During these tough economic times, it’s refreshing to see creative marketing combined with an environmentally friendly concept. And that’s exactly what we found recently when we visited Pend d’Oreille Winery in Sandpoint, Idaho.

We learned that since February, their popular Bistro Rouge Red Table Wine has been available in a refillable 1.5 liter bottle. You buy the first 1.5 liter bottle, sealed with a cork, for $25; then refills, sealed with a T-stopper, are $16 thereafter. The idea came from co-proprietor Julie Meyer who was frustrated seeing glass from Sandpoint getting reintegrated into other solid waste after being sorted by residents and ultimately disposed of at a landfill in Eastern Oregon.

The staff at Pend d’Oreille Winery brainstormed the problem and came up with the concept of producing 1.5 liter bottles with a generic silk screened label of the Bistro Rouge Red Table Wine. Once purchased, the customers clean their own bottle and bring it back to the winery for a refill.

Because it is a generic label, the blend can change. Winemaker Steve Meyer loves the freedom to create wines that are fun to blend, market, and enjoy with the public.

“The program has been enthusiastically accepted by our clients who love the idea of coming into the Winery to get their personal bottle refilled. It gives us a chance to touch base with them and to return the favor by putting a delicious wine into a reusable and sustainable container. It’s a Win-Wine idea.”

I would think that many wineries in large urban settings producing a large volume red (or white) table wine and who get a lot of traffic through their tasting rooms could make this idea work on a larger scale than even Pend d’Oreille. The only part of the Pend d’Oreille model that I question is the customer cleaning his or her own bottle. It seems to me that a swap-out system like you often see with propane tanks, turning in an empty one for a full one, would be a more efficient and sanitary solution.

What do you winemaker readers think about this idea? Would it work for you? What about the wine lover readers? Would you like to participate in such a program with your favorite local table wine producer?

This week’s Wine Word of the Week is malolactic fermentation.

Official definition from Jancis Robinson’s The Oxford Companion to Wine:
Malolactic fermentation is the conversion of stronger malic acid naturally present in new wine into lactic acid (which has lower acidity) and carbon dioxide. …. It is accomplished by lactic acid bacteria, which are naturally present in most established wineries but may have to be cultured and carefully introduced in newer establishments where malolactic fermentation is desired. ….

Malolactic fermentation is desirable in wines which have excessive acidity, particularly red wines produced in cooler climates. It can also add flavor and complexity to both red and white wines, as well as rendering the wine impervious to the danger of malolactic fermentation in bottle.

Layman’s terms from Kori:
Malolactic fermentation is the winemaking process during which malic acid is converted to lactic acid, thereby softening the taste of the wine.

Looking out my window, I see the sun shining, the lake glistening, and a slight breeze blowing. Summer is officially upon us. And what is the perfect beverage to enjoy on a hot summer day? For us wine lovers, this is the time of year when we turn our attention to rosé wines. In fact, many wineries only make small quantities of rosé wines to be released during the summer months. When you pour that chilled glass of rosé and head for your deck to relax in the beautiful weather, why not take along a book to read, a book about rosé no less, and join us for this month’s Wine Book Club.

Dr. Debs of Good Wine Under $20, who founded our monthly Wine Book Club designed to bring together bloggers and wine lovers for book reviews and discussions, selected La Vie en Rosé: A Very French Adventure Continues by Jamie Ivey (St. Martin’s Press, $24.95; Amazon.com, $16.47) as the book for June. She will be enjoying a summer vacation when the reviews are due so she has asked me to host this month. I graciously accepted and hope that you will read along with us so I have lots to report in the roundup.

In La Vie en Rosé, Ivey shares his adventures when he and his wife moved to the south of France to open a rosé-only wine bar in Provence. It is a sequel to his first book, Extremely Pale Rosé. Don’t hold back on participating just because you haven’t read his first book. I haven’t either, but I’m still excited to read about what they went through trying to pick the perfect location for their rosé-only wine bar and how they handled the naysayers.

