Two Winemaker Dinners

Early May saw two great winemaker dinners in Walla Walla.

The first was the Third Annual Winemakers Dinner featuring Flying Trout and Tero Estates on Saturday, May 5. The menu was created by the Marcus Whitman master chef Antionio Campolio to complement the wines. The menu:

Hamachi Crudo with a Pineapple Carpaccio - 2010 Flying Trout Torrontes (from Argentina, made by Ashley Trout)

Iberico Pork Belly and Aligator Vol-au-Vent with Blue Mountain Morels - 2009 Flying Trout Mary's Block Malbec

Roasted Rack of Cerveza Farms Venison Chop with Hand Rolled Black Truffle Gnocchi - 2009 Tero Estates "S.T." Red

Eye of Montana Bison Rib Eye with Crater Lake Blue Cheese Puddding - 2008 Tero Estates Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley

Chocolate Souffle with Macerated Strawberries and Hazelnut Toffee - 2008 Tero Estates Merlot, Walla Walla Valley

The new releases from the two wineries will be reviewed in the June issue of the Review of Washington Wines.

A week later, on May 12, Reynvaan Family Vineyards hosted the La Porte Brune Underground Dinner, a venue that was not revealed until the day before. It was held on the patio in front of the winery in the foothills of the Bue Mountains. Here is the menu prepared under the direction of Andrae Bopp (Andrae's Kitchen) with the wine pairings.

Passed appetizers - 2011 Fjellene Cellars Rose of Syrah

Arugula, Bacon, Kimchi Apples and Goat Yogurt Salad - 2007 Reynvaan Queens Road White, Walla Walla Valley

Andouillettes with Grilled Onion and Frittes - 2010 Reynvaan Reserve, Foothills in the Sun Vineyard

Five Spiced Seared Duck Breast - 2008 Reynvaan "The Contender" Syrah, Walla Walla Valley

Braised Lamb Shank with Parsnip, Chorizo and Rhubarb Hash - 2007 Reynvaan "In the Rocks" Syrah

Cherry Claflouti with Cocoa - 2009 Reynvaan "The Unnamed" Syrah

The 2010 Foothills in the Sun will be reviewed in the June issue

Mark Ryan to Open a Walla Walla Tasting Room

A few weeks ago, there was a rumor that the Mark Ryan (Mark McNeilly) Winery of Woodinville was going to open a tasting room in Downtown Walla Walla, a reversal of the usual situation of opening of a tasting room in Woodinville by a Walla Walla winery. The rumor was confirmed when an orange Liquor License Application was posted on the window of the space next to Starbuck's formerly occupied by Tru Cellars. Nobody seems to know why Tru Cellars left, but I wonder if a winery could make it in Walla Walla only with sparkling wines and Gewurztraminer. The Mark Ryan tasting room opening is expected in June.

Countdown to Liquor Privatization

Yesterday, I was in Safeway on East Rose and saw workmen taking merchandise off shelves for a major rearrangement of the store's shelf space, evidently to make room for spirits. At Super 1, shelves had been erected in the space opposite the checkout lines. Product tags were being attached. The section was partitioned off by a wall of bathroom tissue, but I could see a corner with tags for Hennesy and Courvoisier Cognacs. I went across the street to the WSLCB store and found the employees upbeat. They most likely are going to be kept on by the new owner. The shelves were well-stocked, and indication the owner is buying the inventory as well. Privatization, commencing June 1st is only 15 days away