Skylite Cellars Shines Bright in Walla Walla

I first met Cheryl Hodgins at Taste Washington in Spokane. This fireball of energy nearly tackled me when I saw her from across the room. We chatted about Skylite Cellars and even did a brief interview for the Washington Wine Commission (which either I dreamed up or got lost in cyberspace because I can’t find it anywhere). One thing I learned from chatting with Cheryl, she is passionate about wine and Walla Walla.

Skylite Cellars brings together a big city radio entrepreneur and a small town farm girl. Tom Hodgins was busy in the radio industry and Cheryl was content driving a tractor around the farm. Wine and travel brought these two love birds together. That love eventually led to diving into the wine business. In 2000 the Hodgins’ invested in Ash Hollow Vineyards with several other winemakers and the following year, Cheryl’s father planted a few acres of wine grapes in what would eventually be known as Skylite Vineyards. In 2003 the journey to full fledged winery was complete with the addition of wine maker Robert Smasne.

With only a few vintages under their belt, Skylite Cellars is making quite a name for themselves. Their 2007 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon received 90 points from Paul Gregutt, Gold in the Seattle Wine Awards, and Double Gold at the Finger Lakes Wine Competition. During the #Cabernet day review, the wine performed very strong against two Caymus Vineyards Napa, CA wines with a strong 4/5.

Skylite Cellars has two locations in Walla Walla. Their production and main tasting room is located off the old Highway 12 close to L’Ecole, Woodward Canyon and Waterbrook Winery. You can also visit them in downtown Walla Walla in the historic Quinn building on 2^nd and Rose Ave (just steps from the Marcus Whitman Hotel).

Skylite on the Web – On Twitter – On Facebook

The NectarView

2007 Skylite Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon

• The Stuff: 100% Walla Walla Cabernet that was aged 22 months in new American oak; 14%ABV
• The Swirl: A nice dark crimson purple color with about 90% opacity. Rich in color.
• The Sniff: Big a$$ cherry fruit. One you get around the bright cherries you pick up some campfire smoke. Dark red fruit dominates the aroma.
• The Sip: Amazed at the integration of the American oak in this wine. The mouth feel is dominated by big red cherry fruit that is smooth and lush. The tannins are medium and very well balanced. A quick finish ends up with a touch of alcohol head.
• The Score: At $28 the Skylite Cabernet is a very well made wine with a slick polish. If you like cherries, you’re going to love this wine. 3+/5

2007 Skylite Cellars Reserve

• The Stuff: 51% Malbec, 33% Cab, and 16% Carmenere make up this blend. Each barrel was chosen for their unique character and quality to be considered for the Reserve. Various combinations of French and American oak; 13.9%ABV
• The Swirl: Glassy purple center with bright purple pearl colors around the edges of the glass
• The Sniff: Strong aroma of blueberry and vanilla. A subtle hint of cinnamon rounds out this opulent nose. There may not be a lot of dynamic scents but what is there is full bodied.
• The Sip: A wine you want to just let sit in your mouth. Lush layers of blueberry and blackberry fruit envelop your tongue. After a few seconds a perfectly balanced spice of cracked black pepper and cinnamon create an additional layer in the wine flavor. The finish is bright and the acidity prepares your mouth for the next stip.
• The Score: At $47 this is a wine that is out of reach for quite a few people. If you have a chance to buy this by the glass or find it on sale (especially if you love Malbec), don’t hesitate. This wine would be a treat for any special occasion and the massive blueberry and vanilla flavors would win over almost any non red wine drinker! 4/5

 

From the Grape to the Glass: Pt 2 Science of Grapes

There is a geeky side to grape farming. A little bit of science is blended with hard work to create each artistic glass we drink. As we follow the 2010 Barrister Winery Sagemoor Cabernet Sauvignon from the grape to the glass, we dive into the science inside the grape. In part one of the series (From the Grape to the Glass Pt1 Progress Reports) Greg Lipsker, co-owner and winemaker of Barrister winery, visits the vineyard for a status check on the 2010 fruit. The grapes are undergoing veraison (a process where the green fruit turns purple) and vineyard manager, Derek Way is thinning the shoots to direct more energy to the grape clusters. As harvest nears, Greg makes several trips to Sagemoor, and watches stats online, to monitor the ripening of the fruit and determine the perfect time to harvest.