So head on over to Amazon or your book retailer of choice to pick up a copy of La Vie en Rosé, pour yourself a glass of rosé wine, and start reading. When you’ve finished, post a review on your blog (if you have one) or leave your review in the comments below before Wednesday, June 24th at 5pm. Then send me a link to your post by leaving a comment below or via email (kori at winepeeps dot com) so that I can include you in the roundup of posts on June 25th.

Happy reading!

Last Friday evening was a gorgeous, sunny summer evening here in Seattle. It was the perfect night to gather with friends to enjoy a fabulous meal and good wines for one of our monthly wine tasting dinners.

In February of this year, Mom (LaGayle) and Dad (John) spent three weeks in South Africa visiting the winelands. They had a great trip and discovered a number of good South African wines. As always when we travel internationally, their goal was to find good wines that are available in the United States so that we can continue to enjoy them once we have returned home.

The six wines in this tasting dinner were wines that Dad selected based on their adventures in the South African winelands. While everyone enjoyed all of the wines and we would recommend them all, the top three clearly stood at the head of the pack. The 2004 Meerlust Rubicon, 2007 Spice Route Chakalaka, and the 2007 Boekenhoutskloof The Chocolate Block are excellent wines and paired wonderfully with Mom’s dinner of tomato basil soup, mixed green salad, grilled filet mignon, thyme roasted purple Peruvian potatoes, seasoned green beans with yellow peppers, and a delicious chocolate cake topped with raspberries, shaved chocolate, and whipped cream.

Interestingly, the two wines that came out on top in the group consensus rankings were from the two wineries in South Africa where Dad did video interviews: Winemaker Chris Williams of Meerlust and Charles Back, owner of Fairview, Spice Route, and Goats do Roam.

From 1st to last in the group consensus rankings:

2004 Meerlust Rubicon (Stellenbosch, South Africa): 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 10% Cab Franc. Ruby red with medium depth. Lighter in color than the others. Very aromatic. Jalapeno and red fruits comes through on the nose. Bell peppers and cherry dominate the palate. Medium to full-bodied and smooth with medium tannins. Well-balanced with a long finish. Fantastic with steak.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Southern Hemisphere Wine Center (California), $24.99; Available elsewhere, $24 to $33

2007 Spice Route Chakalaka (Swartland, South Africa): 57% Shiraz, 20% Grenache, 17% Mourvedre, 6% Carignan. Ruby red with aromas of smoke, cedar, and vanilla. Plums come through on the palate. Medium-bodied, medium tannins, and a long, crisp finish. Slightly bitter but softens with food.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Wine Exchange (California), $14.99; Available elsewhere, $15 to $20

2007 Boekenhoutskloof The Chocolate Block (Western Cape, South Africa): 55% Syrah, 20% Grenache, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cinsault, 4% Viognier. A lot going on in this wine. Aromas of olive, black fruits, burnt toast, and capers. Flavors of black fruits, particularly blackberry, and as the name suggest, chocolate. Medium to full-bodied, medium tannins, and a long finish. Well-balanced. Absolutely explodes with food.
Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Wine Exchange (California), $29.99; Available elsewhere, $26 to $40

2005 Rustenberg John X Merriman (Simonsberg-Stellenbosch, South Africa): 54% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 3% Malbec, 1% Shiraz. Rudy red in color. Nose is a bit tight up front. Opens up the longer it is open. Black fruits and coffee come through on the palate. Medium-bodied and the tannins become more drying with food.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 3 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: K&L Wine Merchants (California), $28.99; Available elsewhere, $19 to $33

2006 ANWILKA (Stellenbosch, South Africa): 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Shiraz, 5% Merlot. Nutty aromas with hints of detergent. Tastes better than it smells with red fruit flavors. Medium-bodied, medium tannins, and a medium finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 4 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: K&L Wine Merchants (California), $19.99; Available elsewhere, $31 to $50

