thousands of dollars (or, even better, euros). The profit can be measured in tens of thousands of percent.

But if you’re thinking you’re sitting on investment gold with your carefully put together collection of fine Washington and/or Oregon and/or California wines, think again. Chances are the only profits you’ll realize are the profits to be gained from enjoying your wines with great friends and fine food.

For one thing, wine-investing is an expensive game -- very expensive. A bottle of $50 or $60 cabernet sauvignon, even from a good vintage and from a well-established, award-winning, high-scoring vintner, will not double or triple in value in 10 or 15 years. Investment-grade wines begin at around $200-$250 a bottle and go up -- way up -- from there, and it’s difficult to sell a quantity smaller than a case of 12 bottles. You’ll need an expendable 10 grand, at the very least, to get into wine as an investment, and that’s money that’s not going to do a thing for you for several years except collect dust. It’s not even tax deductible unless wine-investing is your primary business.

For another thing, only a handful of wines in the world are investment-grade. In France, the regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Rhone and Champagne each produce only a small handful of wines that are auction-worthy and that will, in time, increase in value. Same thing’s true in California: In contemporary vintages, only wines from Harlan, Screaming Eagle, Colgin, Opus One, Dominus and perhaps two or three other estates will gain value over time (by the way, a single bottle of the most recently released Screaming Eagle, if you can possibly find one, will cost you $750). Among Washington wines, only Quilceda Creek, with a $100-per-bottle starting point, has a track record of building value over time. A good auction market just hasn’t developed yet for the likes of Leonetti, Cayuse and Long Shadows.

But let’s say you’ve got the cash and you were able to buy a case of Petrus or Ch. D’Yquem or Caymus Special Selection for four grand and now you want to lay it away for five or 10 years and then sell for the big money. Where did you buy the wine from? Who did you buy it from? Your investment will have to have perfect provenance, as they say, and don’t count it getting it from an eBay seller. How and where are you going to store your wine? Your hall closet, garage or even your own wine cellar, however fancy, isn’t good enough. You’ll need to keep your investment waiting for its payday in a commercial, climate-controlled cellar that will provide documentation to the buyer -- an additional expense you’ll need to earn back if you’re planning on a profit. And no matter how well your wines are stored, you’re going to lose one or more bottles to corking. That’s the hard fact of life of aging quantities of wine, even (or especially) great wine. Are you ready to lose a few hundred bucks or a couple of thou to bad corks?

Finally, as anyone who invests in collectibles with an intent to sell for profit will tell you, the worst thing you can do is fall in love with your investment. If you love wine, invest in coins or stamps or antique hair pins or old postcards with cows on them. You’ll keep your heart intact when the winning bid is made and your precious possessions become someone else‘s.

Not that loving wine, even expensive, wonderful wine (and Leonetti, Cayuse and Long Shadows, among several other Walla Walla beauties, come immediately to mind), is a bad thing. Love your wine -- and, to borrow a phrase and turn in on its head, drink the profits. Do so with friends, food and gusto, because those are the only profits you’re ever likely to see from investing in wine.

Wine Spectator - Wine Talk: Drew Bledsoe

Drew Bledsoe, former NFL quarterback grew up in Walla Walla and not too far from the famous Leonetti Cellars. He talks with Robert Taylor of the Wine Spectator from his home in Whitefish, Montana.

Bledsoe tells the Wine Spectator about his football journey, his wine cellar, how he almost became a vineyard owner with famed quarterback Dan Marino of the Miami Dolphins and how he came to purchase property, which is now the Flying B Vineyard in the Columbia Valley appellation located at Echo, Oregon.

Bledsoe's Walla Walla vineyard, McQueen, is located in Walla Walla. The majority of the 50 acre vineyard is planted with Cabernet Sauvignon and five acres of it is Merlot. Chris Figgins of Leonetti is the winemaker for Bledsoe's winery, the Doubleback. Their first bottling will be a Cabernet blend with 2007 fruit.

Read the interview. It's a good read about a "homie" doing well.

Soup Stock - The Safe Stock to Purchase.

The one thing I will never forget from reading about America’s Depression (1920 – 1929), that when it came to alcohol, tobacco, cosmetics and silk hosiery sales, they could not have been better and the other thing I will never forget is that in 1920, women voted for the very first time.

With Wall Street having a brutal time, I keep reminding myself about how alcohol sales remained strong during America’s Depression. Am I delusional to think that today and in the future, wine sales will remain status quo? No, I don’t believe I am delusional or even naive. I think sales in wine and all alcohol products will remain strong, but I also believe that our buying habits will alter a bit.

First of all, let’s get this out of the way - - investing in wine is not the way to go at this time, unless you are an educated oneophile, have invested in the right wines and have all of the proper storage certification. And if you are going to get the high price, guess who you will probably receive it from? Another educated oneophile. So if you think you can get your hands on a bottle of Quilceda Creek or a bottle of Screaming Eagle, toss it in the dark broom closet and in about 10 years - - voila! - - you're going to make a few hundred dollars from that bottle - - you are very wrong. And no, a case of Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet or Merlot that's been in your makeshift wine cellar for ten years will have no return, either. Not all aged wines are going to give you a return. The gains from recent prices of six leading Bordeaux properties have been modest and these are the top of the collectibles (how to invest in wines is another blog - - soon to come from guest blogger). Drink your wines, share them and enjoy them!

At this time, the only stock I would advocate to purchase is soup stock. Having people over for dinner doesn’t mean we always have to have Copper River salmon or filet mignon. Rich and creamy clam chowder, home-made fresh wild mushroom soup or beef bourguignon are soups/stews that can be paired deliciously with an affordable wine. Soups and stews may take a bit of time to prepare from scratch - - but oh so worth the effort. Add a loaf of French-style bread from the local bakery, a green salad and dessert and your guests will be impressed. It's a great way to entertain! Or be very communal by using a raclette grill and/or fondue pot. I love having opportunities to bring out my French raclette grill and what I found it's one of the easiest and affordable ways to entertain - - besides everyone is guaranteed of eating something they like. And dessert is easy - who doesn't like dipping fresh fruit and cake in chocolate fondue?

