Navarre Coulee Wine Tasting
Mill Creek Wine Walk Stop #5
At stop number five of our wine walk we sampled wines by Navarre Coulee at Artisan Custom Framing. Apart from attending events at the Mill Creek Town Center, I haven’t ever been inside of Artisan Custom Framing long enough to take in all their stock. However, this time around we stayed awhile and browsed all the art that they had displayed in their store while we sipped on our wine. As somebody who enjoys painting, photography and creating, I can appreciate a store that chooses to display artists’ work; and there was art EVERYWHERE! Even the frames they offer lined the wall like a traditional to ornate work of art.
Navarre Coulee hosted by Artisan Custom Framing
Navarre Coulee is a family owned and operated winery and vineyard in Lake Chelan Valley. According to their website, they planted their 40 acres of grapes in 2002, making them the oldest in the valley. From their 40 acres of grapes, the Leslie family and co-owner and winemaker Paul Taylor craft handmade boutique-style wines. After trying the Unicorn Rose Bubbles Limited Edition release by 14 Hands I realized I enjoy sparkling bubbly wine. As a result, I decided to try Navarre Coulee’s 2019 Riesling Bubbles.
Kerriann’s Tasting Notes on Navarre Coulee’s 2019 Riesling Bubbles:
After my first sip my immediate thought was: I should have waited to purchase a bottle because I would have purchased this one instead. Alas, you can’t have them all. This wine was off-dry. It was lightly tarte and sweet with a lingering minerality to it. The bubbles were uplifting and lightly brilliant. It was crisp but juicy. It was different from the Unicorn wine but easily held the shine of its own spotlight.
Chasity’s Tasting Notes on Navarre Coulee’s 2019 Riesling Bubbles:
I’m a huge fan of a bubbly white wine that is not champagne so when I noticed they had a Bubbly Riesling I absolutely had to give it a try! The first taste is a bit tart but quickly turned into a smooth crisp yummy mouth full of bubbly….so good. I am also not a fan of Riesling but this one surprised me yet again. I would have to agree with Kerriann about the Unicorn wine we tasted previously, these two are different but similar. This one is definitely on my list of favorites.
Navarre Coulee Holds Fun Events
If you’re ever in the Chelan neighborhood stop by Navarre Coulee Vineyards. Maybe you’ll get lucky, and you will be there on one of their event nights. I know wood fired pizza and the prospect of trying their other wines not offered at the wine walk, like their 2014 Pinot Noir named Horny Goat, would be enough to draw me in.
This was only stop five of our wine-walk and there are still six more to go. I’ll be updating the links below as we post them so stay tuned!
Wine Tasting Notes to Come!
♦Harbinator Wines♦ ♦Drum Roll Wine♦ ♦Naches Heights Vineyard♦ ♦Kerloo Cellars♦ ♦Wandering Wolf Cellars♦ ♦Dahlman Cellars♦ ♦Martedi Cellars♦ ♦Navarre Coulee♦ ♦Bayernmoor♦ ♦Julian Margot♦ ♦Michael Florentino Cellars♦
Blog Written by Kerriann Jenkins
Blog Feature Chasity Rodriguez
Julian Margot Wine Tasting
Mill Creek Town Center Summer Wine Walk Stop #3
I love cheese. Sounds like a random statement taken out of context but when we made our third pit stop at First Financial Northwest Bank, they had laid out a charcuterie platter of meats, cheeses and fruits and I had to indulge in a few of them. So, with a few cheese hunks in hand I moved happily on to tasting number three with wine by Julian Margot.
Brief Background on Julian Margot
Julian Margot’s online footprint isn’t a large one. In the About section of their website I learned that they had their startup in 2020 by owners Chris & Leah Kellog. They do have some cute pictures posted though. Naturally, it made sense they only had wines featured from 2020-2021 at the event.
Julian Margot hosted by First Financial Northwest bank
I chose to sample the Julian Margot 2020 Malbec because it was the most expensive wine on the docket. I also have not had a lot of Malbec, so it seemed to be a more adventurous choice for me over the Rose & Merlot. As far as the tasting went, I was glad I chose this option.
Kerriann’s Wine Tasting Notes on the Julian Margot 2020 Malbec
The Malbec poured out a dark purple blue in tone and smelled deeply sweet. The first sip was a rich heavy sweet mouthful that was eventually cancelled out by a light tarte finish. This wine was fruit forward and the flavor profiles lingered on the taste buds. It moved more slowly on the tongue and presented itself like liquid jam and cocoa. But the tannins and the tartness married themselves to these flavors and cancelled them out. I still found that the journey of the flavor development made this wine well rounded overall. I enjoyed this wine.