2007 Neil Ellis The Left Bank (Western Cape, South Africa): 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Shiraz, 10% Merlot. Raspberry and dark chocolate come through on the nose, pepper and smoked meats on the palate. Medium to full-bodied, medium tannins, and a long finish.
Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: K&L Wine Merchants (California), $8.99; Available elsewhere, $9 to $14

When most people think of wine country destinations in Washington State, Walla Walla, Yakima, and Woodinville immediately come to mind. One area that I have rarely heard mentioned is Spokane and that is truly a shame. We had the pleasure to spend the long Memorial Day weekend in the Spokane area, and I must say that it is a must-visit for wine lovers. The wineries in Spokane are producing some excellent wines, are owned and run by really nice folks, and the city itself offers quite a number of other activities to make it a great wine country destination.

To be honest, I may not have ever visited if it were not for co-owner/winemaker Greg Lipsker of Barrister Winery. After reading posts about other wine country trips we’ve taken, Greg contacted me last year to encourage us to consider visiting Spokane and even offered to put together a tasting of Spokane area wineries at his facility.

We were finally able to find time to journey to Spokane and took Greg up on his offer to coordinate a tasting. I was pleased that eleven of Spokane’s 14 wineries participated in the tasting hosted by Barrister Winery. And in most cases, the owner or winemaker was on hand to pour the wines and talk to us. It really was an excellent opportunity to get an overview of what Spokane wineries have to offer. I was impressed by the sense of community among the wineries and the fact that they work together to promote their area.

While these wineries are located in Spokane, it is important to remember that they are getting their grapes from the same places as the wineries in the rest of the state. If you’ll notice the region listed for each wine in the list below, they include Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley, Yakima Valley, Red Mountain, and other AVAs throughout the state of Washington. These are the same AVAs you’ll see listed on the bottles of wineries located in Walla Walla, Yakima, and Woodinville.

Without further ado, here’s a little information about each winery whose wines we tasted. [Please note: Other than the wines that the wineries poured for us to taste, we paid all of our own expenses for this trip.]

Barrister Winery was founded in 2001 by two attorney/winemakers, Greg Lipsker and Michael White. Barrister is located in a 100 year-old brick building in the historic Davenport Arts District downtown. They currently produce about 3,200 cases per year and are on their way to 4,200 cases. Of the nine of their wines that we tasted, we rated four of them as 4-star quality or better. Their 2007 Cabernet Franc which will be released in July was one of the top three wines that we tasted all day.

Liberty Lake Wine Cellars is a community winery founded in 2005 by Doug and Shelly Smith. Located in the town of Liberty Lake just 17 miles east of Spokane near the Idaho state line, Liberty Lake Wine Cellars produces 500 cases per year and plans to stay at that level. They opened to the public in June 2008 and are now releasing their second vintage, specializing in single vineyard red wines from Red Mountain and the Walla Walla Valley. Our favorite of their wines was the Cab Franc-based 2006 Second Generation Red Wine which has an incredible aroma.

Nodland Cellars, founded by owner/winemakers Tim and Tracy Nodland, produces one red (400 cases) and one white (30-35 cases) wine each year. Their 2005 Bebop white wine is sold out so Tracy was only pouring their 2005 Private Blend red wine. Tim and Tracy started making wine at home in 1999 and opened Nodland Cellars in 2005. Their distinctive jazz band label was designed by Florida-based artist Tim Rogerson.

Vintage Hill Cellars is a small batch production winery owned by winemaker Cody George and Brian Murray. Founded in 2006, Vintage Hill produces 1,300 cases per year and hopes to ramp up production to 2,000-2,500 cases. They generally offer eight different wines each year, six of which are currently available.

Lone Canary Winery, founded by winemaker Mike Scott and vineyardists Steve and Jeanne Schaub in 2003, produces a Sauvignon Blanc, a Cuvee Rose, and red wines featuring Italian and Bordeaux varietals. Their annual production is just over 4,000 cases. Their 2005 DuBrul Vineyard Reserve (66% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon) was one of the top three wines that we tasted. Its aromas and flavors of chocolate-covered raspberries are captivating.