In spite of the economy, it's even more important that we entertain and especially now that we are heading into winter. While Wall Street is having their woes, we need to take care of ourselves and treat ourselves "nice." And it can still be done affordably. Now is the time to be with friends and family, but we can adjust our way of thinking. This doesn’t mean that we have to stay home all of the time and never go out to our favorite dining places either. Don't totally remove dining-out from your budget! There are several fine dining establishments in Walla Walla where we can still dine by taking advantage of the happy hour and bar menus. Or even just coffee and dessert! You may find you are frequenting your favorite restaurants more often instead of the usual once in awhile expensive full-meal-deal.

The wines we purchase do not always have to be the most expensive. And most important - - when you are serving wines to your guests, be sure to serve the most expensive wine first or second. Serve your best wine at the beginning of your party while your guests still have alive and sharp taste buds. How can you appreciate the best with a tired tongue? You can't.

There are some great wine buys in Walla Walla. From $25 and under you can find tasty cabernets, merlots, whites, roses', and especially the red blends that are often at $20 and under. Soon we will have quite a selection of “Walla Walla produced” affordable wines when Seattle-based Precept Wine Brand's, "Walla Walla Wine Works," located at Highway 12 in the Walla Walla Valley, open's their doors. They will feature affordable wine brands such as Waterbrook (one of the older wineries in the Walla Walla Valley), Pendulum Winery, Shimmer Wines and The Magnificent Wine Company (former labels of Charles Smith, K-Vintners). These are wines that I advocate to use for your everyday sippers aka “heart medicine.” In fact, I advocate that we consider all of the affordable wines from the State of Washington.

Of course, I want you to purchase your great wine buys from Walla Walla Wine Woman, but that isn't always convenient, especially when you are buying dinner and wine at the same market on your way home from work. Local supermarkets and the liquor store has a good selection of Walla Walla and Washington State wines. Remember - great buys of great wines are out there and we don’t have to settle for the Southern 2BuckChuck. Keep our dollars in our Washington State wineries. And in the mean time, keep our fingers crossed and keep thinking - - this too shall pass (the economy). Just think of the stories we can tell our grandchildren. "I remember the day when we only paid $4 for a gallon of gas and..."

Keep It Local! October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

That's right - keep it local! While I appreciate the impact of what a larger non-profit can do for the cure of breast cancer and assist in spreading education, the strings of my heart really get tugged when I hear there are dollars being raised for this cause that will actually stay in Walla Walla. When I heard that Isenhower Cellars was directly sponsoring a fundraiser with the proceeds going to St. Mary's Cancer Center, it definitely peeked my interest.

Last year Denise Isenhower's mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Denise, along with her two small daughters, Keegan (16 months) and Olivia (3 1/2 years), made three flights on the "red-eye" back to Indianna to help Denise's Mom after the chemo treatments. Denise was also pregnant at the time and during one of the trips, while waiting at the Chicago airport to catch a flight, Denise thought she was having a miscarriage and had to be rushed to the nearest hospital. In the mean time, the good news is Denise's mother is a survivor of breast cancer and in March, after many weeks of bed rest and pre-term labor, Denise delivered daughter Eliana.

As Denise says, "Everyone knows someone who has battled cancer." Denise and even her daughters have had more than their share, as Denise's sister also had two different experiences of skin cancer this past year. The impression of this disease was even left on small Olivia who told many people during their travels "they were going to go help Nana with her chemo because she has cancer." Of course, it was Denise who experienced the looks of sadness from these stranger's faces. Olivia even experienced the hairdresser shaving her "Nana's" head. Olivia liked rubbing her Nana's shaved head and watching Nana trying on the different wigs - - very bittersweet moments.

During this time, Denise was walking with Beth Swanson and other member's of the Mom's Network of Walla Walla on Saturday mornings. From these walks inspiration came to have a Cancer Walk and to sell some "pink." The Second Annual Cancer Walk will take place Saturday, October 25 and many thanks to Isenhower Cellars for sponsoring very pink and very cute caps for $19.50! These caps are the excellent Port Authority brand with the Isenhower logo on the side and an embroidered pink ribbon on the front.

Here is what I like so much about this pink cap fund raiser: for every pink cap sold, $10 will go directly to the St. Mary’s Breast Community Center in Walla Walla for their "Special Needs Fund." This is an "at need" non-judgmental, no paper work required funding for patients. An "at need" example could be a new bra, body lotion or lip balm, or even a taxi-ride home from the hospital - - the kind of needs that many of us take for granted. What's even more important about these proceeds - - all of the money will go directly to cancer patients and not to administrative costs as needed by some of the larger non-profits.

For more information on the Second Annual Mom's Network Breast Cancer Walk, please contact Beth Swanson. Hats may be purchased from Beth, Isenhower Cellars or Me. I will also have the hats available at Wild Walla Walla Wine Woman Wednesday, October 15 from 5:30-7:00 pm. Please also contact me about that event for more information.

Wine Blogging Wednesday #50: Which Wine, Which Wilderness?

Or also known as: Wine Blogging Wednesday #50: Which Wine, Which Wilderness for the Wild Walla Walla Wine Woman? Sorry, I had to take advantage of all of the "W's"

My wine blogging friend, Russ Beebee (aka Wine Hiker) at Winehiker Witiculture is the host for WBW #50 this glorious fall month of October. For this significant number 50, Russ has asked his fellow wine bloggers to get outdoors and celebrate the season with a hike 50 miles of our home and finish with a post-picnic and a good bottle of wine.

Sorry Russ, unfortunately, the last few weekends have not allowed me an extra 50 miles, so I made this WBW easy - - so easy it was a walk in the park. Oh wait - -it was a walk in the park - - the grand dame of all Walla Walla parks - - Pioneer Park!

Autumn is my favorite time of the year and especially in Walla Walla. As I tickle through my Rolodex full of memories I have taken many walks through this beautiful 58-acres (and no matter the season, it's always beautiful), since I first learned how to walk. I have looked through the assortment of colored leaves and nuts on the ground left by Mother Nature. I have taken in the silence under an old tree only to hear the cracking of bark from a nearby sycamore. Pioneer Park is home to many of Washington State’s record trees, some planted around the turn of the 20th Century and many recorded as the largest known of their species in the state.

