Be honest. If you read this magazine, life must not be treating you too poorly.
It means you still have enough cabbage - perhaps not as much - to spend on Northwest wine. And you probably have friends and family willing to help drink it.
So here's an ideal time of year to spread some cheer. Let's hope your cellar, the pantry or that region under your bed is full of future Christmas presents and good tidings.
A portion of my drinkable inventory gets wrapped and placed under trees or taken to parties. Indeed, this job seems to have made folks more willing to have me darken their doorstep.
1. Your Christmas card on a bottle. Bob Delf launched Northwest Cellars in 2004 and the Kirkland, Wash., entrepreneur continues to build on the concept of putting quality wine in bottles that feature labels personalized for customers.
His latest promotion targets the family Christmas card. First, you choose the style of wine. He bottles several varieties and blends, many have been recommended over the years by Wine Press Northwest, including his latest vintage of Intrigue (see Page 94).
Next, e-mail a photo or the artwork to Northwest Cellars, and Delf's designer takes over from there. Customers can pick up the wine in Kirkland or have it shipped to states that will allow. There's a 12-bottle minimum order. Visit northwestcellars.com for information.
2. Yappy Hour back on the scent. Bishop Creek Cellars closed its Urban Wineworks tasting room in Portland's Pearl District earlier this year, so they've relaunched the Yappy Hour concept at their winery in Newberg, Ore.
For three hours, the Pinot Noir house opens its doors to dogs and their owners, giving both species time to socialize with others. I'm guessing it's water-only for the canines. Masters get a glass of wine.
New Year's Mingle is set for Dec. 30, and this time they partner with Critter Cabana and the Newberg Animal Shelter Friends. Buy a bottle and a portion of the sale goes to the shelter. Sniff around at bishopcreekcellars.com.
3. A pack of coyotes pour in Idaho. Ron Bitner, one of the leading figures in the Snake River Valley wine industry, also has a passion for economic development. He first planted his vineyard in 1980 and recently opened a tasting room at his estate.
However, he and new winemakers - John Danielson and Martin Fujishin - spotted a chance for something new in Caldwell. So the three College of Idaho graduates opened a tasting room in the Urban Renewal District and named it in honor of their college mascot.
Folks now can sample Bitner Vineyards, Fujishin Family Cellars and Vale Wine Co., at Coyotes Fine Wines on the Creek. The retail outlet is open Friday through Sunday each week.
4. Going Rogue. The wineries of Oregon's Rogue Valley would love to see you to go palling around in their appellation, and they've launched a new program called "Rogue varietal wine tasting."
On the first Sunday afternoon of each month, Medford's Eden Valley Orchard estate is set to play host to wineries pouring the featured variety. For example, the inaugural tasting was Cabernet Sauvignon on Dec. 6 and scheduled for the historic Voorhies Mansion, built in 1898.
Chardonnay is next on the schedule (Jan. 3). Wine lovers who prefer to vote red when it comes to what goes in their glass should enjoy the Feb. 7 variety - Pinot Noir. There are 12 tastings lined up at the 700-acre estate.
Entry is $15, which includes the wine and light food pairings. To see the list of participating wineries, go to edenvalleyorchards.com.
5. A taste of Platinum. It's dubbed "The best of the best in the Great Northwest with a view from the top."
Of course, we're talking about the Seventh Annual Platinum Dinner on the 75th floor of Seattle's Columbia Tower Club on Friday, Jan. 29. It's an evening when executive chef James B. Hassell and wine director Kerry Johnson pair their cuisine with wines from Wine Press Northwest's 2009 Platinum Judging. There's an hour-long meet-and-greet before dinner as people who made the wines pour them for guests.
Yours truly is scheduled to again be the emcee and continue to reap the rewards of the investment in my Jones/NY tux and BeauTies bow tie.
The event sold out last year. This time, the CTC has it at $110 for non-members (tax and gratuity included). Each attendee gets a one-year subscription to this magazine. It's a heckuva deal. Contact the CTC at 206-622-2010.