Mountain Dome Winery, located on 84 acres just outside of town in the foothills of Mt. Spokane, is the only dedicated independent sparkling wine producer in the state of Washington. Winemaker Erik Manz produces 3,500 cases per year using Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes in the methode champenoise or traditional method. Mountain Dome was founded in 1984 by Erik’s parents, Michael and Patricia Manz. If you are like me and have a weakness for bubbly, you’ll want to seek out Mountain Dome. Not only are their wines of high quality but all four sparkling wines we tasted have a QPR of 5 bangs for your buck. Our favorite was the NV Cuvee Forte which is truly an elegant sparkling wine and one of the top three wines that we tasted.

Robert Karl Cellars, founded in 1999 by winemaker Joseph Gunselman and his wife Rebecca, produces 2,500 cases per year using fruit exclusively from the Horse Heaven Hills. Their winery and tasting room are located in an old fire station built in 1912 in the Historic Warehouse District. Robert Karl offers six wines each year, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Claret, Sauvignon Blanc, and a dry Cabernet Franc Rose.

Townshend Cellar, located north of Spokane in Colbert, WA, was founded in 1998 by owner/winemaker Don Townshend. An engineer by background and trade, Don got hooked on the wine business after doing an engineering job for Preston Premium Wines. He makes over twenty different wines and produces about 16,000 cases per year. Townshend Cellar offers great value; all nine of their wines that we tasted had a QPR of 4 or 5 bangs for your buck. Our favorites were the T3 Red Wine and the 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon.

Latah Creek Winery, owned by Mike and Ellena Conway, has been in business 27 years and produces about 17,000 cases per year. Our favorite of their wines was the 2006 Petit Verdot Winemaker’s Reserve Red. Petit Verdot is used more often as a blending grape rather than a stand-alone varietal, but this wine is big, bold, and very good. Latah Creek remains a family owned and operated winery with the Conway’s daughter Natalie serving as assistant winemaker since 2005.

Arbor Crest Wine Cellars was founded in 1982 and produces about 20,000 cases per year. Owned by the Mielke family, Arbor Crest boasts a beautiful setting with a scenic overlook of Spokane and the surrounding area.

Grande Ronde Cellars was started by Dave Westfall, John Mueller, David Page and Michael Manz in 1997. Michael Manz of Mountain Dome oversaw the winemaking until he passed away in 2006. Now his brother, John Mueller, guides production of Grande Ronde’s 1,000 cases per year operation. Our favorite of their wines was the 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon from Seven Hills Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley.

In addition to the eleven wineries that participated in the tasting at Barrister, we also tried to visit Caterina Winery. Despite all of their literature and even the hours posted on their door indicating that they are open daily from 12-5pm, they were closed when we arrived at 2:15pm. It was a disappointing ending to an otherwise fabulous weekend in Spokane’s undiscovered wine country.

In coming weeks, we will be doing some “Spotlight On” posts to feature Spokane wineries that we believe are doing some exciting things.

Here’s a breakdown of the wines that we tasted in Spokane. Under each Quality heading, the wine name and region will be listed along with price and QPR rating. Wines in bold type received a QPR rating of 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5).

Quality: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
2007 Barrister Cabernet Franc, Columbia Valley, $27, QPR: 5
NV Mountain Dome Cuvee Forte (sparkling), Washington State, $32, QPR: 5
2005 Lone Canary DuBrul Vineyard Reserve, Yakima Valley, $34.95, QPR: 5

Quality: 4 stars (out of 5)
NV Lone Canary Bird House Red, Columbia Valley, $14.95, QPR: 5
2001 Townshend Late Harvest Chenin Blanc, Yakima Valley, $18 [375ml], QPR: 5
NV Townshend T3 Red Wine, Columbia Valley, $19.95, QPR: 5
2004 Mountain Dome Brut (sparkling), Washington State, $22, QPR: 5
2003 Grande Ronde Cabernet Sauvignon Seven Hills Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley, $27, QPR: 5
2001 Townshend Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $27.95, QPR: 5
2005 Barrister Cabernet Sauvignon Bacchus Vineyard, Columbia Valley, $32, QPR: 5
2005 Barrister Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain, $32, QPR: 5
2003 Townshend Cabernet Franc, Columbia Valley, $25, QPR: 4
2006 Barrister Cabernet Franc, Columbia Valley, $27, QPR: 4
2006 Latah Creek Petit Verdot Winemaker’s Reserve Red, Washington State, $29.99, QPR: 3

Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
NV Townshend Red Table Wine, Columbia Valley, $10.95, QPR: 5
2007 Townshend Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $10.95, QPR: 5
NV Mountain Dome Brut (sparkling), Washington State, $14, QPR: 5
2007 Lone Canary Sangiovese, Wahluke Slope, $17.95, QPR: 5
NV Mountain Dome Brut Rose (sparkling), Washington State, $22, QPR: 5
2007 Lone Canary Barbera, Wahluke Slope, $17.95, QPR: 4
2006 Liberty Lake Second Generation Red Wine, Red Mountain, $18.50, QPR: 4
2005 Townshend Syrah, Columbia Valley, $19.95, QPR: 4
NV Barrister Rough Justice Red Blend, Columbia Valley, $20, QPR: 4
2005 Grande Ronde Cellar Red, Walla Walla Valley, $20, QPR: 4
2006 Robert Karl Claret, Horse Heaven Hills, $20, QPR: 4
2002 Townshend Merlot, Columbia Valley, $23, QPR: 4
2005 Barrister Merlot, Red Mountain, $25, QPR: 4
2006 Vintage Hill Merlot, Washington State, $25, QPR: 4
2003 Grande Ronde Merlot Seven Hills Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley, $27, QPR: 4
2005 Robert Karl Cabernet Sauvignon, Horse Heaven Hills, $30, QPR: 4
2007 Vintage Hill Sauvignon Blanc, Wahluke Slope, $15, QPR: 3
2006 Barrister Syrah Morrison Lane Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley, $28, QPR: 3
2006 Liberty Lake Syrah, Red Mountain, $28, QPR: 3
2007 Robert Karl Syrah, Horse Heaven Hills, $30, QPR: 3
2005 Nodland Private Blend Red Wine, Columbia Valley, $35, QPR: 2

Quality: 3 stars (out of 5)
2006 Arbor Crest Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $20, QPR: 5
NV Townshend White Table Wine, Columbia Valley, $10.95, QPR: 4
2007 Latah Creek Chardonnay, Washington State, $11.99, QPR: 4
2005 Liberty Lake Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley, $22, QPR: 4
2006 Liberty Lake Merlot, Red Mountain, $22, QPR: 3
2005 Arbor Crest Cabernet Sauvignon Klipsun Vineyard, Red Mountain, $32, QPR: 3
2008 Robert Karl Sauvignon Blanc, Horse Heaven Hills, $15, QPR: 2
2006 Barrister Merlot Dwelley Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley, $25, QPR: 2
2008 Barrister Sauvignon Blanc Klipsun Vineyard, Red Mountain, $19, QPR: 1

Quality: 2.5 stars (out of 5)
2007 Latah Creek Riesling, Washington State, $8.99, QPR: NR
NV Latah Creek Huckleberry d’ Latah, Washington State, $9.99, QPR: NR
2005 Latah Creek Natalie’s Nectar Sweet Syrah, Washington State, $14.99, QPR: NR
2008 Robert Karl Cabernet Franc Rose, Horse Heaven Hills, $15, QPR: NR
2006 Arbor Crest Merlot, Columbia Valley, $18, QPR: NR
NV Latah Creek Vinosity Red Blend, Washington State, $19.99, QPR: NR

Quality: 2 stars (out of 5)
2006 Arbor Crest Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $18, QPR: NR

I love a good autobiography because you not only have a good read but you also learn something about real people and the real world.

