Vineyard Pics

I left (way too) chilly Seattle to visit (almost too) warm Red Mountain earlier this week. What a great time to come! Beyond warming up a little, it has been great seeing all of my friends and coworkers at Fidelitas. As an added bonus, we had an event here with our favorite taco wagon, so I got to gorge myself on yummy food. Does life get any better?
I was also delighted to see our thriving little vines in our year old vineyard. The grow tubes recently came off, with the exception of some bright pink and purple ones that Mr. Boushey is experimenting with. They are growing so well that they even received a little pruning this week. (for those that don't remember the beautiful dirt vineyard we had for awhile, visit last year's post here) Here are some pictures of their progress:

Beau guarding the vines

Not a part of the vineyard, but I had to share this crazy clematis that is growing on my porch. How cool is that!?!?

June

Here I am, nearly one month after I last posted about how quickly time goes by. While I generally try to keep this blog about Fidelitas, I have to share just a few items from this month that just flew by!

First...a few items of business:

• For those who haven't heard, Fidelitas blends are awesome! Wine & Spirits Magazine recently awarded the 2007 Boushey Red Wine with 92 Points and the 2007 Red Mountain Red Wine with 93 Points. Wow!
• Our new website is still in the works. When that happens, this whole blog will be a part of that site! We're moving a little slow, but I promise it will be great once it gets going.
• And...mark your calendars! The Fidelitas club event in Seattle is scheduled for August 18th. I have to secure a few more items before I can release any more details but be sure to save the date!

Okay, and now here is my favorite news for the month of June. I just got married! Charlie was kind enough to allow Ben and I to have our wedding at Fidelitas earlier this month. We were blessed by gorgeous weather, and surrounded by our closest family and friends for this special day. Here are few shots taken by friends of ours.

the gorgeous table settings, later filled with yummy food from Picazo717.

calming our (my) nerves prior to the ceremony with bubbles in front of Cooper Wine Co.

must be excited...

Ben's parents built the arch using vines from Red Mountain.

Time Flies...

I just realized that it has been ages since I posted anything! For those who do check in, here is a brief description of my whereabouts and Fidelitas updates from the past month...

• I am now less than three weeks away from getting married! While I try to not let this get in the way too much, we are definitely getting down to the wire now.
• We have released a few new vintages: 2008 Semillon (just in time for summer!), 2007 Columbia Valley Merlot (unbelievable chocolate and spice notes), along with the Champoux Cab, Merlot and Ciel du Cheval Cabernet.
• We're getting a new website! I am so excited about this, and have been working to get all of the details together.
• Finally, I'm learning all about how to maintain my new yard during a sunny/then hot/then rainy Western Washington spring.

I promise to have more to come very soon!

Riedel Tasting at Anelare Winery

Our friends at Anelare are hosting an incredible tasting class at their tasting studio in Kennewick. What a cool class - and you get glasses at the end of it! Here is some more information from the wonderful Kahryn at Anelare:

Join us... for a "journey through Riedel's world of glasses and senses." On the following evenings, "you will learn detailed information about Riedel glass creations and their unique philosophies on the ultimate enjoyment of wine."

"The finest glasses for both technical and hedonistic purposes are those made by Riedel. The effect of these glasses on fine wine is profound. I cannot emphasize enough what a difference they make." (Quelle: Robert M. Parker, Jr. The Wine Advocate)

Classes will be held at our tasting studio, there is room for 20 people each evening. Trained representatives from Riedel will be taking us though the course. Each person will receive 4 crystal glasses to take home; we will taste though wines and enjoy appetizers after class. Cost is $100 per person, value of stemware alone is worth over $100!
Wednesday, May 12th 6:30 pm- sold out
Thursday, May 13th 6:30 pm

Call Kahryn at (509)521-8926 to reserve your seat- or contact via email at info@anelare.com.

Recipes for Two Great Cabernets

Generally, I love to gather a group of friends together when I am working on the recipes for our new releases. However, after a wild spring, I realized that what Ben and I really needed was a quiet night in with just the two of us. The recipes for these new releases are fairly simple and quick, yet were special enough for our much deserved dinner at home.

For the Ciel du Cheval, I really wanted to capture the classic notes of this Red Mountain Vineyard. Coffee and spice seemed to be the perfect match. I've also heard of this rub being used for "cowboy steaks" but for the fun of it, we'll call them "Red Mountain Medallions". On the side, we served some braised baby bok choy that had come in my CSA box and heavenly smashed potatoes, sans the parmesan cheese.