6. Calling all Cougs. Washington State University's colors are crimson and gray, but good Cougars must wear black tie to attend the Celebrate Washington Wine gala and auction Jan. 30. In the first eight years, the event has raised more than $1 million for WSU's viticulture and enology program. Chateau Ste. Michelle plays host to the event, and CEO Ted Baseler serves on the WSU's board of regents.
One of the big auction items will be the Women in Wine Collection, which features wines by female winemakers and grape growers.
Those who receive the school's science magazine have seen that WSU wine czar Thomas Henick-Kling looks rather dapper in a tuxedo. The gala is a $250 ticket and usually sells out. Go to wineauction.wsu.edu for information.
7. Chip pairing party. My friend Peeps told me during my college days that "Chips are for dips."
You can take that both ways. But after being inspired by an old PR kit from Kettle Brand potato chips, I learned some chips work with wine. Earlier this decade, Match Makers alumni Vitaly Paley and Caprial Pence produced recipes featuring Kettle Chips.
The crisps are crafted in Salem, Ore., so I could smell a tax write-off. My extensive trials arrived at these pairings: Adelsheim 2006 Caitlin's Reserve Chardonnay Stoller Vineyard from the Willamette Valley with both the Jalapeno and the Sour Cream, Onion & Chive; Chateau Faire Le Pont 2006 Milbrandt Vineyards Pinot Gris, Washington with the Jalapeno and the Tuscan Three Cheese; Nk'Mip Cellars 2007 Qwam Qwmt Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley, with Jalapeno; Raptor Ridge 2006 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley with Honey Dijon; and Sawtooth 2005 Merlot, Snake River Valley with Tuscan.
The Sawtooth Merlot with Tuscan might have been the best pairing, while the Adelsheim Chardonnay was the most versatile. None tamed the justifiably named Death Valley Chipotle.
There are more than 10 other styles of Kettle Chips to try. Perhaps the best venue for your trials is the pregame for XLIV Super Bowl on Feb. 7.
8. B.C. wineries toast their Winter Games. Many of the world's best athletes are coming to the Pacific Northwest as Vancouver and Whistler play host to the 2010 Winter Olympics.
It didn't take long for Canadian wine group Vincor to get behind its nation's representatives and donate more than $3 million to the effort. Vincor Canada is the official supplier of wine for the 2010 Olympics and Paralympic Winter Games.
That means Jackson-Triggs, Inniskillin, Nk'Mip Cellars, Sumac Ridge and See Ya Later Ranch will be featured at venues. Jackson-Triggs even created a line called "Esprit" with the Vancouver 2010 logo.
I've spotted a number of the vintners - including VP of winemaking Keith Bown and Nk'Mip winemaker Randy Picton - proudly wearing some cool Olympic-themed company gear.
The Games run Feb. 12-28. Go to vincorinternational.com and vancouver2010.com for details.
9. In search of the holy Merlot. David Merfeld - the man behind Northstar Winery and the Oakley Razerwires - has announced his quest is to make the best Merlot on the planet.
So, the Walla Walla winery hired Northwest wine writer Leslie Kelly to provide multi-media coverage on a regular basis updating Merf's pursuit. They've dubbed the series as "The Big Dipper Chronicles," and it began with the 2009 harvest. The wine won't be released until 2012, so this reality series should have some long legs via the winery's Web site, Facebook and Twitter. To follow, start at northstarmerlot.com.
10. Drinking and driving. I know there are a crafty people who enjoy wine. I also know that while some golfers enjoy oak in their Chardonnay, almost none still like wood in their driver. So why not turn those beautiful persimmon drivers and fairway woods into wine bottle stoppers?
Last year, I received word that an East Coast outfit began doing just that. They were called SpoonStoppers, a reference to the Scottish term for a 3-wood.
Such items appeal to golfers. They were advertised for $45, but the link to the company appears dead. Now I won't pull the shaft out of that Tommy Armour, but this gives me an idea for my old Toney Penna driver. If someone wants to build me a bottle stopper with it, please drop me a line.
What is your favorite thing to do in Northwest wine country? Send your ideas to edegerman@winepressnw.com. e Have a Northwest wine item to post on our free online Wine Events calendar? Go to winepressnw.com/events.
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