WOODINVILLE!

We visit Seattle on a fairly regular basis, but until recently the explosion of wineries, tasting rooms, and distilleries in Woodinville - about a half-hour's drive northeast - escaped our notice. With over eighty wineries in close proximity the idea of going tasting was a bit daunting, but on a rainy Friday afternoon we decided to at least get a sense of the place. A friend recommended DeLille Cellars so we planned to start there, but had a hard time finding it. Our first stop, Goose Ridge, was a somewhat random choice among a strip mall full of tasting rooms. The vineyard and winery are on 1600 acres in Richland (south-central Washington). Given our focus on boutique wineries, it was quite out of the ordinary to be in the tasting room of one big enough to be its own AVA! And... we loved the wine. The 2010 Chardonnay is lemony and spicy, aged six months in French oak but definitely not over-oaked. Our absolute favorite was the 2007 Reserve Malbec for its double layers of flavors and hints of tobacco and raisins.

DeLille is right across the street. The tasting room is inviting in an unpretentious way; guests can stand at the bar or congregate around tables, either way getting plenty of attention from a very knowledgeable staff person. The estate's grapes are in the Red Mountain AVA, a bit north of Walla Walla. Currently they have twenty acres of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, planted in 2000 and cut down after three years to jump-start the vines' maturation. The winery sources other fruit from the Red Mountain and Yakima Valley AVAs. These wines are definitely French style: dry, smooth...even silky, with lots of nuances. We loved the 2010 Roussanne, 2008 Syrah, and 2006 Grand Cru Estate Cab.

Here are some more Woodinville recommendations we collected there and back in Seattle:

Alexandria Nicole

Dusted Valley

J. Bookwalter

Mark Ryan

Sparkman Cellars

The Library at Apex

And here's a link to help you out:

Woodinville, WA Wine

HACIENDA DE LAS ROSAS WINERY Tasting Room

Tammy in her Tasting Room

It's always fun to stop by the Hacienda de las Rosas tasting room in Old Town. On a busy Saturday owner Tammy Rimes's warm, welcoming style seemed to make everyone feel at home - from hesitant first-time wine tasters to a group of serious conisseurs. Our favorite wines here use grapes from the Rimes's own vineyard in Ramona. 2008 "Sombra" Petit Syrah is smooth with a dry finish -  easy drinking but not boring; 2008 "Vistoso" Tempranillo is pleasantly peppery.

Most of the wines are named after the Rimes's horses.

The Hacienda de las Rosas tasting room is open daily 11:30-9:00. 619.840.5579

Link to newest Hacienda de las Rosas post...
Link to first Hacienda de las Rosas post...


PICNIC PROVISIONING AT SAN DIEGO FARMERS MARKETS

Our weekend wine touring often begins with a visit to the farmers market. Here’s just a sampling of the delicious picnic-ready goodies on offer from local businesses at the Little Italy and Hillcrest markets.

Directory of San Diego County farmers markets

Peruse the salads, spreads, and olives at Baba Foods and Lisko Imports; choosing between so many good things is the hardest part.

Taste is a one-stop shop for artisan cheeses. Just tell Mary or one of her saavy helpers what you’re up to and they’ll offer plenty of options. Depending on your selections, they might advise some Jackie’s Jam (a few stalls away – try the tomato) or fruit for pairing. For bread there's Bread & Cie, Charlie’s, and other artisan bakers with unique offerings.

The markets always have seasonal fruit galore; right now the berries from Pudwill Farm look irresistible.

Baked goods abound for dessert - from dainty multicolored macarons to big cookies and rich bars. Our pick would be something from Eclipse Chocolat; try the caramels or a dark chocolate bar infused with sea salt, Merlot, pepper...

Duly provisioned, you're ready to head for the wine country. Don't forget your water bottles.

THERE'S LOCAL WINE AT THE LITTLE ITALY FARMERS MARKET!

Triple B Ranches, family owned and operated producers of San Diego County estate-grown wines, has made a debut at the Little Italy Mercato. Sorry - no tasting allowed.



THE ROSE WINE PUB

South Park, 30^th between Juniper and Ivy

Closed Mondays

The Rose is named after its location in the historic Rose Grocery Store building. To construct its tasteful, functional interior the owners almost exclusively used reclaimed materials. Featuring small-producer/Terroir-focused wineries from around the world, this place is a newly minted neighborhood gem. The food menu features well composed salads (a rarity at wine bars) and crispy flatbreads with tasty toppings.

On a recent visit we especially enjoyed the 2009 Falesco Merlot from Umbria, recommended by bartender/wine enthusiast Jason.