Rich Reds with Januik Winery

OK OK I am going to start this off by admitting I am partial to Januik wines.

Januik Winery Weinbau Vineyard Cabernet Franc

 Not only because I work with the vines that become his wines.  Not just because I know Mike Januik ran Chateau Ste Michelle Wine Estates before embarking on his own project. not because I know Miguel Rodriguez, whom I work with at Weinbau, gives all he has got to these grapes.  All of these are great reasons but let me tell you the truth.  These wines speak for themselves.

Visit the Novelty Hill / Januik tasting room in Woodinville. 

DO IT.

I love the concrete urban feel to the winery. There are not too many other wineries in Woodinville where you get to peak into the production area and barrel room from the tasting bar.  There is even spaces for large group tastings (hello, Bachelorette Party anyone?!) and event space!  I have yet to go to a wedding here but they were setting up for one on my last visit and it looked so cute.

Miguel Rodriguez Cooking Carne Asada atop grapevines for the crew at Weinbau

There is room for large groups perched above the fermentation room where you can sip and see the tanks the grapes were fermented in.  Or if the sun is calling your name, you can enjoy an afternoon on their patio.  BTW YES, Seattle does get sunny days.

You have to try any of the wines from Weinbau when you Visit.  If you can't make it to Woodinville, do yourself a favor and buy the Weinbau Vineyard Syrah online.  You will be so happy you did.  Plus with a $30 price tag this juice is a great value!  Seriously go get it.  The Weinbau Cabernet Franc pictured above is already sold out!  The Bacchus White Riesling is fabulous as well.  Riesling is such a light, lively and bright wine and it is perfect for summer and that PNW seafood!

Have you tasted around Woodinville?  What are your favorite wineries to visit?  

Lunch fit for a King

...Or 50 Cellar rats working 12 hour shifts, 7 days a week!

Each week a member of Wahluke Wine Company makes lunch for the whole crew, cellar workers, the maintanace crew, Bottle line, office and viticulture staff and any roaming winemakers.

Lunch for 50, no easy task! And boy can these guys and gals eat!

I chose to prepare America's Test Kitchen Baked Ziti.

Thick noodles, White and red sauce, cheese on top of cheese. I knew they would LOVE this dish.

Cheesy, cheesy goodness. 

6 Trays of Baked Ziti, 4 loafs of garlic bread, 6 bags of salad

4 Hours of preparing

3 Hours of cooking 

30 Minutes of Silence at lunch... Priceless

This was actually my first time preparing Ziti on my own, although I have had this recipe at my parents house many times.  Some may call me crazy, but I like to think I am ambitious.  I followed my father lead and added a little extra Mozzarella, a little more cheese never hurt anyone.  Post Ziti kitchen looks like a red bomb went off but this is totally worth all the dishes!  The Ziti comes together easily.

I like to get as much as I can out of a dish like! When making Baked Ziti for just C and myself, I use two 8 inch square pans and am able to have not only dinner and left overs, but a whole pan in the freezer for unexpected guests or when I don't what to cook!  What is better than that???  

What are your favorite recipies to cook for a crowd?

Have any that were great on a small scale but was an epic fail when done for many mouths?

October in Wine Country

October

The month harvest is in full swing here in the Columbia Valley.

Apples are being plucked from their trees,

Grapes are being transported to the winey, 

There is a feeling of accomplishment in the air as the fruits of this years labor are off to market.

Fall colors on the Wahluke Slope are in full force.  Trees are dropping their leaves.  The vineyards are turning golden and orange with some red sprinkled throughout the long rows.

What signifies fall for you?  

For myself, fall begins in late summer when a certain virus in wine grapes turns the leaves from healthy and thriving green to the beautiful but problematic red.  It sure is beautiful, isn't it?

Oh the weather outside is frightful...

Last week was full of one thing in this part of Washington: RAIN.  

2 inches in 48 hours.

Crazy!

I am loving the beautiful weather that has returned, 85 and bright and sunny!

Bloom, beautiful and fragrant.

ITS HERE! ITS HERE!

We have reached my second favorite time of the year in the vineyards!  The intoxicating aroma, the tiny calyptra (Flower petals below, they are five fused petals which detach from the flower, curl a tad and fall off), the long days in the warm sun. 

The very beginning of bloom! The caps are so swollen!

Grapes are self pollinated so Bees are mostly seen in the inter row feeding on Yellow Mustard or Meadow Salsify.  

I enjoy the beauty in every stage of the vineyard, but this is very amazing.  I suggest visiting vineyards in many stages, yes when the grapes are ripe for the tasting, one loves to visit the vineyard.  But there is beauty out there all year round!

Memorial Day Weekend: Staycation!

We live in a Beautiful little slice of paradise.  Working in the wine industry, sometimes it takes guests coming from out of town to "stop and smell the flowers" and appreciate a little wine tasting in our own backyard!

Marisa, Noe, Chad and I enjoying the sun at Canoe Ridge visiting the red facility for Chateau Ste Michelle.

Marisa and Noe made the drive from the wet side of the state to visit Chad and I in lovely little Prosser!  We spent the weekend feasting (Mostly in Brunch form, See banana topped french toast below), wine tasting and enjoying everything Prosser has to offer (including Burger Ranch Ice Cream Cones, total indulgence)!

 

One of the Sparkling brunches from the weekend!

Note to all: it is only Champagne breakfast if your bubbles are from the Champagne region of France.  Our bubbles were in the Washington Form from my work, Domain Ste Michelle Blanc de Noir.

We were busy tasters, and enjoyed the wines of Alexandria Nichole (Jet Black Syrah), Snoqualmie (Whistle Stop Red), Mercer (Pinot Gris), Chinook (Rose), and the distillery Blue Flame (Pepper Vodka) Saturday, (Wines we loved and had to take home!).  Sunday we enjoyed the scenery at Columbia Crest (Whidbey Island Reserve Port) and Canoe Ridge facility of Chateau Ste Michelle (Canoe Ridge Syarh), we even were able to taste on the patio with the breathtaking view of the Columbia and Oregon across the way!

 

The fiancé and I enjoying the view at Canoe Ridge!