The crowning glory of the park is the gazebo in the center of the park and now a city landmark that was built in 1910 at a cost of $1,250. The land for the park was purchased in 1901 and John C. Olmstead, the architect who was also responsible for the design of New York City’s Central Park, arrived in Walla Walla in 1906 and influenced the designs of Walla Walla’s first city parks. Besides a water fountain, community center, rose garden, playground, whimsical Tom Otterness sculpture and duck ponds, Pioneer Park also has an aviary that is home to approximately 200 exotic birds.

After a walk in the park with Chloe, my four-legged companion, we had our post pic-nic and wine (Chloe had water) at home due to the city codes regarding alcohol - - and besides, rain was on the way. A nosh from an assortment of charcuterie and imported cheese, a few nibbles of pecans with a glaze tasting similiar to pecan pie filling, and crisp bites of juicy Asian pear slices, along with my wine of choice.

100% Cabernet Franc is one of my favorite varietals for rose' and Steve Brooks from Trust Cellars Rose - 2007 has produced such a glorious pink wine. It's a full bodied wine showing flavors of cherry pie and spicy notes of cinnamon. Mmm...like cherry pie out of the oven! The spiciness of the flavors and the cool temperature of the wine was such a perfect match with the selection of salami and cheese and seemed to add a tart, yet extra juicy flavor to my mouthful of crunchy fruit and nuts.

When I asked Steve if he had used the saignee method for his rose production, he looked amusingly shocked and laughed while telling me, "No," his rose' was the real deal! He had deliberately set out to make a rose and did not "bleed" out the juice from a fermenting Cabernet Franc to improve the original red wine. Yup, there's a good reason the name on this bottle of wine is "Trust." And Trust Rose' is a great example that rosados, rosatos, and roses' have caught on and they are no longer the "blush" that we use to know. Even the color of the wine in the glass is elegant, yet showing a bit of whimsy from the label. And no bother, now that summer is behind us, this refreshing bottle of pink will continue be a perfect match for the Thanksgiving turkey - - that is if one can leave it alone until the holidays! Cheers!

Girl Power and the Muleskinner!

Don’t ask why, but for some reason as soon as Autumn begins to tease with a bit of chill in the Walla Walla air, I often think of the Merlot produced in the Walla Walla Valley. It’s like I’m not quite ready to hunker down for the winter and be committed to a stout rich wine, like Cabernet Sauvignon. Instead I am looking for red wine that’s a bit softer, but with just as much flavor.

Last Friday evening was all about "Girl Power!" The Autumn wind and rain moved a few leaves from the trees outside, while inside we moved a few cases of wine around and a few pieces of furniture. Actually, my generous helpers did the bulk of the moving while I kicked a few empty case boxes around and pointed where I wanted pictures hung. But, it was me who ultimately opened a bottle of wine – so that counts for something, right? The wine of choice was a Spring Valley Vineyard Muleskinner 2004 - - a 100% Merlot! Perhaps, this was an appropriate wine for the working evening as after all, the term “muleskinner” is: one who drives mules. No doubt by the end of the evening the team of “Girl Power" movers were feeling as if they were driving one lame mule (moi) - - and a stubborn one at that.

There’s a reason why the winemaker’s of Walla Walla haven't traditionally used Merlot strictly as a blending grape. Merlot, a grape which often takes a back seat to Cabernet Sauvignon, has become one of the popular single red varieties in the valley and one of the reasons is the fruit from the Walla Walla Valley is like no other – complex and rich, with mineral and earth tones visible in the flavors and the nose. Spring Valley Vineyard in Walla Walla County is an excellent example of rich and complex wines from their farm land which dates back to the mid 1800’s. This particular vintage of Spring Valley Muleskinner - 2004, has a few years on it and since that release, Spring Valley has released their 2005 (the winery is sold out of the '04, but email me if you are interested in a bottle or two).

The extra time in the bottle made the tannins slightly visible, while still keeping structure to the wine. The dark plum color and the rich mouth feel had an elegance about it like sipping a black currant cassis aperitif, yet a familiarity as inviting as Grandma’s blackberry pie - from the filling of the dark fruit to the crust reminiscent of the grains of wheat from the past. The sweet finish continued long after our glasses were set down, while we remarked about the complexity of this fine Merlot and smacking our lips. Cheers to Girl Power and the Muleskinner!

Spirits Among Us

Former Walla Walla winemaker, Berle W. "Rusty" Figgins has added a new chapter to his career - from viticulturist to winemaker and now a distiller. Many wine lovers and locals may remember Figgins as one of the first to introduce Syrah to the State of Washington, especially Eastern Washington. From syrah in the vineyard, later Figgins was one of the founders and the winemaker for Glen Fiona Winery in Walla Walla. Glen Fiona is known for producing Rhone-style wines.

After producing wines for North Star in Walla Walla and Cave B Estate Winery located at George, WA, Figgin’s newest project is distilled spirits - - which is a natural progression for those who want to explore beyond fermentation. Thinking beyond wine, the next natural step is to distill brandy, since brandy is distilled directly from wine. Figgins feels there is a place for brandy where ever there is a prosperous wine industry. In the mean time, Figgins has left the winery at George and will operate Dynamic Alambic Artisan Distillers located in Eastern Washington's Grant County at Mattawa.

Future products will include a style of "Limoncello," a lemon digestivo liqueur with Italian roots, and style of "Sambuca," an anise liqueur also with Italian roots. Figgins feels the potential is there to include an apple brandy, like France's Calvados, since Washington is the apple capital of the world. Cheers!

Canines & Wines

Rolling from September into the new month of October, dogs have been on my mind and especially one in particular, my little "Chloe-Bird." Chloe is a little white/beige Yorki-Poo who will be going on her 10-month of her little 7 lb four-legged life. You see, she has kept me up at night recently, every night since Friday. Lots of "barfies and runnies," no appetite, swollen eye lids, splotchy red marks on an ear, two trips to Doggie ER and a mortgage payment later...