Chasity’s Wine Tasting Notes on the Julian Margot 2021 Rose
I really loved the color The Rose poured, a pretty pink, you know like (Pretty In Pink)….The first taste was bitter and a little tart but quickly turned as it hit my pallet with the second sip. It was smooth and refreshing with a very light and crisp after taste. Very well balanced Rose as it was made from 100% Cabernet I found out. I really enjoyed this wine.
Wine & Cheese Pair Perfectly
I have to say that my wine review may have been a bit tainted by my cheese tasting during this experience. While both were enjoyable, the cheese was just as full bodied as the wine. I wish that I had tried their 2021 Rose because it was an intriguing brilliant reddened pink tone that looked nontraditional from the Roses I have seen. Either way, the tasting was a win, win for me.
This was only stop three of our wine walk and there are still eight more to go. I’ll be updating the links below as we post them so stay tuned for the next post!
Wine Tasting Notes to Come!
♦Harbinator Wines♦ ♦Drum Roll Wine♦ ♦Naches Heights Vineyard♦ ♦Kerloo Cellars♦ ♦Wandering Wolf Cellars♦ ♦Dahlman Cellars♦ ♦Martedi Cellars♦ ♦Navarre Coulee♦ ♦Bayernmoor♦ ♦Julian Margot♦ ♦Michael Florentino Cellars♦
Blog Written by Kerriann Jenkins
Blog Feature Chasity Rodriguez
Bayernmoor Wine Tasting
Bayernmoor Wine Tasting Stop #2
We spent our second ticket from the Mill Creek Town Center Summer Wine Walk at Zeek’s Pizza for a Bayernmoor wine tasting. When we walked in their long beer list caught my eye and drew my attention down to the Bayernmoor wine on their serving counter. I overheard the sommelier letting the group ahead of us know that their 2017 Washington State Pinot Noir had received multiple gold and double gold awards, and I knew I was going to have to try it.
Bayernmoor hosted by Zeek’s Pizza
Bayernmoor is a family-owned winery and vineyard located in Stanwood Washington. The winery has gained notoriety thanks to the cumulative efforts of the Harris and Biesecker families and winemaker Brian Carter. They source their Pinot from their own vineyard’s 6 acres of Pinot Noir and the rest of their grapes they get from other renowned growers in the state. They take a minimalist approach to creating the best wine possible without a lot of interfering processing.
Kerriann’s Bayernmoor Wine Tasting Notes 2017 Washington State Pinot Noir
Bayernmoor’s 2017 Washington State Pinot Noir had been branded with high praise. So, I had high expectations going into this tasting. The wine poured a light bright translucent red and smelled deliciously AMAZING. This wine smelled so much like maple that I had to hand it over to Chasity to sniff it before I took a sip. I expected this wine to be equally as sweet because of the smell but it was more like a rollercoaster of unexpected flavors. The first sip perked up my taste buds with a tartness I hadn’t anticipated. Flavors of cherry, tobacco, spices, and a light sweetness followed. Overall, this was a fun wine to drink.
Chasity’s Bayernmoor Wine Tasting Notes 2019 Washington State Rose
So I started with the Bayernmoor 2019 Rose as I like to try all different types here in Washington. I ended up not remembering what it tasted like (hahaha) as I tried Kerriann’s 2017 Pinot Noir and liked that so much better. I wasn’t expecting to enjoy it as Pinot Noir is usually one of my least favorites, go figure! The first taste of the Pinot Noir plays with your taste buds. It gives off a maple smell but the taste ends with a bitterness which surprisingly I couldn’t get enough of! It offered a great balance of sweet and bitter, I would try this again for sure.
Overall We Enjoyed Our Second Stop
After our tasting I can understand why Bayernmoor had received numerous awards on their wine. Their 2017 Washington State Pinot Noir took me by surprise with its storm of flavors. If this wine was made into a candle, I would love to smell it all day long. This was only stop number two of our wine walk and there are still nine more to go. I’ll be updating the links below as we post them so stay tuned for the next post!
Wine Tasting Notes to Come!