Anthony Terlato is chairman of Terlato Wines International and Terlato Wine Group and has been involved in the wine industry for over 50 years. Formerly known as Paterno Imports, Terlato Wines International is one of the leading importers and marketers of fine wines from around the world in the United States. Over the years, Terlato has played a very important part in introducing fine Italian wines to America.

Taste—A Life in Wine is the story of Anthony Terlato’s life, his many years in the wine business, and his close relationships with wine legends such as Michel Chapoutier, Angelo Gaja, Alexis Lichine, Robert Mondavi, Philippine de Rothschild, and Frank Schoonmaker.

At a time when most wine was still shipped coast-to-coast in containers marked simply “red” or “white,” Terlato saw a different future for wine by emphasizing wine quality, quality labeling, and bringing his wines into restaurants. While you find Pinot Grigio at restaurants everywhere today, especially in Italian restaurants, Terlato tells how he discovered Santa Margherita, the wine that introduced Pinot Grigio to the United States.

“It’s almost impossible to overestimate Anthony Terlato’s importance to the American wine scene. While most Americans don’t know his name, they are opening millions of his bottles.” –Marvin Shanken, Wine Spectator

Because of our strong belief in the value of blind tastings here at Wine Peeps, I found it reassuring when Terlato talked about how he and his salesmen were using blind tastings of wines when no other salesmen were calling on their accounts with bottles of wine in hand. I also found his philosophies on hiring employees and running a business very creative and very smart. And I took note when he described his method of evaluating winemakers:

“You can tell the great winemakers by how good their wines are in poor vintage years.”

Today, Terlato Wines International is involved in every aspect of the fine wine business: producing, importing, exporting, and marketing wine across the globe. If you have an interest in wine, I believe that you will enjoy the story of Anthony Terlato, a genuine American wine legend.

This week’s Wine Word of the Week is lees.

Official definition from Jancis Robinson’s The Oxford Companion to Wine:
Lees is the Old English word for the dregs or sediment that settles at the bottom of a container such as a fermentation vessel. Wine lees are made up of dead yeast cells, grape seeds, pulp, stem and skin fragments, and insoluble tartrates that are deposited during the making and aging of wine.

Layman’s terms from Kori:
Lees is the sediment that settles in the bottom of tanks, vats, and barrels during fermentation.

Thank you for joining us for the May “virtual meeting” of the Wine Book Club. Many thanks to Dr. Debs of Good Wine Under $20 who originally proposed the idea for the WBC where bloggers and wine lovers come together for book reviews and discussions after reading a selected text. Dr. Debs and I have been the most consistent participants since the WBC started, and therefore, she was kind enough to let me select this month’s book, Passion on the Vine: A Memoir of Food, Wine, and Family in the Heart of Italy by Sergio Esposito. Selfishly, I chose a book that I purchased last year and has been sitting on my nightstand since then.

I have been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to travel to a number of wine regions around the world in the United States, Canada, France, Australia, and New Zealand. The place that is next, I hope, on my list of wine country vacations is Italy. I have enjoyed the wines of Italy for some time and became truly fascinated with the country, particularly Piedmont, after reading Vino Italiano for the very first Wine Book Club last year. Therefore, when Sergio Esposito’s book was released last year, I quickly snatched up a copy.

Sergio Esposito moved with his family from Italy to the United States when he was 6 years old. Even though he left Italy at a very young age, the culture remained a big part of his life because his parents made a point to raise their children with a love and respect for family, food, and wine.

“Italian wine, like Italian food, is simultaneously no big deal and the biggest deal possible.”

In Sergio’s family, wine was always served with meals and even the children were given sips. Wine became his connection to Italy, and he longed to work in the wine business someday. He saved the money he earned working in a restaurant and spent several summers backpacking through Europe. When he left home, he moved to New York City and worked several jobs in the wine industry before founding Italian Wine Merchants which has become the leading Italian wine source in the United States. His work took him on frequent trips to his homeland.

Passion on the Vine is a well-written memoir that makes you feel as if you are sitting at the table with the Esposito family, eating a scrumptious meal prepared with local ingredients and enjoying local wine. And by the way, the meal could last up to four or six hours.