Part 2 – The Science of Grapes

PH, total acidity, refractometer, and pyrazines; these are not the typical sexy or romantic words you associate with wine, however, they are important terms monitored and used in the process. Sagemoor Vineyard group, north of Pasco, WA, works with 70+ winemakers, including Spokane’s Barrister Winery, in this process. Planted in 1972, the 900 acres along the Columbia River contain some of the oldest vines in the state. General Manager Kent Waliser, and Vineyard Manager Derek Way, provide lab services as the grapes near harvest. The measurements are tracked and made available online so that every winery and winemaker can stay informed on the progress.

During this visit, Greg has his eye three key measurements that will help determine when to harvest the block 9 Cabernet; sugar levels, total acidity, and PH. These three measurements work together and affect the flavor and balance of the wine we enjoy. “In the end it’s all about balance and flavor,” Greg says. 2010 has been unseasonably cool. Way has worked hard to ensure good ripening fruit through aggressive shoot thinning, and cutting out hanging fruit. These efforts allow maximum sunshine on the clusters and drive more energy to the remaining grapes.

Sugar (Brix)

While in the vineyard, Greg takes several sugar level readings with a refractometer. The refractometer measures the sugar level (brix) in the grape juice. During fermentation the sugar is converted to alcohol. A grape that is harvested under-ripe can have poor flavor and feel astringent or taste more vegetal. Greg typically harvests his Cabernet Sauvignon at 25 brix. Today’s readings range from 18-20. More sun and more hang time over the next 2-3 weeks will help ripen the grapes to the desired level.

TA (Total Acidity)

Greg collects several clusters of grapes from various sections of the block to be taken back to the lab to measure TA and PH. As grapes ripen, acidity levels drop helping to create a balance in the sweetness and tartness of a wine. These acidity levels also play a large part in balancing the alcohol feel in your mouth. If a wine is high in ABV (alcohol by volume) and low in acidity it can come off feeling hot and disjointed.

At the lab, Horticulture Technician Eddie Garcia presses the collected clusters and uses a sample of the juice to measure the TA. Eddie takes a solution of distilled water and five milliliters of juice and slowly adds sodium hydroxide until the pH meter reads 8.2. Reading the total amount of sodium hydroxide used and multiplying by .15 provides the total acid reading. During this visit TA was still over 1. Greg is looking for this number to be under 1 and preferably in the .80-.89 range.

pH

The final measurement is pH. As the grape ripens, winemakers are looking for the right balance of pH in relation to the acidity. pH can play a role in the longevity of a wine as well as how it feels in the mouth. To get this reading, Ramirez takes a new sample of juice, and uses a pH reader to measure the sample. The pH reading is just over 3. This number will rise to between 3.5 and 3.7 providing the balance that Barrister Winery is looking for in their wine.

Overall, Greg is pleased with how the grapes are progressing. The flavor is nice and the sugar levels are coming along, in spite of the cool year. The 15 day forecast is calling for an extended period of temperatures in the mid and upper 70’s. The grapes love the sun.

•  Barrister Winery Website – http://www.barristerwinery.com
• Sagemoor Group Website – http://www.sagemoorgroup.com/index.html

Cascade Valley Courts the Blogger Audience

How would you spread the word about a growing wine region? Newspaper ads, key magazine spots, buy up space in trade publications, attend key events, word of mouth; these are all options often considered. Cascade Valley Wine Association looked to wine bloggers for exposure. As a region that already receives 3 MILLION visitors per year and is known for recreation, fruit festivals, and relaxation, Cascade Valley is making a name for itself in the world of wine. How do you spread the word?

As I returned from the three day excursion to CVWC with 11 other wine blogger/writers, I turned the radio off for the three hour drive and contemplated the whole experience that ranged from intimate wine tasting of amazing wine set up outside a barn in a working apple orchard to climbing in and out of the 20 passenger stretch Cadillac Escalade. While I plan to write about the experience, including the highs and the lows, I wanted to take this post to drive home the place that blogs (not just wine blogs) have in the marketing world.