♦Harbinator Wines♦ ♦Drum Roll Wine♦ ♦Naches Heights Vineyard♦ ♦Kerloo Cellars♦ ♦Wandering Wolf Cellars♦ ♦Dahlman Cellars♦ ♦Martedi Cellars♦ ♦Navarre Coulee♦ ♦Bayernmoor♦ ♦Julian Margot♦ ♦Michael Florentino Cellars♦
Blog written by Kerriann Jenkins
Blog Feature Chasity Rodriguez
Harbinator Wines Tasting
Mill Creek Town Center Summer Wine Walk Stop #1
On August 27th our creative team, myself included, went to the Mill Creek Town Center Summer Wine Walk. We started our little adventure at Brooklyn Brothers Pizza and grabbed ourselves a slice before the event. Conveniently, they were hosting Harbinator Wines and would become our first stop of our tastings. Since this was my second time attending, I was better prepared to maneuver my way through the hosting businesses and use up my 10 tasting tickets and bonus tasting gold coin. I am pleased to report that this time I used them all!
Harbinator Wines hosted by Brooklyn Brothers Pizza:
At our first stop of the wine tasting, I sampled the 2018 Harbinator Cabernet Franc or Cop Franc. Harbinator is a smaller garage-based winery that sources their grapes from Ciel du Cheval Vineyard from the Red Mountain AVA here in Washington. They have a minimal online presence because their website is currently under construction. But if you have a sense of humor the social media content they have shared will tell you all about who they are as a company.
Harbinator Wines Has a Small but Mighty Social Media Presence
On their Facebook page there is a video titled “Hand produced wines.” If you click on it, you will see this direct quote: “Welcome to our page! We are a super small winery with fantastic wines. We hand process all of our wines from vine to bottle with a whole lot of help from friends. We’re just now learning how to get our sh*t together, so if you are interested in trying some of our wines, message or email us and we’d be happy to discuss our current inventory and how to get it to you.”
They Gave Top Notch Sommelier Service
At the event, our wine pourers were just as personable. I believe they were the owners, but we never traded names. As we approached, we got to watch them decant their entire bottle before serving us. They greeted us warmly and let us know which wine was their favorite of the ones they had to offer; which doesn’t sound like a big deal, but I have experienced sommeliers at this event who wouldn’t offer up an opinion and that makes the experience awkward. From their recommendation I ended up asking for the 2018 Harbinator Cop Franc.
Kerriann’s Wine Tasting Notes for the 2018 Cop Franc
The Cop Franc poured out a light ruby shade. It had a very light smell. Like a soft touch of aromatic sweetness and earth on the nose. Upon first sip I noted that I liked this wine. The best way I can describe it is that the Cabernet Franc was like a softer, fresher version of a Cabernet Sauvignon. The flavor profiles all presented themselves much quieter. It was gently sweet, softly acidic, delicately bitter and finished evenly with smooth earthy tannins. Overall, the wine was harmonious and enjoyable to sip on. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars.
Chasity’s Wine Tasting Notes for the 2017 Cop Franc
The Cop Franc was one of my favorite reds. It provided a light red hue when poured and I enjoyed how the first sip went down so smooth. This wine was sweet in taste but not too sweet. It had a slightly bitter taste but the sweetness evened it out. I’m not a red wine drinker as I have mentioned before but I really enjoyed tasting this one. I give this a 4 out of 5 stars.
A Strong Start to Our Wine Walk Adventure
Harbinator provided us with a great start to our wine walk experience and they were only our first stop. We still have 10 more tastings to review so stay tuned for our next post! I’ll be updating the links below as we post them.
Wine Tasting Notes to Come!
♦Harbinator Wines♦ ♦Drum Roll Wine♦ ♦Naches Heights Vineyard♦ ♦Kerloo Cellars♦ ♦Wandering Wolf Cellars♦ ♦Dahlman Cellars♦ ♦Martedi Cellars♦ ♦Navarre Coulee♦ ♦Bayernmoor♦ ♦Julian Margot♦ ♦Michael Florentino Cellars♦
Blog by Kerriann Jenkins
Blog feature Chasity Rodriguez
Washington Wine Month
Washington Wine Month
August is Washington Wine Month. Well, one of them anyways. As it turns out both March and August are recognized as Washington Wine Month in this grape state. Though, I have been too distracted in my personal life to realize it until the near end.
