THE CELLAR CLUB MAY 2020
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May 2020
Cellar Club
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For many years oenophiles and the casual wine drinker alike would head straight to Napa for their wine tasting travels. Over the years the wines of the West Coast have moved far from the well known Napa and expanded to the entire West Coast. While Napa Valley continues to reign as a wine lovers' paradise, we are now able to enjoy delicious varieties hailing from the coolest climates of Northern Washington all the way down to the hot deserts of Baja. This month we are marveling at all that the West Coast has to offer.
Thank you for being a member of
The Cellar Club!
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Wine Pick #1:
2018 Willamette Valley Vineyards
Whole Cluster Pinot Noir Willamette Valley, Oregon
If a Mt. Rushmore of Oregon (or American) winemakers were to be carved, founder Jim Bernau's image would HAVE to be included! His lifelong contributions to what is now known as Pinot Noir's second home are too lengthy to list here. That spirit includes recognition of the vast, untapped potential of women in the industry. To wit, Winery Director Christine Clair will lead this benchmark winery upon his retirement. She grew up at the winery, interned there during college, launched her own Southern Oregon brand, and returned to help lead WVV into the next century. In 2015, she co-founded a new company division, Oregon Estates Vineyards which showcases some Oregon's most intriguing vineyard sites. She was also a leader in the formation of Oregon Solidarity wines, formed to assist growers who faced financial ruin when fruit contracts were canceled days before harvest. The women and men who make Willamette Valley Vineyards possible are exemplars of what Oregon wine is all about.
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Wine Pick #2
2016 J. Brix The Augur Riesling
Los Alamos Valley, Santa Barbara Co., California
Jody Brix Towe and Emily Towe, winemakers and, indeed, the near entirety of J.Brix, have a familiar story. A transformative bottle of wine led them to seek its source, which led to helping out at harvest, which led to making wine. The BIG difference was just how remarkable the wines they craft turn out to be. The Romans had an official known as an Augur who would foretell future peace and prosperity based on the flight patterns of birds. The Kick On Ranch Vineyard, source of this terrific Riesling, has a story as well. Upon the Towes first visit, they noted a lack of bird netting. When inquiring about this, they were told: "Too much acidity-the birds don't want it." The Towes did! It is this edge that makes this wine so appealing.
If there's even the slimmest possibility a wine can defy your conviction that riesling is not for you, this is that wine. |
CHEESE PAIRING OF THE MONTH:
Vella Dry Jack
A masterpiece of American cheese making. This Monterey Jack from sunny California is aged over 7 months. The wheels are coated with pepper and cocoa lending to a pale yellow paste with a sweet nutty flavor. As the cheese ages, Dry Jack wheels become increasingly brittle. As the cheese is similar in texture to Parmesan, it makes a good substitute for churning and grating over salads, pasta, soups, or tacos. The cheese can be shredded, cooked, sliced, or even eaten as it is. You will never go wrong by grating Dry Jack over casseroles, toasted cheese sandwiches, omelets, and soufflés.
Also, check out our delicious and easy
Recipe of the Month:
Springtime BBQ Tempeh Bowls
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