According to Google, more than 8,000 unique people visited my site last month. Add in the impressive influence of the other weekend participants (Wild Walla Walla Wine Woman, Write for Wine, Wine Foot, Washington Wine Report, Wine Peeps, Wine Beer Washington, and Decanter Banter) and you have a very wide audience of regional like minded people who are interested in wine, wine education, and wine exploration. I look at the list and see some of the best writing on Washington Wine out there. Exposing these bloggers to the area and the wines will not only carry a one-time ad impression, but a long-term recommendation and word of mouth exposure.

The Cascade Valley consists of the regions of Wenatchee, Lake Chelan, and Leavenworth. Situated right in the middle of the state, the area is less than three hours from either Seattle or Spokane. 50 wineries and wine tasting rooms dot the landscape and include some of the most respected in the state (Fielding Hills, Boudreax Cellars, and Saint Laurent) along with rising stars (Hard Row to Hoe, Nefarious, and Chateau Faire le Pont). While each area has their own association, branding and promoting the collective region proved to be a struggle. The Ports of Chelan and Douglas County, along with local Chambers and Visitors Bureau’s came together to fund the Cascade Valley Wine Country. Director Jean Ashby is now appointed with the task of bringing awareness to the region while balancing the requests and needs of each local area.

The weekend consisted of a very well organized agenda. Everywhere we went the hospitality was amazing. Almost every winery was not only excited that we were there, but grateful for the opportunity to share their wine (I say almost for a reason, which I’ll explain in a future post). The opportunity to try over 100 wines from 25+ of the area producers generated some very pleasant surprises. Was every wine amazing? No. Was everyone passionate about their business and art? Yes!

While I plan on going more in depth on my experience, here are my initial observations:

• The region is very beautiful. Wenatchee’s endless fruit orchards, Chelan’s pristine lake, and Leavenworth’s quaint village and majestic mountains certainly add to the beauty of the experience.
• There is an experience and destination at almost every winery. Wineries in the area are creating destinations that include food, beautiful estate buildings, live music, and events. It is clear that there is a push for the stay and play dollar.
• Infrastructure to support tourism. Because the area is already has a large tourism draw, the hotel and restaurant industries to support wine tourists are already in place. Stay at a quaint bed and breakfast or enjoy posh amenities at a full service hotel.
• Family, history and story permeate the landscape. Several wineries have been birthed out of third and fourth generation farmers. Many of these people are town fathers, industry leaders, and almost every one of them has a story to tell. The passion behind their adventure is quite contagious.
• The wine quality varies. As with most regions and areas, not all the wine is great and some of the prices are a little hefty. Much of the region is “new” to wine making and growing with many having less than 10 years of experience. Some of the estate fruit growers are seeing continued quality in their product, and others have really hit it out of the park with the consistency of the wine. While not every winery we visited served a quality product, the region as a whole has certainly established itself as a destination for wine.
• 12 middle aged wine bloggers crawling in and out of a limo all day provides endless laughter and a long list of potential blog posts.

I can’t wait to share with you a more in depth review of my experience, including some of the wineries stories and an overview of the wine. Stay tuned and keep an eye out for posts from the other writers too. Thanks, Cascade Valley Wine Country for rolling out the red carpet and seeing the value in blogs.

Spokane Weekend Wine Events Sept 17-19

Does life ever feel like such a whirlwind that you are just caught up in the swirl moving in circles from activity to activity? You need to step out of the storm and relax! Grab some friends and go wine tasting. Your friends can help you decompress and the wine is a liquid elixir for the soul. Enjoy and drink happy!

All Weekend  

Take a tour of the local wineries. Most are open. Visit this link for hours, reviews, wine recommendations, videos and more. http://drinknectar.com/spokane-wine-tour/ 

• Enjoy great local wine at The Davenport, Left Bank Wine Bar, and Niko’s Wine Bar

Friday, September 17

Live Music at Whitestone Winery: Enjoy the acoustic R&B, blues style of Mike Dwyer as you sip on some Lake Roosevelt Red or Cabernet Franc; 6-9pm; 111 S. Cedar

Wine Styles – TGIF Wine tasting, 4-5 different red and white wines, LIVE MUSIC and lots of fun! 6pm. $10 / $7.50 for Club Members 8801 N Indian Trail Rd

Rocket Market – Tuscany…ahhh, need we say more! 343.2253; $19 726 E 43rd Ave.