I Unintentionally Passed Through Wine Country This Month
While road tripping last week, I sat passenger as we drove through Washington wine country. I got to see firsthand green leafed tailored tendrils of grape vines that had climbed their way up manmade structures. They blurred past us as we drove by. We passed the rust weathered Horse Heaven Hills sign and through what looked like a barren land of sun-bleached grass blowing in the wind. I wondered how growers and winemakers looked at that place and thought to grow there. Then we drove across the Astoria Bridge, and I took in the Columbia River’s vastness for the first time. I grew a deeper appreciation for grape growing and wine production just by passing through the area. Someday I’ll have to stop and actually experience it.
There’s Still Time to Celebrate!
As happenstance occurs the Mill Creek Town Center is hosting another wine walk this Saturday August 27th from 4-7pm. They will be featuring wine from:
- Wandering Wolf Cellars at Peoples Bank
- Navarre Coulee at Artisan Custom Framing
- Julian Margot at Banner Bank
- Alluvium Cellars at Brooklyn Brothers Pizza
- Rider Cellars at China City
- Naches Heights Vineyard (NHV) at CruiseShipCenters
- Drum Roll Wine at Frost
- Dahlman Cellars at Windermere (that’s us!)
- RR Poet at John L Scott
- Martedi Winery at Kafe Neo
- Bayernmoor (Use your gold coin for BONUS taste here) at Lilac & Lemon
- Kerloo Cellars at Zeeks Pizza
- Michael Florentino Cellars at Diva Foreva Lashes
- Tricycle Cellars at First Financial Northwest Bank
There are eight new winemakers’ wares to sample at this event and the weather is set to be mildly better than last time. The best part is this event supports Washington Winemakers and businesses. You can click here to read reviews from our experiences at the Spring Mill Creek Wine Walk.
It’s A Great Month to Buy Local
If you are in the Snohomish County area one local business to check out for purchasing Washington made wine is Town & Country Markets. They have 6 locations in Washington State. Specifically referring to the one on Main Street in Mill Creek, they have an entire aisle of Washington State crafted wine. Of course, there are plenty of other places to buy local and it’s always a great time to do that. So, celebrate Washington Wine Month and grab yourself local wine from a local vendor!
7 Tips For Better Wine Storage
7 Tips for Better Wine Storage Because Wine Is Fickle
I have heard the age-old adage: “wine gets better with age” and I have stored bottles of wine only to open them later and find out they did not get better with age. As it turns out, wine is fickler than that. I have found that wine gets better with age only when properly stored. So, if you want to avoid spoiling your wine read on to see the 7 tips for better wine storage I’ve picked up along the way.
1.) Store Wine Not Too Hot
I have read that wine keeps best at temperatures between 45-65 degrees. Temperatures above 65 degrees causes chemical reactions to begin to take place in your bottle of wine. Once this chemical reaction begins your wine profile flavors will change. At 80 degrees your wine begins to cook itself within its bottle. Referring to my middle school science class. Once a liquid is boiled it will expand into a gas. Given that wine is sealed in a glass bottle this can cause the cork to rupture or expand and contract as it cools. This process will lead to oxidation and premature aging meaning your wine will taste more like jam or vinegar. You can even bake down your alcohol content level. All things I personally would like to avoid.
2.) Store Wine Not Too Cold
Conversely, temperatures below 45 degrees can lead the wine to expand as it freezes. Unlike other spirited drinks, wine is mostly made of water. So, like freezing water to make ice cubes, the wine will expand inside of its container space. This can lead to a cork or cap rupture which can lead to the wine oxidizing after you pull the bottle from the freezer to thaw. Moreover, your wine bottle can burst leaving you with a glassy dangerous disaster. Remember, frozen wine is not the same as a Frose.
3.) Store Wine in Dark Places
As tempting as it may be to put your wine bottles on display you should store your wine collection in a darker area. Light and UV exposure can cause your wine temperature to rise into wine altering levels. Going back to the “Store Wine Not Too Hot” section, wine should be kept cool to avoid cooking. Additionally, light and UV exposure can damage your wine labels. So, keep your wine in a walled display, a closet, or a cabinet if you don’t have access to a fancy wine fridge or wine cellar.
Download your very own 7 Tips For Better Storage Printable here: 7 Tips for Better Wine Storage Printable Poster
4.) Store Wine Sideways
This is where I have historically gone wrong with my wine storage. Wine should be stored sideways. Though this is more important for wine bottles with corks. Traditionally, corks are made up of tree bark and other porous material. Laying a bottle sideways allows the cork to maintain contact with the wine in the bottle. Just like a tree absorbs a fractional amount of rain moisture the cork will absorb moisture from the wine. This will keep the cork expanded enough to contain the wine inside of the bottle.