Chloe is now bouncing off the walls and once again herself. All of her tests came out fine and the latest medical prediction is perhaps she may have been bit by a spider or more like - - ate one. She is now bright-eyed and bushy tailed, but I am not. I am dragging...and this morning on my way to work, after watching her exuberantly taking her first bite of kibble since Thursday night and still wanting more, it made me reflect on all of the great dogs I have owned (and grieved for) in my adult life: Valentino (aka Poopus), Rosebud Lee-Marie, Lady Mae of Green Gables, and my finest companion in the best of times and the worst of times, Lucy Baines Johnson Walker. In fact, Lucy's best friend was Salsa, the black lab from Forgeron Cellars (and sometimes Salsa can be seen hanging at Long Shadows Winery). Salsa kept Lucy company during Lucy's "golden years." After two-years of being without a dog in almost 30 years - - now enters: Chloe-Bird Cristina Barcelona.

October is definitely the month for canines and wines in the Walla Walla Valley. One of October’s observances is "Adopt a Shelter Dog" and Walla Walla wineries are in the middle of their harvest – crush. We love our pets in Walla Walla and it is only fitting that during the month of October is the Annual Fall Furr Ball, a benefit for the Blue Mountain Humane Society on October 25. It’s a waggin’ tail of a good time with dinner, auction, gaming and dancing. For more info contact: BMHS.

This coming Saturday, October 4 is the Second Annual Dog Stampede that kicks off the Grand Opening of the Walla Walla Dog Park at Fort Walla Walla Park. Check here for a complete schedule.

October 10 is Walla Walla's signature benefit dinner auction - "Entwine." I love this event! It's held at the Marcus Whitman Hotel, featuring more than 70 wineries with regional art, great escapes packages and other treasures to bid on. It is co-sponsored by ArtWalla, Walla Walla Community College Foundation, and the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance.

On behalf of the great "woofers" in Walla Walla, now is the time to celebrate with some Walla Walla wine. If you are a wine aficionado who has a "crush" on canines, you can view the many photos of the great dogs who hang out with their winemakers at the local wineries. Winery Dogs of Walla Walla is a color-filled hardback book featuring beautiful photographs of 77 winery dogs associated with 47 local wineries and over 100 photos of dogs in their winery and vineyard environment. And while you're reading you'll want to be sipping on a glass of any of the Walla Walla wines, especially those featuring a winery dog label such as: Dunham Cellar's Four Legged White or Three Legged Red. Go fetch and chase down what Lowden Hills has to offer: Merlin's Winemaker's Reserve Red or their LuLu Red, a secret blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon named after the winery's guard dog, LuLu the Yorkie.

October - it's the month to celebrate man's (or woman's) best friend and to celebrate the harvest of Walla Walla's fine wines. Sante!

(...and yes, Chloe has one blue eye and one brown eye.)

The Wine Blogger: aka Self-Proclaimed Wine Critic

First of all, exactly what is "blogging?" Wikipedia describes it as:

A blog (a contraction of the term "Web log") is a Web site, usually maintained by an individual, with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order. "Blog" can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog.

So, what wine subject do you want to read about? Only Washington State Wines? Wines from Long Island, New York? Need to follow a budget of Wines Under $20? Care about the politics and marketing of wine? Want to learn about the wines from Spain and Portugal? Are you a wine drinking hiker ? A Pinot Noir enthusiast? Want to read a blog with a wine magazine point of view? A specific winery? Prefer to take in wine blog reviews via video, instead of reading?

When I first started blogging about wine, over three years ago, there were an average of 300 wine bloggers around the world and of course in the mean time, the numbers have grown - - even wine magazines, newspaper wine columnists, wineries and even retail wine stores are getting into the blogging action - - a very smart move and in some instances, I think, met with the mindset of "if you can't beat them..."

There are now even wine blogging conventions held in the United States and internationally. All I know is from my own experience when I first started blogging: I felt alone. I was one of the few women wine bloggers out there. I was also the only wine blogger in Walla Walla, WA and the only one at the time just blogging about Walla Walla wines - - and even one of the few blogging about Washington State wines. I was met with: "Walla Wall-where did you say? Washington DC makes wine? Oh, you have that little blaaawg. Isn't that cute (pat-pat-pat), she's writing about wines from her little home town."

It was either not knowing any better or stubbornness, but I hung in there like a small yapping terrier dog chewing on whatever bare ankle was visible (hmm...I think I just described my little dog, Chloe...), and my marks must have left some toothy impressions, as the stubbornness is beginning to pay off for me.

Blogging, especially wine blogging, sounds easy doesn't it? It's certainly easy to start one, as there are various free and inexpensive blog publishing tools available to us. And far too often, as soon as we make the decision to blog and the fingers hit the key board, it's even easier to think, "This will become one of the best wine blogs around..."

That thinking is not an impossible goal, but it takes more than matching thoughts to fingers on a key board. I discovered you have to put yourself out there if you want readers, because it is going to be a readership that will make you "the best." You have to be consistent and if people are going to take you serious, you must have patience and wait it out until you get an audience. This is where consistency, and being persistent (or being stubborn) is important. The World Wide Web is huge and you just don't wait for people to come to you! And while I was waiting, I read other wine blogs and was pro-active. I didn't expect any of the wine bloggers to come to me with the wine blog welcome wagon. I introduced myself to other wine bloggers and even found the courage to ask some of them to exchange links. Some wine bloggers wouldn't talk to me about exchanging links until I had a few months of blogging behind me and they knew I was serious.

For many wine bloggers, blogging has become a life - a serious hobby and one they do out of love. It's their art, their craft, their personal expression - - the wine blog is their baby. They give their blog-baby love and watch it grow by feeding it with words. Alas, I am not a perfect wine blog parent, but I am protective about my wine blog baby, and my feelings of protection extends to many of my wine blogging colleagues. In fact, a few months ago several of us wine bloggers "took down" a wine column from a newspaper in Florida because it plagiarized one of our own. And my feelings of protection also includes my readers. Some of my readers have commented they wish I would blog everyday. I wish I could! At the very least, I try to publish a blog or two every ten days. Yup, real life happens, but if for some reason "real life" gets in the way of wine blogging or I meet with writer's block, and end up ten days or more without a blog, I try my best to let my readers know - - I owe it to them. However, I want my readers to know that when I am away from the computer I am always thinking, no matter if I am on vacation, having personal time alone, driving in the car, working in the garden, or with family and friends, the following goes through my mind, "How can I share this single experience with my readers?"