Coffee and Chile Rubbed Tenderloin Medallions
1 tsp ancho chile powder
1 tsp instant espresso
1 tsp brown sugar
¼ tsp dry mustard
¼ tsp dry oregano
¼ tsp coriander
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp ground black pepper
1 lb tenderloin medallions
Combine all dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Spray a cast iron skillet with non-stick spray and heat over medium-high heat. Press the coffee rub into both sides of the medallions, coating well. Add the steaks to the skillet and cook for about 6 minutes on each side, to preferred doneness. Allow to sit for 5 minutes before slicing.

Getting ready to go in the pan with plenty of rub.

A little on the done side, but so tasty.

As many of you know, I am one of those people who do not think that red wine and chocolate is a good idea (gasp!). The theory is that if your dish is sweeter than your wine, it will make the wine appear thin and tart. However, to satisfy everyone who loves red wine and chocolate together, I decided to give it a shot. This vintage of Champoux Cabernet offers such bold fruit with a touch of vanilla, that I felt like it could stand up to this not so sweet chocolate torte.

Chocolate Port Torte with Blueberry Cabernet Sauce
serves 4
for the torte
¼ c unsalted butter (plus a bit more to butter the pan)
5 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1 tbs tawny port
4 large eggs, separated
½ c sugar
small pinch of salt
1 tbs orange zest
Preheat the oven to 350°. Lightly butter the inside of a 9” springform pan and line the bottom with a piece of parchment paper. In a small saucepan, melt the butter but do not let it foam. Add in the chopped chocolate and whisk until fully melted. Stir in the port, remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
In a medium bowl, beat the egg yolks with ¼ cup of the sugar. Stir the chocolate mixture and set aside.
In a large bowl or electric stand mixer, beat the egg whites with a whisk attachment. Mix in the salt, orange zest and remaining sugar and beat until the whites hold stiff peaks. Carefully mix in a small amount of the whites into the chocolate and yolk mixture, blending thoroughly before folding in the remainder of the whites.
Pour the batter into the prepared springform. Bake for 35 minutes. The top will appear cracked when it is done.
for the blueberry cabernet sauce
1 ½ tbs unsalted butter
2 c frozen blueberries
½ c cabernet
In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter then add the blueberries. Cook, stirring occasionally for about 5 minutes, until the berries are soft and beginning to pop. Add the cabernet, bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 10 more minutes. Allow to cool slightly before serving.
To assemble, cut the cake into small wedges, top with a generous amount of blueberry sauce and garnish with mint.

I'll admit it - the results were good!

The Fidelitas Gnome

A few of you may remember Dane from a few posts back (see the original post here). Dane is one of my favorite club members because he travels to wineries wearing his Fidelitas gear with pride. This is now turning into a "where in the world will Fidelitas go next?" type situation. Charlie recently gave Dane a new Fidelitas shirt for all of his promo work, and I just found out it made its winery debut all the way out in North Carolina.

Where next, Dane?

On an entirely different note, I PROMISE to have recipes out in the next day or two. I am so excited about what I came up with for the new releases: Ciel du Cheval and Champoux Cabernets. Yum!

Happy Wine Country Travels

If you are anything like me, you are probably not only a fan of wine, but also of visiting wineries. In the past year, I have been able to visit tasting rooms in Santa Barbara, Napa and Willamette, in addition to all the great areas in Washington. Below are a few of my favorite hints to maximize your wine country experience, while avoiding hiccups along the way:
· Plan before you go. Several wineries have limited hours, tasting fees or special requests in regards to groups, especially on busy weekends. Check websites or call for the most up to date information. I make appointments if I’m travelling with a group of any size, which often leads to a more personalized experience while I’m there. Also think ahead about dinner reservations, as most restaurants will fill up quickly during event weekends.
· Travel at a leisurely pace. Plan to visit just a few wineries each day, taking the time for rest and food in between. My palate is best for three or four wineries at most.
· Be aware of tasting versus drinking. To make the most of your trip, keep a clean palate and clear head by spitting when necessary and drinking plenty of water.
· Use a designated driver. Take advantage of a limousine service, hire a friend or switch tasting days with your travelling buddies.
· Watch out for hot weather! Purchasing as you go is great, but warm temps in your car can ruin your new wines. Pack a cooler for the day and bring your wines inside with you in the evening.
· Pack cash. Many tasting rooms have minimal tasting fees (and many are refundable with a wine purchase). It can be helpful to bring plenty of cash for these occasions.
· Talk to the tasting room staff! We at Fidelitas love to talk about wine and our winery, and we are certain that others do too. You can learn a lot!