Vino Wine Shop: Classic wines of California 3:00-5:30pm; 222 S. Washington

Davenport Hotel: Live music from 8pm – midnight

Left Bank Wine Bar: Live music every Friday starting at 8pm, no cover –60 wines by the glass and a wonderfully eclectic atmosphere – 108 N Washington.

Saturday, September 18

Liberty Lake Wine Cellars is Closed Today

CRUSH Party at Nodland: A unique opportunity to see the winemaking process in action. Nodland is receiving their Seven Hills Merlot. Come taste the fresh grapes and sample some of the current releases! 12-4pm. (509) 927-7770. Nodlandcellars.com; 11616 E Montgomery

Vino Wine: September Sale Wines Part 2 2-4:30; 222 S. Washington

Rocket Market: Saturday drop in tasting from 4-7pm: Join Spokane’s own Greg Lipsker from Barrister winery as he shares some BIG new release! 726 E. 43^rd Ave

Rocket Market: Live music at 7pm w/ Jerin Falkner– With a smoky voice and slow-burning piano melodies that have garnered national attention, former Spokie Jerin Falkner’s sound is as rich as her lyrics are compelling. 726 E. 43^rd Ave

Huckleberry’s Bistro: Live music and pasta with Wide River, 7pm; 926 S. Monroe

Left Bank Wine Bar – Live music. While you’re there ask Jen or Lauren to make you a special wine flight. They’ll surprise your taste buds. 108 N. Washington

Sunday, September 19

Get out to a winery! – Always a handful of Spokane wineries open. Enjoy! Trezzi, Townshend, Lone Canary, Mountain Dome, Latah Creek, Arbor Crest, Knipprath and Caterina are open.

Arbor Crest Summer Concert Series – Grab a picnic dinner and make your way to one of the last Sunday concerts at Arbor Crest. Common Ground will play adult contemporary and pop hits from 90’s and today – from 5:00 till dusk.

Vino Wine Dinner with Masselow’s at Northern Quest Resort and Casino –5:30 PM – Contact www.vinowine.com 800.826.5674

Wine Radar

• Cathedral Wine Festival – Enjoy hors d’oeuvres while tasting over 30 wines from Europe and the Western United States. September 24, 7-10 PM Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes, 1115 W. Riverside Ave. $50, $35 65 and older. (509) 358-4290.
• Liberty Lake Heritage Release – September 25 from Noon – 5pm: This luscious blend of 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2007 Syrah was hand-crafted from the best barrel of each wine. With plenty of dark fruit and a hint of spice, this is the perfect wine for fall. Joins them for wine tasting, appetizers and conversation with the winemaker, as they celebrate the release of Heritage. $5.00 tasting fee/refunded with purchase.
• Valley Fest: A celebration in the valley that includes a parade, entertainment, wine/beer garden, a fun run, classic car show and “Taste of the Valley” on Saturday night! – September 24-26 < DrinkNectar is a proud sponsor.
• Riedel Glassware Comparative Demonstration – Open to the public, you’ll be led by family & company representative Maximilian Riedel through a comparative tasting, PLUS you’ll take home 4 “Vinum XL” glasses valued at $122.00. The event is a sit down style tasting which compares Riedel glassware to more conventional restaurant wine glasses lasting approximately 1 ½ hours. – Call Vino! – 838-1229; $65 at the Spokane Club
• Latah Creeks Annual Oktoberfest – October 1-3 from 8AM- 5PM with wine specials, events, and more. Always a fun time. Mike and Ellena put on a fantastic shindig.
• March of Dimes Signature Chef – Enjoy an intimate dinner with local celebrity chefs and wine. This elegant evening includes one of a kind auction items that benefit the local March of Dimes efforts to help save babies from pre-mature birth. October 2, 6-10pm at the Lincoln Center, $100 < DrinkNectar is a proud sponsor.
• Cork & Keg (Nov 13) – Mirabeau Park Hotel; $45 http://www.spokanecorkandkeg.com/
• Save the date for Spokane Winery Association Holiday Wine Festival (Nov 19-21)

My Daily Wine

I realize it can be tough to wait until the weekend to wine. Thankfully there are wine events happening the other days of the week too. Take a look at what is happening with My Daily Wine. 