Like anything new and unfamiliar, the explosion of wine blogs have been met with controversy. The "word" on the "wine blogging street" is it's about old guard vs new guard - - meaning traditional print/journalists vs blogs/"self-proclaimed wine critics." Wine bloggers are wondering if food bloggers get as much crap from traditional food magazines and if not, is it due to wine being a high profile subject? Wine bloggers really felt the jab of the cellar rat baton recently when a prominent wine magazine was exposed for not doing their research. When caught, the magazine skirted around the issue in one of their chat rooms and ultimately it was the wine bloggers who took the heat for letting their readers know about the magazine's faux pas. Their senior editor said, "This is the problem with the 'blogosphere'. It's a lazy person's journalism. No one does any real research..."

Umm...okay...and who didn't do any real research when handing out their restaurant awards to a restaurant that didn't exist? Explain to me again about lazy person's journalism and real research? And then - - within a week of that stamping of tiny feet, the wine bloggers took another hit: a wine blogger arranged for several wine and food bloggers to take part in a wine review. The wine and food bloggers, who agreed to take part in the tasting and review, were sent a bottle of wine to taste and review all within a certain amount of time. On came more controversy and this time the emphasis was on "ethics." The critics came out pounding their tiny fists, charging that agreeing to accept free wine with review time conditions was unethical and very unprofessional. The critics claimed they would never agree to...blah-blah and blah and have never agreed to...blah-blah and bigger blaaaaaaaaah.

But...but...when a magazine or newspaper receives new books sent to their book editor, new tunes sent to their music editor and wine to their wine editor, isn't it rather "understood" - - an "unwritten code" that if you are going to be the very best reporter/editor you can't let these reviews slide with no time period set for a printed review? The PR firm and/or winery that sent out the items are betting these reviews will be accomplished immediately for them to be effective. What reporter, writer, critic or editor wants to be the last to report a review? Uh huh - yeah - sure - - and movie critics and sports writers always sit in the worst seats (note mocking and sarcastic tone). I questioned what I felt was double-standards, I was told, "No. You're wrong. When we, 'real journalists' receive wine, books, theatre tickets, that's different." Interesting enough, through all of the finger pointing and hypocrisy, I never read a thing about the ethics of the food bloggers who reviewed the same wine.

Here is what I think about these recent controversies, and no doubt there will be more: Ralph Waldo Emmerson said, "Fear always springs from ignorance." I smell fear. Wine blogs have arrived and finally taken seriously and so serious that the naysayers of wine blogs are speaking a lot of ignorance and double standards. Wine blogs are being used as scape goats and being put down as not being equals to the masters in print, instead of being accepted as another media tool. Wine blogging is another way to promote the most beloved, historical, cultural, archaeological, and scientific nectar of them all. The unconventional wine lover turned blogger, no matter the generation or lifestyle, should be used to capture other unconventional and potential wine lovers. To those who are willing to open their minds to something different should look to this new concept of reporting about wine and make it fit in their own lifestyle or business. The criticism and parental finger pointing towards the wine bloggers is getting tedious and most of all, oh--so--transparent.

In the future, I suspect the wine blogosphere will settle down and everyone will find their own niche in the World Wide Wine Web, if they really want it. Sure, there will be those who won't give at least 75% and will fail and unfortunately there will be several. There will be those with life changes and other opportunities who will put their wine blog to rest with intentions of waking it up at another time. Then will be the wine blogger who is passionate about their craft who will succeed and then there is the stubborn...who knows what will happen to the stubborn.

So let me end this missive with: If I have heard it once I have heard it several times, and always with a dismissive tone, "Anybody can start a blog...wine blogs are nothing special. You're all just self-proclaimed wine critics."

Yeah, that's right. If you don't like my wine blog or my wine blogging missive and have something to say about it, then start your own blog- - because after all, anybody can start a blog, right? But can you keep it fresh by being consistent in your blogging? Can you do it for almost little to zero dollars and still make your blog a viable wine information source and gain a readership? Are you willing to put yourself out there? If anybody can do all of this - then do it. I dare you. As the old saying goes, "Put up or shut up."

The Weinhard Café - Dayton, WA

A best kept secret and it's such a best kept secret, I need to be reminded of it once in awhile. The only reason I need to be reminded, not because this secret isn't worthy, it's just because of the distance. And every time I do remember to eat there, I always think to myself, "Why don’t I eat here more often?" And then my aunt and uncle, living in the Ski Bluewood area near Dayton, often remind me The Weinhard Café is one of their favorite places to dine.

Again, I was reminded when my DOD group, (Dining Out Diva’s) selected to dine at the Weinhard Café for their "dining experience" in month of September. The Weinhard Café refers to their restaurant as "New American Cuisine." I just refer to it as "fresh and delicious." The Weinhard Café, owned and operated by Tiffany Cain and Mae Schrey, has a casual, yet intimate atmosphere. The restaurant has been opened for eight years and the last four years it has been located at 258 E. Main, across the street from their original spot at the Weinhard Hotel. Sunset Magazine even gave the dining experience a recommendation.

We chose salads as a starter and from a wonderful assortment on the menu from the Mediterranean-style Panzanella to a Farm Tomato Salad. My dining companions all chose the beef tenderlion with corn cakes and fire roasted onion relish as their entree. I, who usually eat meat about once a week, chose a vegetarian meal with fresh made noodles covered with pesto and sitting on top of a crown of new red potatoes and fresh and crunchy haricot vert (Umm...yeah - - tender green beans. I just like writing "haricot vert" to pretend like I am cool and know some French words.)