5.) Store Wine in a Humid Controlled Environment
Humidity is key to keeping a cork intact. It is said that wine should be kept at about 70% humidity to keep the cork moist. As a result, anything less will cause the wine cork to crack and oxidize the wine inside. Anything more can promote mold growth.
6.) Store Wine in a Wine Fridge or Cellar
Wine can become a big investment when you start to grow your collection. I should mention that the bottles of wine that are intended for aging are usually $30 and over. Once you notice that your collection is growing you should seriously consider purchasing a wine fridge or cellar setup. The ideal temperature for a standard refrigerator is 40 degrees. Referring to the “Store Wine Not Too Cold” section, this temperature is too cold for adequate wine storage. To protect your investment, you should invest in the proper storage setup.
7.) Store Wine in Your Belly!
The final tip for better wine storage is the most enjoyable of all. Most of the wine crafted these days reaches the perfect drinking age within a few years of its creation. Unless you are intentionally growing your expensive collection in a controlled location it is best to just drink it because at the end of the day wine is made for drinking.
Blog & Graphic Poster by: Kerriann Jenkins
Mill Creek Town Center Spring Wine Walk and Tasting Notes
Featured wineries: Bacovino | Cavelero Hill Cellars | Cedergreen Cellars | Dahlman Cellars | Drum Roll Wine | Forgeron Cellars | Martedi Cellars | Michael Florentino | Naches Heights Vineyard | Sin Banderas Wines | Structure Cellars | Tricycle Cellars | WineHunter | Wit Cellars | Woodinville Ciderworks
Bacovino: proudly hosted by Inflection Wealth Management
BACOVINO sideways and underlined runs the left-hand length of an otherwise clean wine label. It is a Portuguese word that “speaks of the legendary culture of the vine and the mod of extracting its precious juice.” Reading through the Bacovino STORY page let me know that Wine Maker & Founder Randy Brooks has a passion for the symbiotic relationship between cultivated land, crop, harvest, and production and is mindful of the impact human creation has on the environment, so his brand practices and promises sustainability. I was surprised to learn that Bacovino had opened just before the pandemic. While many doors shuttered closed for the last time, they found a way to grow. With grapes sourced locally from Eastern Washington, I was excited to see how Brooks’ mindfulness and boldness played out when bottled.
Tasting notes:
Kerriann: This was my first stop of the event and I had a 2018 Sangiovese. I am glad that I did not miss out on this wine because it was a great one. It poured a brilliant garnet color and smelled well developed with an unobtrusive light cherry sweetness present. This medium bodied wine tasted of juicy red fruits and carried into a nice acidity that was balanced out by bold tannins. Baccovino’s 2018 Sangiovese was well rounded and easily one of my favorites of the wine walk.
Chasity: This was also my first stop, and I had the 2019 Signature Sauvignon Blanc as I am more of a white wine connoisseur. I give these 3 stars out of 5. I enjoyed the smooth woodsy taste it provided and how it was not on the sweet side. It was well balanced, and I would drink more than one glass.
Cavelero Hill Cellars: proudly hosted by Boston’s Restaurant
Cavelero Hill Cellars was harder to find information about before attending the event; skimming down their Facebook feed I was able to learn that they are a wine house located in Lake Stevens and they had their initial startup in 2013. They also have two winery cats named Neo and Triniti which as an animal lover I was happy to see.
Tasting Notes:
Kerriann: Cavelero Hills was my second to last tasting of the night. I arrived looking like something the cat had dragged in. Sodden with rain and holding on to my hat. Chuck Hagglund warmly greeted me and took the time to chat while he poured his offerings. He shared that his red grapes were sourced from Eastern Washington and his whites were from Oregon. I had a white wine followed by a preview of a Cabernet Franc named 100 Buck Good Stuff Chuck which I noted was “really good.” I would love to make it out to Lake Stevens to give this winery a proper sit and sip review because the hospitality given in a modicum of an interaction was off the charts.
