These truly are troubled times on both sides of the 49th Parallel, but even during Prohibition and the Great Depression, folks in United States still found the means to enjoy wine.
On the bright side, the holiday season is upon us.
Alas, then comes the cold and dreary days of January and February. With godspeed, things will begin to brighten up and improve on Jan. 20.
Just remember, we're all in this together. Support your neighbors. Keep your money local when possible.
And to borrow a line from Andy Perdue, "Kiss French. Drink Northwest."
1. Give yourself a gift. Join a wine club. We live in the middle of Washington wine country, so my wife and I - well, it was my decision really, one of the few I get - decided to belong to wine clubs at both ends of Oregon.
The latest is a boutique Pinot Noir producer in the Willamette Valley. The other club is in a warm climate outside the Willamette Valley and is one we've belonged to for quite some time. I just pray this recession doesn't dive into a depression.
Who doesn't enjoy getting something fun in the mail? I can't say that I run to the mailbox each day akin to Ralphie in A Christmas Story, but we enjoy these deliveries much more than a decoder ring.
2. Try to be the person your dog thinks you are. Here's a better deal for your pup than that the "Bones for Bowser" doggie bag.
On New Year's Eve, Portland's Urban Wineworks will play host to "Yappy Hour." From 6-8 p.m., the folks who own Bishop Creek Cellars allow you to bring your dog to the tasting room. Buy a bottle of their Pinot Noir, and a portion will be donated to the Oregon Humane Society.
LexiDog, a canine daycare club in the Portland area, is partnering with the event. Go to urbanwineworks.com for info and photos of their event during the dog days of August.
3. Ski, spa, walk and sip in a day. It may likely be raining in Seattle and snowing in the Cascades while it's sunny in Yakima. That's the thinking behind this idea offered by Ummelina International Day Spa.
Nina Ummel's Seattle-based operation now has a branch in Yakima's Hilton Garden Inn. This winter, she's cross-promoting with White Pass Ski Resort and Yakima Valley wineries.
You ski, then stop by the spa for a treatment, then "stroll down the street to Masset Winery and cozy up on one of the couches with an appetizer and a glass of wine."
Season pass holders to the ski area that spawned Olympic greats Phil and Steve Mahre get discounts at several wineries in the Yakima Valley.
Go to ummelina.com for more info.
4. A taste of B.C. in the U.S. Now is the time to head up to British Columbia with the Loonie valued at about 80 cents vs. the U.S. dollar.
But if you can't make it up this winter, Central Washington University's wine education program will bring it to you. On Jan. 23, this two-hour class will allow you to evaluate wines from B.C. and Ontario.
Seating is limited and pre-registration is required. Cost is $35. Call 800-720-4503, e-mail dwinters@cwu.edu or go to www.cwuce.org/wine-education.
5. Shameless plug No. 1. Call this "The best of the best in the Great Northwest with a view from the top."
Actually, it's the Sixth Annual Platinum Dinner on the 75th floor of Seattle's Columbia Tower Club, and it's scheduled for Friday, Jan. 30. It's an evening when executive chef James B. Hassell and wine director Kerry Johnson pair cuisine with wines from Wine Press Northwest's 2008 Platinum Judging. If the Columbia Tower Club weren't so exclusive, then Hassell would earn more public recognition for his talent.
Before dinner is an hour-long meet-and-greet featuring some of these winners. Yours truly again will be dressed akin to Tennessee Tuxedo and serving as master of ceremonies. I hope to keep my foot out of my mouth, see a few of my friends there again and make some new ones.
Last year, a number of the Platinum-producing winemakers attended the event - despite the multi-day closure of Snoqualmie Pass.
Cost is $94 (tax and gratuity included), and each attendee receives a one-year subscription to this magazine. Call the CTC at 206-622-2010.