• MONDAY – FRIDAY: Happy Hour at Nikos with Pauline $2 Glass of Wine (1 red, 1 white), $2 off any glass, $2 off any flight and $2 beer. Happy Hour is 4-6pm and 9-close.
• MONDAY: Designer Jeans Party at WineStyles; 6-8pm 8801 N Indian Trail Rd
• TUESDAY: Davenport Hotel $12 Tuesday Wine tasting from 5-7pm in the Historic Lobby. All paired with appetizers from the Palm Court Grill! Also ½ price bottles of wine in the Peacock room and Palm Court.
• TUESDAY: Live music at the Rocket Market 726 E 43^rd Ave. This week enjoy Mon Cheri at 7pm
• WEDNESDAY: It’s “Wine Down Wednesday!” 50% off wines at The Melting Pot
• THURSDAY: Huckleberry’s on Monroe – Class on Spanish and Portuguese wines. $20; 7-9pm

A Visit To WineStyles in North Spokane

Be careful, surfing at entrepreneur.com can lead to some wild adventures. For Mike and Deedee McMahon, it’s just the adventure they were looking for. The McMahon’s own and operate several coffee shops in the Spokane area. With the operations of these shops firmly under control, Mike and Deedee were intrigued by the Wine Styles franchise and were eager to dive into something that involved their other passion, wine. As I’m fond of saying, “Wine and coffee equal liquid love.”

Wine Styles is an exciting franchise that brings an old world retail wine experience to communities. The franchise costs are relatively low and the look / feel of the store is a unique wine sales concept. Spokane’s Wine Style is located in the Indian Trail area, just north of Francis. While the Franchise helps create a consistent look and feel to each store (along with consistent vendor management and point of sale systems), the McMahon’s, along with their son J, are given a good amount of freedom to bring in Northwest wine and a good selection of Spokane wine as well. 

The Wine Styles store is laid out very nicely and has a large selection of merchandise, accessories and about 220 different wines to choose from. Instead of wines being laid out by region or grape variety, they are laid out by style ranging from crisp, silky, rich, bubbly, fruity, mellow, bold and my favorite, nectar. “When customers come in the store, we can ask them what style of wine they like, and point them in the right direction,” says Mike. In addition to some great selection of Northwest wine, including Leonetti and Pepperbridge, you’ll find Spokane favorites, Barili, Nodland, and more. Wine Styles also has about 20 wines that are exclusive to the franchise. There is something for everyone at Wine Styles Indian Trail, you can even get a Wine-a-Rita; a combination of various red, and white wines mixed with lemon aid concentrate in a granita machine. I could easily see this becoming a guilty pleasure for many wine snobs.

You’ll also notice that Wine Styles is becoming a hub of wine activity as well. Their event calendar is full of wine tastings, beer tastings, art showings, live music, and educational classes. A quick visit to their web site will keep you in the know. Customers can also join their wine club and a very unique text club. The first gets you two bottles of wine, 15% discount on re-orders, 10% off on any wine, invitations and discounts at wine tastings and more for only $34.99 per month. The latter, is a cool text based coupon system that sends coupons and instant savings right to your cell phone.

Follow Wine Styles on Facebook to stay connected to all of their upcoming events. You can even join their text club by texting WineStyles to 50240 for a great introductory savings!

If you live up north and are looking for a great place to experience wine (whether you’re a newbie or an expert), Wine Styles on Indian Trail is an excellent space. Stop in during one of their tastings and experience something new.