Cedergreen Cellars: proudly hosted by First Financial Northwest Bank
Cedergreen Cellars is a family operated winery owned by Kevin & Julie Cedergreen. From the homepage on their website, I was clued into the fact that they craft great pairing wines by the leading sentence “if you’re passionate about food, you’re going to love our wine.” Kevin spent his childhood harvesting on his family’s orchard in Eastern Washington and has gained a winemaking education through UC Davis as well as working harvests in Washington and New Zealand. The Cedergreens source their grapes from many notable vineyards throughout the state.
Tasting Notes:
Kerriann: Unfortunately, this was a winery that I missed out on.
Dahlman Cellars: proudly hosted by John L. Scott
Dahlman Cellars mission statement is “seriously great wine for less serious people.” It is branding that carries over from their website to their Instagram to their Facebook page. Scrolling down their feed I had a laugh at their inspirational post about fitness: “did you know 14 muscles are activated when opening a bottle of wine? Fitness is my passion.” I was also surprised to see they had shared and shouted out other wines and wine makers they were sipping on. Jim & Andrea Dahlman began dabbling in garage production wine making in 2013 and grew their non-serious hobby into a passion project alive with “innovative and experimental fermenting.” Dahlman Cellars wine is made in Woodinville and crafted from both notable and smaller vineyards.
Tasting Notes:
Kerriann: Unfortunately, this was a winery that I missed out on.
Drum Roll Wine: proudly hosted by Mill Creek Chamber of Commerce
When faced with job loss not many would turn to the bottle quite as metamorphically as Matt Frazier did. After being laid off from a long-term job Matt Frazier, Co-Founder and Wine Maker behind the brand Drum Roll moved forward to new pursuits. He combined his love for his family, music, art, and fun with wine making. Along with his wife, Sundee, and their daughters, Matt Frazier and family grant you a backstage pass to their wine and a glimpse into their lives. Visit their website to see all their passions including a few fun family music videos.
Tasting notes:
Kerriann: This was my second stop of the day. I had the 2016 Drum Roll Red. I was told by Matt Frazier who was the pourer for the evening that it was a blend of cherry and strawberry. It poured a brilliant red and smelled softly sweetened. This red blend drank sweet and rolled through layers of light acidity and dryness. At the end of the event I rushed back to purchase this wine but I had missed curtain call.
Chasity: Kerriann and I started out at the same wineries but quickly went our separate ways, haha…. This was also my second stop. I tried their 2020 Drum Roll White Wine and it was very delightful I must say. I enjoyed the fruity, smooth crisp taste it provided on my pallet. It was very refreshing with notes of white grapefruit, pineapple, and peach. I give this a 4 star and it is one of my favorites!
Forgeron Cellars: proudly hosted by Kate’s Gifts
Forgeron is French for blacksmith, and it is in the remains of a re-forged old blacksmith building that Forgeron Cellars opened a winery and tasting room in downtown Walla Walla. Forgeron Cellars’ mission is to produce artisan wines that are site-specific and varietally-correct to pay proper homage to the vineyards they credit as being responsible for 80% of winemaking. With a team of Founders and newly seasoned Wine Maker Cody Janett at the helm Forgeron Cellars has achieved critical acclaim and expanded to a tasting room in Woodinville.
Tasting notes:
Kerriann: At this stop I had the 2017 Imaginarium Red Blend. This wine was another one that was easy to drink. It smelled sweet on the nose. It presented itself fruit forward on the tongue. The blend tasted full like chocolate covered strawberries softened by savory light tannins.
Martedi Cellars: proudly hosted by DeVine Wines
The word Martedi is Italian for Tuesday. As noted on their Yelp review page this word holds special importance to the brand because it “commemorates the fact that for years all of the Miglino brothers would get together on the second Tuesday of each month to visit, eat pasta, drink wine, play cards, lie to each other, smoke cigars, discuss family and just spend time together.” It is their familial closeness that is displayed across their Instagram page along with an insight into their production crushing. Their 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon was the last wine I got to taste. By that time, I had retreated to my go to order, and I was not disappointed with the wine in my glass.
Tasting notes:
Kerriann: This was my final stop made in a mad dash. I had a 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon. I noted that it was bold, deep, dark, and smooth. If you are a person who likes a Cabernet you would not be disappointed with this one.
Michael Florentino: proudly hosted by Kafe Neo
As noted on their website Michael Florentino began as a digital catalog winery. They made small batches for private label wine shops. Owner Brad Sherman studied at the UC Davis Vinology program and through volunteer work with local wineries and his time as VP at the Boeing wine club he fueled his own passion to begin making wine. Michael Florentino specializes in Spanish and Italian varietal wines and now has a tasting location and winery in Woodinville.
