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It has long been rumored that the few rows of vines at the entrance to Chateau Ste. Michelle in Woodinville, Wash., were required so the winery could be called a "chateau."
PROSSER -- Construction is expected to start soon on the next phase of what backers say will be the state's premier educational and promotional center for Washington's wines and food products.
My girlfriends and I were sitting in my dining room lamenting about how quickly summer has flown. Before we know it, one friend exclaimed to the other as she momentarily sat her wine glass down and inserted a big glob of Chubby Hubby, it will soon be time to queue up Netflix and pull out the reds. Seasons change, but accoutrements do not.
In general, I leave food and wine pairing to experts. But as we grasp the last days of summer, it's particularly appropriate to pair favorite summer treats with juicy reds to get us through the days ahead. Ben & Jerry's seems like a good place to start and a place where I think I can hold my own.
Friends gathered at Chateau Citterman, and the evening commenced with spoons in hand and glasses swirling. Our first contender: a lovely Panther Creek 2003 Pinot Noir. It tasted sweet and dark and made for a lucid extension of Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia - a creamy combination of cherry ice cream with cherries and fudge flakes. The Pinot stood bold against the chilly sweetness. Jerry would be proud.
The next indulgence, we agreed, is a stellar delight for "one of those days." When it's getting darker around 4 p.m., you just want to come home, throw on comfy clothes, pull the blinds and shut yourself off from the world outside. You perch on the sofa and get ready to watch really bad TV.
No one publicly owns up to it, but sometimes Access Hollywood and a glass of Waterbrook 2003 Mélange is almost all you need. The red blend is an explosion of dark fruit and pepper. A little bit sweet with a little more spice makes for a smooth and fruity finish. And to get a little spicier, pair it with the intensity of a big bowl of Karamel Sutra (yes, you heard me). The wine wraps itself around the soft caramel core, encircled by chocolate and caramel ice cream and fudge chips. The result is a smoky essence to be savored for the next time you're having one of those days.
When it seems to be getting darker and wetter, you may find yourself in the grocery store screaming at the one you love, "Take me away!" If he's smart, he'll whisk you to a warm, exotic place with beautiful people serving you tropical treats. Or, at the very least, he'll take you to the ice cream aisle and serve you a makeshift paradise.
Chunky Monkey and a crisp glass of Camaraderie Cellars Lake Crescent White. Turn up the heat and in the middle of winter, this duo can have a transcendent effect (though, don't be silly, nothing replaces the joy of marinating on the beach in January). The wine is a delicate balance of crisp honey, apricot and peach, sweet and clean. Coupled with the bright yellow, ripe banana ice cream mixed with fudge chunks and tongue tingling walnuts, completes the yang with the yin. When the fruits of the wine merge with the ripe ice cream, the result is a desperately needed winter diversion.
When temperatures really dip and it's dark when you leave your house in the morning and again when you return, some turn to chocolate, others, to therapy. Some prefer both.
It was clear to all of us that Chocolate Therapy when paired with a glass of Three Rivers Winery 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon is a magical mixture. The wine is sharp and singular. It doesn't tell you exactly what you want to hear, but its bold aromas whisper gently, lift the mood and soften the edge. We agreed the wine balances the richness of the chocolate ice cream, its chocolate cookies and swirls of chocolate pudding. And everyone knows everything is better with wine ... especially therapy.
In the event that it actually snows, nothing says movie marathon like The Godfather I, II, III - and IV! Pop in the first movie with every intention of staying awake this time and reach for a glass of Reininger's Helix Pomatia and a big bowl of The Gobfather (the flavor you can't refuse). The red blend makes for a heated outburst of plum and herbs curled lightly with a breath of roasted coffee and tar. Whether it's your last breath or cement shoes, the wine combined with chocolate ice cream, fudge-covered almonds and nougat swirl makes for a perfect Mafioso morsel, if not a meal.
If you think our winters are bad, New York can be ferocious! If a bottle of wine can make it there, it can make it anywhere. Matthews Cellars' 2003 Claret passes the test when paired with New York Super Fudge Chunk. The Claret is a mouthful of berry and raisins and stands up nicely to the blend of chocolate ice cream with white and dark fudge chunks, pecans, walnuts and fudge-covered almonds.
On the lighter side, when we get an unusual burst of sunlight through the clouds of those drizzly days, Januik Winery's 2003 Red Wine is a deliberate expression when paired with Marsha Marsha Marshmallow. The wine's dark fruit is juicy and luscious and is a smooth accompaniment with the chocolate ice cream, fudge chunks, and toasted marshmallow and graham cracker swirls. Even middle child Jan Brady would adore it - if she ever got past the age of 15.
So as you savor the last days of summer while they quietly slip away, stock the cellar and the freezer. Get cozy with your someone special (or not-so-special) or simply the flavor of the day and endure the elements. Cheers!
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