The wine list at the Weinhard Café is very generous featuring many Walla Walla wines. However, when dining with most of the women staff from Forgeron Cellars - - you drink Forgeron Cellars wine. I have to wonder if beef was on my dining companion's minds ahead of time as a bottle of Forgeron Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon - 2003 traveled with us to the restaurant. Once the cork was pulled and glasses were poured, my Dining Out Diva companions commented on how the elegant Cabernet Sauvignon made for a perfect pairing with their beef tenderloin. And frankly, I didn’t care how it was suppose to pair with my vegetarian bowl of flavorful carbs. All I cared about was how fragrant the nose of blackberries and lilacs wafted from the glass. The deep colored wine was dense with a mouthful of ripe, yet concentrated blackberries. The aroma and flavors from the wine seemed to remove all of the worries in my world. (Please note: when bringing wine into a restaurant, please call ahead regarding corkage fees and wine menus.).

Now, no matter if you have filled up on starters and entrees and you protest and stamp your tiny feet telling your server that you are full and couldn't handle another bite - - stop it. You know you want to and especially when your server teases with the bulletin board list of desserts. My advice? Do not resist. Order! You don’t care if you are full. Just do it! Share if you must, but don’t let their desserts get away. I chose a piece of fresh peach and blackberry pie - - and the crust - - oh my - - flakey, buttery and a hint of sweetness. Probably one of the best crusts I have ever tasted. My dining companions had some chocolate-type of desserts, and again - - I could have cared less as I was so involved with my own dessert. But what I can tell you about their chocolate dessert is I kept hearing these moans and sighs of joy and "yums" at the other end of the table.

The Weinhard Café is open Tuesday - Saturday with lunch hours from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm and dinner starting at 5:00 pm. And just in case - I would recommend reservations. Seriously - it’s worth the miles.

Wine Blogging Wednesday #49 - End of an Era

Here we are - - it’s Wine Blogging Wednesday again and for the month of September our host is Dhoning, a self named cartoonist and wine geek. He is also a political commentator and the wine blogger of 2 Days per Bottle. So it's no surprise, with him being a political commentator, that he has chosen this particular theme: What will you drink to toast the end of the Bush era?"

At this time, I honestly don’t know what I will drink to toast the end of the Bush era. Probably nothing. It's not about an end of an era for me, but more important - - the new era. I prefer to look ahead than look behind us. But I will say this, no matter the results, it will certainly be an historic era considering the candidates from both parties.

Originally I decided to choose a wine based on the final presidential election. If I am happy with the election, I will reach into my personal wine cubby and grab a 2005 Feather from Long Shadow’s Winery. And why am I choosing this particular wine? First of all, cabernet sauvignon is my favorite grape and second, I will be tickled with a "feather" (groan) if the election results go my way.

Feather is a cabernet sauvignon produced in Walla Walla by one of Napa Valley's distinguished Cabernet Sauvignon vintners, Randy Dunn. If the wine descriptions are any indication of the results I wish for the final ballot, this cabernet sauvignon is balanced with great concentration and depth. It has received accolades by many.

Then I started thinking, "what wine will I drink if the election doesn't go my way?" I thought about this for a while and finally realized I would drink the same. I would still drink the Long Shadow's Feather Cabernet Sauvignon. Why? Because the silkiness and rich mouth feel of this particular cabernet reminds me of a favorite blanket - - my security blanket that I will need to hold onto for the next four years.

Anyways - - either way, I will be prepared with my chosen wine, to either toast a new era in or a wine to bring me comfort - - and in the mean time, I will wait patiently the outcome until the last vote has been dredged from the Florida swamps.

Walla Walla Wine Woman Does the Willamette

Ahhh...Willamette, Oregon Wine Country - - the home of Pinot Noir. To be honest? I've never been a fan of Pinot Noir. However, I have noticed that lovers of Pinot Noir are passionate about this grape and possibly more passionate wine drinkers than any other wine. If made well, it is fragrant, silky and a elegant wine, but for some reason it's Cabernet Sauvignon that caught and kept my attention all these years.

Pinot Noir is the greatest challenge to winemakers and also the greatest challenge in a vineyard, but this Burgundian grape has found it’s place in Oregon. I can’t tell you how many times when I was working behind the tasting room bar, wine customers would ask, "When is Walla Walla going to get on the bandwagon and start producing lots of Pinot Noir?" My answer, "Why should we when the Willamette Valley is doing such a terrific job?"

I often wondered if these comments had something to do with the movie, "Sideways" as the main character Miles hated Merlot, but loved Pinot Noir. And of course, after the movie the craze of Pinot Noir sparked new-wine-consumer America, where ultimately a lot of bad Pinot Noir was sold and a lot of great Merlot was ignored.

In April, I had an opportunity to taste a lot of pinot noir while judging for the Northwest Wine Summit held at Timberline Lodge at Mt. Hood, OR and I even found a couple I liked, so my interest was peaked to taste more. So last month, Steve and I did some wine tasting in the Willamette, but of course we first had to make a stop in Portland to relax and dine at one of my favorite restaurants, Pazzo Ristorante. Yummy martinis and brick oven pizzas! We stayed at the historic Hotel Vintage Plaza and do they ever know how to start your visit! We were greeted with a hosted wine tasting in the lobby. A couple of glasses of wine, after the four hour drive, were welcomed (Pazzo Ristorante is also in the same building). After we settled into our room, we went for a walk to check out the city and wouldn’t you know, right across the street was a wine bar tucked into one of my favorite shopping areas at Morgan’s Alley. Oregon Wines on Broadway is where we did the flight of Pinot Noir (see Raise Your Glass to the Pinot Noir Glass) and discovered how the right glass can make a difference in the taste of a wine.

Our original destination was the Oregon coast for a couple of days, but on the way to the coast and back to Walla Walla, we visited the wineries of Stoller Vineyards, Anne Amie Vineyards, Domaine Drouhin, Carlton Wine Studio and WillaKenzie We tasted several wines, mostly Pinot Noirs. Coming home from the coast, Steve and I discussed which wines we liked and which ones we didn't. We both agreed that we enjoyed the wines from Stoller Vineyards, WillaKenzie and the chardonnay, "Arthur" from Domaine Drouhin. "Arthur" was a classic white burgundy in style, as it should be, considering Domaine Drouhin's background. Their two pinot noirs, Willamette Valley and "Laurene" were very good, but we thought the Laurene's price tag, $65 per 750 ml bottle, was a bit high, in comparison to Stoller's SV (Senior Vines) elegant and silky Pinot Noir at just $40 a bottle.