Tasting notes:
Kerriann: Unfortunately, this was a winery I missed out on.
Chasity: I tried the 2013 Michael Florentino Sangiovese. I enjoyed the woodsy barrel taste it gave, very nice dark red blend. As I mentioned before I enjoy white wine but a good red blend is hard to turn away. I would purchase a bottle and for the price you could buy more.
Naches Heights Vineyard: proudly hosted by Frost
Naches Heights Vineyard and Winery is a family owned and operated business based out of Yakima. Owner Phil Cline is a third-generation farmer who entered the wine business in 2002. Refreshingly although Cline was born into farming land that has been in his family for over 75 years, he credits his team with the success of winemaking and helping to propel his business venture forward. Naches Heights area was established as an American Viticultural Area in 2012 lending even more credibility to the NHV brand.
Tasting notes:
Kerriann: I tried the 2015 Crooked Red Blend. This blend comes bottled and canned. I was told by my pourer that this blend is a mix of a Tempranillo, Malbec and Syrah. This wine was smooth and full. This wine was complex but balanced and I could see it being a good on the go drink.
Sin Banderas Wines: proudly hosted by Windermere Mill Creek
Four strangers from around the world came together in a happenstance meetup at the Owen Roe crush facility and formed a bond that would lead them to create the wine brand Sin Banderas. Sin Banderas is Spanish for without flags and pays homage to its four owners Jacki Evans, Nacho Licea, Elyse Woda and Francois Dereeper. As their website states the brand was “cultivated by a Mexican, vinified by a Texan, cellared by a Frenchman, and distributed by a Washingtonian.” Together these four friends craft small batch wines with extra attention to detail. As of right now they do not have a tasting room so the only way to get your hands on their wares is to visit their website or one of the restaurants and boutiques that stock them.
Tasting Notes:
Kerriann: At this location I had the 2021 Rhone Rose. I remember thinking this would be a good summer or bridal wine. It smelled floral and bright. It was light and airy, crisp, and fresh. I don’t reach for a Rose often but this was a good one.
Chasity: This was one of my lasts stops and I tried the 2020 Rhône Rosé, I love a good Rosé. This must be one of my favorites, 4 stars! I appreciated the Rose gold hue it gave, and it was not too sweet or dry, it was the perfect balance for me. I would buy a bottle, or more….
Structure Cellars: proudly hosted by Banner Bank
I am a sucker for a love story and Structure Cellars had its beginning while building love and a brand from the ground up. I would strongly encourage anyone with an interest in this brand to head over to their about us section on their website to read their story as told by the winemaker’s wife Brandee. Their brand gained its name during a very human moment of overwhelming frustration; faced with life challenges Brian and Brandee Grasso came together in the midst of the rubble of their stripped to the studs fixer upper and sought comfort in each other over a glass of Brian’s first crafted wine. In Brandee’s words “we sat down on the floor among the sawdust and sheetrock and opened a bottle of the 2008 Syrah (the first wine he ever made). The flood gates opened and I spewed out a string of the day’s house misadventures while gulping down my tumbler of wine. Brian listened, nodded and showed genuine concern. When he finally did speak he said you know, this house is a lot like this wine, it’s got good bones… it’s got good structure, it just needs some love. Our house may have been falling down, but I could see the irony of the situation. This was truly the beginning of STRUCTURE CELLARS.”
Tasting Notes:
Kerriann: At this venue I tried the 2018 Foundation Syrah. It poured out a deep plum color and smelled like fruit and leather on the nose. This one tasted dark, earthy, robust, smoky and VERY dry. When I tasted it I thought it was a wine that my older sister would have LOVED.
Chasity: At this tasting spot I tried their 2021 Oculus Viognier (sounds like it came out of a movie). I would say this one was very, very smooth, with a little crisp and dry taste, perfect balance. I would have to say this one might of been my favorite out of them all, 4 Stars!
Tricycle Cellars: proudly hosted by Peoples Bank
Owners Chuck and Pam Hundley credit their interest in wine to a 2006 Porsche Club tour through Yakima Valley wine country. Their initial enthusiasm led Chuck Hundley to enroll into a wine program at Walla Walla CC and helped the Hundleys to switch lanes and head toward a new endeavor. Tricycle Cellars was formed in 2011 and released their first vintage, a 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon from the Rocks District of Milton Freewater that won double gold at the Seattle Wine awards. Since then, Tricycle Cellars has continued to be a family owned and operated winery and is currently carried by Double Barrel Wine Bar in Snohomish and Heritage Restaurant and Bar in Woodinville with some of their proceeds being donated to mission work.