The bulk of the book recounts stories from a trip he took to Italy for the summer with his wife, son, daughter, and parents. He had to spend time there for work but he took his family along so they could visit their homeland. The people and the places that he so vividly describes could just as easily be characters in a novel, but alas, it is even more intriguing to know that these are real people and these things actually happened. One of the most fascinating stories is the last one, a story about Prince Alberico Boncompagni Ludovisi, Prince of Verona. The Prince was a genius winemaker but also a bit outrageous. Near the end of his life, he destroyed his vineyards because he could not bear the thought of someone else not treating them properly.

Another thread that weaves its way throughout the book is the sense of duty to make the world a better place for our children and to pass a legacy on to them.

“The most important thing for a wine producer to leave behind is not a beautiful cellar, or the latest machine or wads of money. It is a vineyard. A vineyard is not about wealth and profit and immediacy. A vineyard is your heritage.”

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves Italian wine, is considering a trip to Italy, or who just wants an interesting summer read. If this describes you, head on over to Amazon or your book retailer of choice and pick up a copy.

Have you already read Passion on the Vine: A Memoir of Food, Wine, and Family in the Heart of Italy? If so, please leave a comment and let us know what you thought of it.

Cheers!

As expected, Lake Chelan was approved by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), the government agency that oversees all things wine, as Washington State’s newest American Viticultural Area (AVA); it becomes official this Friday, May 29. Lake Chelan is home to 15 wineries, including Nefarious Cellars, Tsillan Cellars, and Chelan Estate Winery, and 260 vineyard acres, with more expected to be planted in the near future.

Lake Chelan is the second AVA established in Washington State this year. Snipes Mountain officially became an AVA in February. Lake Chelan, a 3-hour drive east from Seattle, has been a popular tourist destination for years especially during the summer months when visitors flock there to enjoy the sunshine and recreation around the lake.

In order for an AVA designation to be used on a wine’s label, 85 percent of the grapes used to produce the wine must be grown in the AVA. The Lake Chelan Wine Growers Association has been lobbying for this AVA designation for years and submitted their application to the TTB in 2006.

While a fairly young winegrowing region, Lake Chelan is poised to make a mark for itself around the world, especially with its white wines and cool-climate red varieties. The area’s soil components and textures differ from those elsewhere in the larger Columbia Valley AVA. Grapes planted near Lake Chelan benefit from the “lake effect” in which a large body of water absorbs heat during the summer to re-radiate during the fall and winter months and inhibit frost formation.

Washington State’s 11 AVAs and the year they were established:
Yakima Valley (1983)
Walla Walla Valley (1984)
Columbia Valley (1984)
Puget Sound (1995)
Red Mountain (2001)
Columbia Gorge (2004)
Horse Heaven Hills (2005)
Wahluke Slope (2006)
Rattlesnake Hills (2006)
Snipes Mountain (2009)
Lake Chelan (2009)

“The increasing number of Washington AVAs really speaks to the phenomenal growth and maturity of our state’s wine industry. We celebrate the great variety of soils and climates in our state and the AVA designations allow each appellation to distinguish their wines from the others.” –Robin Pollard, Executive Director of the Washington Wine Commission

So this summer when you visit Lake Chelan, take out a little time and visit some of their wineries and then let us know what you think of them. We’ve found several we like and plan to visit more on our next trip to Chelan.

Today’s post is part of a series featuring the Women of Washington Wine. In an industry once dominated by men, more and more women are joining the ranks as winery owners, vineyard owners, and winemakers. Being a woman myself, I am fascinated by these women and what they have done and continue to do. Through this series, I hope to introduce you to some of the brightest female faces in the Washington wine industry.