It was no surprise to us that we liked everything we tasted at Stoller Vineyards, since Steve was already a club member and we had experienced the Stoller wines before. We sampled a beautiful rose' of pinot noir, two chardonnays, the JV Pinot Noir, besides the SV Estate Pinot Noir. We discovered two days later, over looking the sun sinking into the ocean, how wonderful the chilled rose' of Pinot Noir paired with fresh smoked salmon, croissants and an assortment of Tillamook Oregon coast cheese.

The wines we had at the Carlton Wine Studio, which is just outside the charming little burg of Carlton, we chose a flight of two syrahs including a red blend, and a flight of two pinots. We liked the Ribbon Ridge pinot a lot (its fragrant, beautiful nose especially), the other (Lazy River) not so much. We also liked the house-label red blend. The syrahs were from Washington fruit, (Andrew Rich and Dominio IV) and they just weren't typical of Washington made syrahs that we are so spoiled on, we thought.

WillaKenzie makes two whites, a pinot blanc and a pinot gris, that were both highlights and real deals at $18 each. They also make about a thousand vineyard-designated pinot noirs (six, actually) and one blend. All of these wines are beautifully crafted -- you can tell that real expertise went into each of them. Of all of their pinot noirs the "Aliette" was a very noticable wine for me. It was very elegant, yet full bodied wine. We also noticed indeed the difference between drinking Oregon Pinots in regular Chardonnay style glasses vs the new Riedel Oregon Pinot Noir glasses.

Unfortunately, the wines of Anne Amie Vineyards were all forgettable, as was our tasting-room experience there. The less said, the better. However, our tasting-room experiences at Stoller, Drouhin and WillaKenzie, especially, were wonderful. Stoller might win by a hair in the friendliness competition, WillaKenzie in the scenery department and for as big and as crowded Drouhin was, it wins for patience and professionalism in spite of the limosine that showed up at closing time - - but wow, all of them were very memorable and there isn't any doubt we will buy more bottles from all of them in the future.

The Honor Roll at L'Ecole Nº 41

In today’s wine industry, marketing professionals are advising wine businesses, from wine making to wine retailing, about the importance of branding. What is branding? “Branding” is collection of images and ideas, such as name, logo, slogan, and design that convey the essence of a company, product or service. Brand recognition is nothing new for L'Ecole Nº 41, as they have been "branding" premium, handcrafted wines in the Walla Walla Valley since 1983. In fact, their recognized brand, based on their historic Frenchtown School, has evolved to another brand, their hearty table blend with a name that reminds us to take a break, "Recess Red." And speaking of recess and school, if you never made the honor roll back in school, L’Ecole No 41 is going to give you a second chance.

Brooke Williams, L'Ecole's Tasting Room Manager just told me about their new "Honor Roll." This cleverly named event is where you can experience a one-of-a-kind private tasting in the cellar of their historic Frenchtown Schoolhouse. At the event you will taste a combination of five wines including new releases, limited production, library and/or reserve wines that will be showcased exclusively to Honor Roll attendees. And while you're enjoying the fruits of being a "wine achiever," you will also receive an informative tour of the production facilities and the beautiful grounds. What a great way to enjoy a leisurely Friday afternoon!

To secure your place on the "Honor Roll" is $25 per person, but Brooke says if you are one of the Vins de L'Ecole wine club members, this event is only $10! Honor Roll Friday's will be held April through November, @ 2pm-3pm (Excluding 4/4 & 5/2). Of course, reservations are required. And if you want to make the Honor Roll, it's limited to 15 people, so I would call Brooke at 509-525-0940 or Email her ASAP! Don't let someone else take your place on the L'Ecole Honor Roll!

Looking Through the Eyes of Out-of-Town Visitors and a Dog: The Walla Walla Farmer's Market

If you have not taken the time to consume the sights, the sounds and the delicious smells of the Walla Walla Farmer's Market you have until the weekend of October 25-26 to do so. Now - - don't expect to find a bottle of Walla Walla wine for sale at the market, located on Main & 4th, but you will find many other items that make perfect accents for wine: from fresh produce to decorated wine glasses.

During the month of June, I had the pleasure of long time family friends from Seattle stay with me for a weekend. I had to work that particular Saturday morning, but I told my guests if they were looking for something to do until I returned, not to miss the Walla Walla Saturday Market downtown. Sometimes those of us who have been living in Walla Walla for many years, and especially before the wine-influence, often take for granted the many things that Walla Walla has to offer. I know I've been guilty. Unfortunately, at that time, I hadn't taken the opportunity to get to the market this season, so it was a great surprise (and reminder) to see the market from fresh eyes and the added benefit of enjoying their Saturday Market “harvest” which included: Monteillet Fromagerie cheese, food-to-go vendors, cookies, baguettes, local produce and fresh herbs. My guests were so impresssed with the assortment, the quality, the fresh flowers, chattered up the bake goods, the Monteillet cheese and of course, being from Seattle, my guests said if only the market had fresh caught fish and seafood from the docks of the Walla Walla Bay (ahem...), it would be even better!

And since my friends visit, I have made several trips back and with different reasons. Here are a few: looking for a morning adventure and in hopes of running into friends and acquaintances, to pick up local fresh produce for cucumber and onion salad, in search of the fresh green bean to fill the needful crave of Grandma's recipe of simmering green beans and Walla Walla Sweets, only fresh basil would do for the evening's spaghettini, finding fresh ingredients to make sofrito to spread on crostinis - - and when toasting crostini, I needed bread from Hidden Valley Bakery and John’s Wheatland Bakery (and at either bakery, I could not resist the fresh fruit Danish and croissants) and one last reason - - to socialize Chloe.