Tasting Notes:
Kerriann: Tricycle Cellars was the 8th stop of my night. I was excited to finally see a Cabernet on the docket and they had featured two. I ended up asking for the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon and next to it I wrote and underlined the word AMAZING! Cabernets are my comfort zone, if I don’t know what to get I usually leave with a cabernet or a red blend in hand. The wine itself poured a traditional ruby red and smelled like smooth dark fruit. This was a fruit forward presenting Cab that finished with a rich velvety texture. It encapsulated everything that I like about Cabernet Sauvignon.
Red Earth/WineHunter: proudly hosted by Expedia CruiseShip Centers
Red Earth wines is a brokerage of wines. The company was established in 2012 by Martin and Lisa Gorman who moved to Seattle from Melbourne Australia. Their mission was to bridge the gap between the impressive wine catalogue that Australia had to offer and the Australian wines that had made their way to the states already. Their goal is to represent wines that encapsulates the essence of Australia- it’s red centre, its dryness and its richness to bring the US wines Australians are proud to pour.
Tasting Notes:
Kerriann: This was my 7th stop of the evening and it was at this point that I got a little more adventurous and decided to finally try a white. I let the gentleman pouring my wine know that I was a red drinker, but I wanted to try a white and was leaning toward sampling “The Wattle.” He told me if I really wanted to try something a little wild that I could have fun with I should try the 2012 Mitchell Watervale Riesling. I did and I was pleasantly surprised with my experience with it. The 2012 Mitchell Watervale Reisling poured out a light golden hue and smelled of fragrant summer citrus with a hint of a floral character note. It ended up tasting a lot like it smelled. There were obvious notes of citrus and I had written down that it was reminiscent of a soft champagne, meaning there was a light dryness but I felt that the complexity of the flavors overpowered the dryness and remained on my tastebuds long enough to make them water.
Wit Cellars: proudly hosted by Artisan Custom Framing
Wit means mental sharpness and inventiveness; keen intelligence; having a natural aptitude for using words and ideas in a quick and inventive way to create humor. Wit is something that is often passed between friends, and it is this thoughtful, meaningful interaction with a lightness of mood and certain elegance of style which encapsulates the spirit of WIT Cellars. Wit Cellars was started by three friends Gina Adams, Flint Nelson and Carolina Warwick. Together their mission is to create wine that will be a catalyst to encourage family and friends to come together and have meaningful conversations shared over a bottle of Wit Cellars wine.
Tasting notes:
Kerriann: Unfortunately, this was a winery I missed out on.
Woodinville Ciderworks: proudly hosted by Brooklyn Brothers Pizza
If you have made it all the way down the list of featured wineries, you have probably been clued into the fact that Woodinville Ciderworks is the only sanctioned non-wine offering at the event. Woodinville Ciderworks specializes in small batch hard ciders that are balanced, nuanced and food-friendly hard ciders from Pacific Northwest Apples. All their hard ciders are off-dry, highly drinkable and gluten-free. Owner Leroy Radford left behind his title as winemaker and closed shop at his Flying Dreams winery to become Owner and head of production at Woodinville Ciderworks which was established in 2015 and has gone on to become a notable Pacific Northwest cider brand.
Tasting Notes:
Kerriann: I should preface this review by saying I am admittedly not a cider drinker, but on our 4th stop of the day I decided to branch out and try Red Flesh. Red Flesh poured out a bright coral color and remained lightly frothy at the top while I sampled it. The best way I can describe this drink is that it was bright, fresh, crisp, very tarte and it had an earthy quality to it that made it seem less processed than previous ciders I had tried. I think this cider would have been great accompanied by a slice of Brooklyn Brother’s Pizza. I could also envision myself adding a shot of fireball to this cider on a cold fall night and waiting for the warmth to overtake me but on its own it was a bit too puckering for me.
Stay tuned for our next wine tasting! We are having fun sharing our tastings and experiences with you. We are all about our local wines and community!
Kerriann Jenkins
Receptionist/Creative Team
Chasity Rodriguez
Social Media Director/Creative Team