Wine Country Heat Wave Ends

The heat wave with triple digit temperatures has come to an end. Now highs are a more seasonable upper 'eighties and low 'nineties, with nightime lows in the 'fifties. This is a great relief to wine growers, as it enables the grapes to resume maturing after shutting down in the high temperatures.

 

The Walla Walla Community College Capstone Kitchen Reopens with Wine

The Capstone Kitchen at the Center for Enology and Viticulture has reopened for the Summer quarter with a new lunch menu and wines from the Center's College Cellars. The menu features tasty dishes created by Robin Leventhal, Dan Thiessen and the Center's culinary students. The College Cellars wines are available in red and white flights. This is the match up that we have been waiting for.

 

A Visit to the Yakima Valley

The August issue of the Review of Washington Wines, which goes on line July 28th, includes a report on our visit to the Yakima Valley, with reviews of wines from Owen Roe, Dineen Vineyards, Chinook and Alexandria Nicole.

While in Yakima, we had lunch at the Cowkche Canyon Kitchen on East Yakima Avenue. It features an eclectic combination of American and Vietnamese cuisines. If you want a 'burger, with all the fixings, you and have it; it you want a Bahn Minh sandwich, you can have it. The wine list is also eclectic, with local and French bottlings.

 

Also Coming Up: Seattle's SODO Wineries

The August issue will also report on the SOuth of DOwntown winery scene, which also includes a couple of microbreweries and craft distilleries. The wineries reviewed are Bartholomew, Scarborough, Kerloo Cellars, O S, Cloudlift, and Laurelhurst Cellars.

While we were in Georgetown, we heard talk about the new Charles Smith Winery that is to be opened July 25th. so we decided to have a look. It is located on South Albro Place, across from the north boundary of Boeing Field. The winery is in a big black building and it will feature a restaurant and a rooftop deck. The Logo atop the building will say "Charles Smith Wines Jet City." See the Charles Smith website for more.