Chloe? Who's Chloe, you ask? She's a beige/white 8-month-old Yorki-Poo, with one blue eye and one brown. She is all but 7 lbs wet and I'm told won't get much bigger. "Chloe-Bird" was the ultimate birthday gift to myself, when a previously planned gift/event had failed. I had known about this little four-legged bundle of energy for awhile and it has been almost two years since I've been without a four legged companion and always having one in the last 25 years. Well, once I saw her - - well - - we needed each other. The Walla Walla Farmer’s Market has been a wonderful outlet to visit with other dog owners and for my little Chloe-Bird to "visit" with other dogs. She especially loves the Walla Walla Farmer’s Market when the “dog treat lady” is there to give out samples. Chloe lines up with the rest of the tail-waggin' customers and samples the delectable hand-made natural treats. Looking at the Walla Walla Farmer's Market from Chloe's view, she keeps so busy that she has to nap on the way home, which is rare for her to stay settled in the car.

When you first enter the market on Main Street, you immediately hear the tunes of local musicians and smell the food from the many vendors. Trust me - you will want to arrive hungry. During one of my last visits, even Washington State Representative Maureen Walsh was grilling up the famous Walla Walla Sweet Onion sausages from Onion World, her family’s business. Graze Catering is also at the market and everytime I walk by the booth to say hi to John, it's busy! At the other end of the market is often my friend Paul Freeman with "The Grill." Paul and his assistants serve up some of the most tender and flavorful Santa Maria-style Tri-tips. At my house, we've enjoyed some of The Grill's specialities and if you're a Cougar fan, you may have already tasted The Grill's BBQ at the WSU Field House during football season (and Paul has recently purchased the historic old town bank building on Main Street in Milton-Freewater, OR).

If you want "fresh," you will find a great selection of local veggies, fruits and herbs from various vendors. I have enjoyed tomatoes, cukes, peppers, green beans, onions, fresh herbs, and even blackberries from vendors such as R & R Produce, Ideal Organics, and Locati Farms, to name a few. And with an armful of bags filled with veggies, herbs, berries, focaccia, baguettes and morning pastries, it's a pleasure, and comfort, knowing the Blue Mt. Humane Society is also in attendance. They are not only featuring their non-profit programs, but guiding pet owners how to care for their furry companions during "the dog days of summer. "

Calling out to Aimee, Bud, Skip and everyone else on the board, including vendors and volunteers: Congratulations on another successful year!

Raise Your Glass to the Pinot Noir Glass!

Can a glass really make a difference in the wines we taste? I'll admit to being persnickety about certain beverage glasses (never liked drinking wine out of a glass that has a thick rim) and although I do own a few sets of Riedel glasses that I love, I’ve been a bit cautious to not get so caught up on their "magic."

A few weeks ago, Steve and I were in Portland on our way to wine tasting through the Willamette Valley. We stayed downtown Portland and across the street from our hotel was the "Oregon Wine Bar on Broadway" - - and of course, we had to check it out. It was a friendly bar (staff and customers) that was bright and roomy, with an excellent assortment of Northwest wine including an impressive selection of wines from Walla Walla. We decided, "When in Oregon...,"so we immediately jumped into a flight of Pinot Noir - 2006. Steve was particularly happy with the selection offering as the flight included one of his favorite labels of Pinot Noir, Stoller Vineyards. Also, included were two other Oregon wineries, Hamacher "H" Wines and J Christopher Winery.

At first glance of the flight, I noticed the glasses were a cheaper bar glass like what you would see at a fraternal lodge stag bar, where wines are often an afterthought - short stem, small 4 oz bowl with a very thick rim. The glasses were also very scratched from many visits to the dishwasher. Being familiar with the wines from Stoller, I was very disappointed in the nose and taste. The nose was closed and what aroma I finally caught was pungent and sour. This wine did not have the elegant quality that I remembered and seemed kind of tight - flavorless. "H" was a little better in flavors, while J. Christopher seemed to be a heavier, thicker tasting Pinot, but Steve noticed a bit of vinyl taste. Overall, the experience of this Pinot Noir flight was still enjoyable and a perfect way to kick off our visit to the Willamette.

The next morning, we were on the road - destination Willamette Valley with our first stop at Stoller Vineyards. The glasses given to us at Stoller to taste from, were nothing I had ever tasted from before. I had only seen these interesting shaped glasses in catalogs. They were very different from the typical round Burgundy glass, but with an extra-large crystal bowl that flared towards the rim. Of course, they were Riedels. We commented about the glasses and were told they were especially designed for Oregon Pinot Noir. I remembered reading about such glasses but rather passed it off, with a raised eyebrow. The same 2006 Pinot Noir that we tasted at the Oregon Wine Bar on Broadway was not the same wine - - but it was! It was the exact Junior Vines Estate Pinot Noir - 2006! The nose was full of sweet strawberry jam and cherry pie with accents of almond. The taste was earthy with a spicy finish and never showing a flaw. We told the tasting room attendants about our positive experiences with their wines (Steve more so as he is a club member) and about the not-so positive the night before - - their wine was our least favorite of the three wines in our flight. Of course, it was like the light bulb went on for all of us - it was all about the glass. The staff explained to us about what a difference the Riedel Oregon Pinot Noir glass made: from how crystal alone conveys aroma and flavors better than ordinary glass and the fruit of the Pinot Noir is accentuated with the tapered glass.

Our last wine of the Stoller flight was their SV Estate Pinot Noir - 2006. This wine was the selection of their very best senior vines and the best of the barrels. The nose was just about the most exquisite wine ever and could make a non-lover of Pinot Noir change their mind. Aroma of violets, spice and earth came through and the ripe flavors of cherries. We savored this wine while enjoying the view of the perfectly manicured vineyards. Our tasting room attendant encouraged us to take a walk down the hill and up the slopes to the vineyard. Along with the invite, she poured us another glass of the SV Estate into a heavy plastic wine glass especially made to pack in a picnic basket. We "inspected" the pristine vineyards, assessed the canopy management, the fruit zone, the clay top soil (yah okay, we're grape geeks) and of course, took in the view of the Willamette Valley scenery from the hilltop. And while we were absorbing everything around us, we couldn't help but notice the difference of the same wine we had tasted earlier in the Riedel Pinot Noir wine glass. Flavors and aromas were there, but noticeably very muted in the plastic glass with the thick rim! Viva la difference! I will never raise my eyebrow again.