Marie-Eve Gilla, part owner and winemaker for Forgeron Cellars in Walla Walla, Washington, was born in Paris, France. She earned her Master’s Degree in enology and viticulture at the University of Dijon, also receiving practical training in the wineries and vineyards of Burgundy. In 1991, she traveled to the United States to further her winemaking experience. Realizing the incredible potential of the wine industry in the Pacific Northwest, she stayed, helped found Forgeron Cellars in 2001, and became a U.S. citizen in 2004. Marie-Eve is married to Gilles Nicault, the director of winemaking and viticulture at Long Shadows.

Marie-Eve was kind enough to take time out of her busy schedule to answer some questions for me and our Wine Peeps readers.

Highlights from Q&A with Marie-Eve Gilla:

How did you first get involved in the wine business?
Although I grew up near Paris, I always wanted to work on a farm as I would go back on vacation near Burgundy and really enjoyed the lifestyle and the feel of the country. I first learned to grow grapes and got a bachelor in viticulture but getting employment in that field 20 years ago was no walk in the park! So I branched out and got a master in fermentation science and some practical experience at local wineries in Burgundy. I then travelled to Oregon to gain additional practical experience and better skills in the English language.

What were the steps that led to where you are now?
Employment was not very good at the time in Oregon where I worked for Argyle. There were very little opportunities overall, even less for a young French woman! I moved to Washington State after a year (1992) and worked for Covey Run and then Hogue before starting with Gordon Brothers in 1996. I then got more well-known and was able to become a part owner and manager at Forgeron Cellars.

Has being a woman been an advantage or a disadvantage in your wine journey? Please explain.
It was hard at first because I was not as strong physically which makes it hard to secure employment in a small Burgundian winery. They do not have forklifts there and barrels are sometimes stacked four high, at 120 lbs per empty barrel and 650 lbs for a full one; it takes pure strength. I lifted my share of barrels through my life but I really understand why small wineries, where the winemaker does it all, would not employ females. It is easier now to be a female, there are so many of us in the field. It seems even an advantage for PR to be a female! Another example is style, wines crafted by women are more balanced and refined and half the population is female so there is a great demand and following for our wines.

Do you believe a woman has certain built-in traits than can make her a better winemaker than a man? If so, please explain.
Not better, just different. I believe that because traditionally women do not have to be the bread winner, they are not so driven by success and fame and will not give up their style to pursue something they do not believe in. Women also favor balance so they are less likely to go with the most extracted, most alcoholic, most oaky wines that usually garner more favor. I also believe that men are at an advantage during the 7 days workweeks of harvest in September or October or other marketing/PR times because they do not feel as guilty about abandoning their family. Also, women do not seem so worried about numbers (whether ratings from writers or extensive analysis from laboratories) as long as the wine is achieving their goal.

Are there more opportunities available to women today in the wine business than when you started?
Yes, there are more of us now so we are better accepted. When I went to school in Dijon, they would not allow more than 5 females out of 32 students, I had to push really hard to get in because I had no family in the business. Enrollment is equal now.

What advice do you have for a woman wanting to get involved in the wine business today?
Think about it, it becomes very difficult during harvest if you have children. Also, to be successful, you need a lot of perseverance and you have to like the challenge and want to win; this industry has become extremely competitive lately.

What are your thoughts about the Washington wine industry, in general?
It’s growing, it’s exciting. I’ve seen it almost in its infancy back in 1992. The best vineyard sites have yet to be discovered, wine growers are getting better and better and they will lead the industry to its full potential in the coming years.

In recent years the Washington wine industry has grown at a rapid rate. Do you expect that trend to continue?
I expect the wine industry growth to keep going but at a slower rate. There are many consolidations happening behind the scenes and wineries changing hands currently.

What is your vision for the future of Forgeron Cellars?
My vision is ever changing but my focus is to make the best white wines in Washington State. As we get more known and people appreciate the aging potential and complexity of our reds, we are also developing a very loyal customer base for our reds. We are a small winery and can afford to have our own style as long as we stay focused and consistent.

Many thanks to Marie-Eve for sharing her story and thoughts with us. I wish her all the best and will be following her work and wines with great interest, and I hope that you will too.

(Photos from Forgeron Cellars)