The First Friday Wine Walk series kicks off on Friday, Feb. 3, from 5 to 8 p.m. at locations throughout downtown Issaquah. First Friday Wine Walks are also scheduled for March 2 and April 6.
Nardone Winery, Kana Winery, Zerba Cellars, Lodmell Winery, Smasne Cellars and Castillo de Feliciana will be pouring wines at locations around Issaquah, including ArtByFire, artEAST Art Center, First Stage, Illuminate, Museo Art Academy and Thrive. Wine tasting locations are open to guests of all ages. Wine tasting is strictly for guests 21 and over.
Tickets are $20 in advance, including six 2-ounce tastes, or $25 at the door at the Hailstone Feedstore. Tickets for the three-month series are $50. Advance tickets can be purchased here.
Sparkman and Matchless Red light up Woodinville with new wines
, and are among the Woodinville wineries hosting wine release parties this weekend, Jan. 28-29.
Sparkman Cellars will be releasing its 09 Kingpin Cabernet Sauvignon, 09 Stella Mae, 09 Ruby Leigh and 09 Wilderness on Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. at its Warehouse District winery and tasting room, 19501 144th Ave. N.E. For $10, free for Ring of Fire members, guests can enjoy tastes of wine, appetizers and live music.
Patterson Cellars will be releasing its 09 Malbec on Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. at its Warehouse District winery and tasting room, also at 19501 144th Ave. N.E.
Otis Kenyon will be releasing its 08 Matchless Red Wine on Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. at its Hollywood Schoolhouse Circle tasting room at 14525 148th Ave. N.E.
Wine and weddings in Woodinville
will be hosting its annual tour of Woodinville venues and wineries on Sunday. Tours start at Woodhouse Wine Estates at 10:30 a.m. for VIP ticket holders and at 11:30 a.m. for general admission ticket holders.
Guests will be chauffeured to , , , , /, and . Wine, food and live entertainment will be featured at each stop.
Tickets ranging from $40 to $75 are available here. For more information click here.
Daniel’s Broiler gets in the spirit
Bellevue-based Schwartz Brothers kicks off a series of fine spirits dinners with a single malt scotch dinner on Wednesday, Feb. 1, at in downtown Bellevue. The multi-course dinner will feature dishes inspired by single malt scotches.
Other fine spirits dinners in the series include Taste of Tequila on April 25 and Whiskey of the World on Oct. 17 at Daniel’s Broiler Bellevue, as well as Gin Creations on March 14, Bourbon Heritage on Sept. 12 and Cognac Celebration on Dec. 5 at Daniel’s Broiler Lake Union.
For reservations contact finespirits@schwartzbros.com or 425-990-6310.
Matthews sells stacks of library wine, a small stack
Last week I wrote about wineries offering rare library wines on occasion. Less than a week later offered a rare library wine, the 2003 Matthews Estate Cabernet Franc, Conner Lee Vineyard.
By rare I mean only 21 bottles. Rare also means expensive. Matthews will be selling three three-packs in an etched wood box for $485 for the set, and 12 single bottles for $185 each.
The 2003 Matthews Estate Cabernet Franc, Conner Lee Vineyard, is, perhaps, the best wine that founder Matt Loso made during his tenure as winemaker of the Woodinville winery. This Cabernet Franc is bold, thick, forward and robust. Layers of mint, clove, cigar box, baking spices, blackberries, black cherry and currants greet the nose. Mint, clove, blackberries, black cherry and currants echo on the palate. At 15.4 percent alcohol this otherwise massive wine is balanced by the layers of fruit. Aged 24 months in French oak barrels (80 percent new) the natural Cabernet Franc spice, barrel spice and fruit are nicely integrated.
To order, contact Shelby Sampson at Matthews Estate at 425-919-3255 or ssampson@matthewsestate.com.
Wine Pick of the Week: 2009 Cedergreen Sauvignon Blanc, Columbia Valley
Owner and winemaker Kevin Cedergreen learned to make wine in Washington state and New Zealand. His 09 Sauvignon Blanc blends classic expressions of Washington Sauvignon Blanc and New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. He captures the citrus (pink grapefruit, Meyer lemon), stone fruit (mangos, apricots) and tropical fruit (guava, star fruit) of Washington state Sauvignon Blanc and a touch of grassiness classic to New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. About 5 percent Semillon gives this wine a touch of weight.
The pink grapefruit and lemon zest acidity balances a fatty white fish dish such as the smoked sturgeon served with chard and leeks at . The grassiness of the wine brings out the flavors of the chard and leeks.
This Sauvignon Blanc is available for $14. To order, contact Kirkland-based Cedergreen Cellars at 425-827-7244 or info@cedergreencellars.com.