6. Umm, chocolate. What better way to warm up from the winter doldrums than with red wine and chocolate.
Those around the Olympic Peninsula seem as though they can't give you enough of the stuff. It spans two weekends, Feb. 8-9 and Feb. 14-16. Check out olympicpeninsulawineries.org for advanced bookings.
The folks around Lake Chelan also stage their festivities during the second and third weekends in February. Visit lakechelanwinevalley.com.
In Yakima Valley, the Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail posse posted its long weekend lineup early, and Masset Winery is of particular interest. The winemaker is Greg Masset, an executive chef whose father, Wil, created the famed Birchfield Manor near Moxee. Greg will be featuring handmade Belgian chocolates at his place, and he's also making the brownies that Portteus Vineyards plans to provide. It made me hungry just typing that.
Go to rattlesnakehills.com for more information.
7. Pull into Newport. The Newport Seafood & Wine Festival in Oregon is held next to the Rogue Ales Warehouse, but it's definitely a wine event. And this year marks its 32nd year.
You can buy tickets online ahead of time for the Feb. 20-22 event. Officials estimate that more than 17,000 people flock to the area for the event, which includes more than 50 wineries, 30 food vendors and the arts/crafts folks.
Just who pours at this event? Anthony Dell, Chateau Ste. Michelle, Coleman, Columbia Crest, David Hill, Griffin Creek, Henry Estate, Honeywood, Melrose, Sagelands, Sienna Ridge, Silvan Ridge, Spangler, Troon, Tualatin Estate, Willamette Valley Vineyards, Joe Dobbes and Zerba were among the gold-medal winners.
Shuttle buses will run for free from Newport. Go newportchamber.org for info.
8. Shameless plug No. 2. The Geiser Grand Hotel in Baker City, Ore., is playing host to its third Wine Appreciation Weekend.
This time, it's scheduled for March 20-22, and yours truly again will be serving as MC and sharing thoughts about the Northwest wine industry, answering questions and describing the food-and-wine pairings created by executive chef Pedro T. Cabrales - a past Match Maker.
Call the Geiser Grand at 888-434-7374 for package information and go to
geisergrand.com to learn more about Dwight and Barbara Sidway's historic business.
With any luck, I'll make it to Ski Anthony Lakes and see renowned instructor Dick Knowles, who has friends in the Northwest wine industry.
9. About time, eh? I've long been interested in attending the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival, but the focus of this compolitan event in Canada's most beautiful city has kept me away.
However, if I'm ever going to attend, the 31st edition will be the one. "B.C. takes centre stage," is the theme. The event runs March 23-29, but tickets went on sale Nov. 19. For purchasing info, go to playhousewinefest.com.
Provincial wineries will dominate like never before, with more than 50 on the list. Some of the most prestigious wineries from Washington and Oregon also are scheduled to pour.
The scope of this week-long extravaganza includes more than 1,600 wines at 60 events for a projected gathering of 25,000 attendees. One of the events is a 10-year vertical of Mission Hills flagship wine Oculus with owner Anthony von Mandl. The list of winemaker dinners will be announced in January.
10. Reaching new heights in Yakima. Paul Beveridge owns one of the most appropriate surnames in the Northwest wine industry, and this attorney has created with another marketing niche for his Wildridge Winery and its Yakima outlet.
His nine-acre vineyard is planted in the Naches Heights (the latest pending AVA), but the tasting room is in Yakima. What awaits is what seems to be a unique feature - rock climbing. Near the farmhouse that serves as the tasting room is a pair of cliff areas that are estimated to be 5.5 to 5.9 in difficulty.
This opportunity is not for the novice. You must bring shoes, a harness and rope. However, there's a bolt and chain at the top for the lead rope. After you summit, toast your achievement with a glass. For info, visit tastingroomyakima.com.
- What is your favorite thing to do in Northwest wine country? Send your ideas to edegerman@winepressnw.com. - Have an item to post on our free online Wine Events calendar? Go to winepressnw.com/events and follow the directions.
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