The Stats

8801 N. Indian Trail Rd

Mon-Thurs: Noon – 8pm

Fri-Sat: Noon – 9pm

509.468.9463

www.winestyles.net/indiantrail

Eisch Eisch Baby! Sometimes It’s the Little Things That Matter

It’s the little things that make all the difference. Presentation and service at a restaurant, extra fudge on your ice cream sundae, flowers on a date, and the extra bass note in Vanilla Ice’s “Ice Ice Baby.”Okay, maybe the last one, didn’t do any bit of good but the attention to detail and the special subtleties can make a good experience into a wow experience. BUT, can a wine glass that once claimed to be “breathable” and “able to aerate your wine in 2-4 minutes” be that subtle difference that makes every sip one to savor?

I’ve received a few different sets of wine glasses in the last few months. The first, Ravenscroft Invisibles, were incredibly light and thin. They were also very fragile, had several flaws, and didn’t have that magical chime when cheering and clinking around the table (more of a clunk than a clink). However, I happily used these glasses to replace the Mikasa globe like glasses I used in my first 80+ video reviews.

Eisch Eisch Baby

In July I received two different Eisch Glaskultur glasses from Balzac Communications. When I opened the box, I read through the materials, and immediately put the glasses into action. I didn’t do any additional research on price, or reviews; I just wanted to experience them for a while to see if the marketing claims were substantiated. One glass was the Eisch standard red wine glass, the other was labeled as Eisch Superior Sensis Plus. The claim seemed pretty extreme:

“Wine poured in Sensis^plus glasses becomes more harmonious and complex, with better balance and greater elegance. Through a completely natural process, the original character and structure of the wine are preserved, while its aromas and flavors become more expressive and generous. Sensis^plus glasses also improve the enjoyment of spirits, fruit juices, sparkling water and other beverages.”

Wow, really “A completely natural process?” Upon further investigation, the materials are very vague as to what “unique properties” make the Sensis Plus glass “better.” Maybe each glass is subjected to hours of alternating rounds of Scorpions, Rammstein and Beethoven to loosen up the pours of the lead free crystal. Regardless of the science behind the claim, Eisch aroused the attention of wine glass Goliath, Riedel to the tune of a lawsuit. While this could have been payback for the German invasion and annexation of Austria in 1938, it was probably more of an attempt for Riedel (an Austrian based company if you didn’t figure that out yet) to learn the secret sauce that makes the glass special. In the end a German judge, with an obvious lack of a discerning palate, declared the glass to be no different than a regular glass, “neither in a food chemistry analysis nor in a gustation test carried out by experienced wine tasters.” Eisch was forced to discontinue their claims of “breathable” and “aerating in 2-4 minutes,” but didn’t have to pay any damages. They keep making their glasses, and the secret remains intact.

My Non Scientific Analysis

I’ve enjoyed wine from a lot of different glasses over the years and I have to give props to Eisch for making one hell of a sexy glass. The bowl is flawless, the color is clear and the weight is nicely balanced. There is even a feel of strength. A casual observer would clearly qualify this as an expensive piece of stemware. After a few months of using the standard and Sensis Plus glasses side by side, I started to notice some subtle differences. The Sensis Plus (designated by a swoosh on the base) is slightly heavier in feel. What really started to grab me was the difference in the aromas coming out of the glass. Time and time again the Sensis Plus glass presented more intense fragrance and even elevated certain aromas that were completely negligible in the standard glass. I started to wonder if my nose and my eyes were playing tricks on me, so I had my wife pour me the same wine in both glasses and I’d blindly sample them. Almost without fail, the Sensis glass was easily identifiable. I even played the game with a few friends and they too could “smell the difference.”

The Verdict

The Eisch Sensis Plus glass makes a noticeable difference in the aroma in most wines. The taste difference was significantly less dramatic, but occasionally evident. Whatever Eisch is doing to these glasses, the results are definitely wow. As an added bonus, the glasses have a beautiful chime when celebrating that special moment with friends and family. The price? $25-30 per stem. Would you pay it? For the average wine drinker $30 buys a set of four glasses at Target. Personally, I’ll definitely be looking for an opportunity to add a few more of these glasses to the cabinet. Christmas is coming…

Other Reviews and Thoughts

• The Gray Market Report
• My Vine Spot
• Vinotology
• Suburban Wino
• Wine Foot

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