Miscelaney Holiday SURVIVAL Guide:

12 Days of Christmas

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Ouch…it hurts to see it in print, doesn’t it? TWELVE DAYS. As part of our Holiday Survival Guide, the 12 Days Before Christmas series will offer daily tips from now up until Dec. 24th to help you down the homestretch towards a great Christmas (et al) holiday. Look for wine suggestions, expanded gift ideas, beauty tips, cocktail recipes and other great stuff to help this holiday season be the most enjoyable one yet.

On the twelfth day before Christmas, 
Miscelaney sent to me 
Twelve wines a’breathin’….. 

From our wine cellars (or closets) to yours, Heather and I put together our top 12 wine picks that range from good value buys to ”spoil yourself silly” picks, and all things in between. Every choice is versatile enough to tote along to any holiday event, be the shining star at Christmas dinner, or be the winning gift to the most hard-to-buy name on this year’s holiday list.

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1 ) 2008 Conundrom White Wine California–I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like Conundrum. Really. Made of a blend that includes Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier and Muscat Canelli, it’s packed with creamy peach, tangerine, vanilla and honeysuckle flavors.  / $19

2 ) 2007 Woodinville Wine Cellars Little Bear Creek–Staff calls this everyday red the “BBQ” wine. It’s got the depth and fruit of the big boy reds but stays modest with it’s everyday price point. Sure to be a crowd pleasure at any event. / $20

3 ) 2008 Darby “Le Duece”–One of my new faves. This viogneir/roussane blend is a perfect accompaniment to any holiday dinner. Served super chilled, it’s a like a little slap of love. / $24

4 ) 2007 Longshadow’s Poet’s Leap Riesling–This is my go-to white when I want a perfectly balanced white to pair with my first courses. Crisp flavors and lively acidity give this off-dry white a supple texture and good length. / $24 (go with the 2008 if you can’t find the 2007)

5 ) 2006 Novelty Hill Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon– Great price for such a dense and chewy wine with notes of cherry, blackberry, coffee and smoke. / $25

6 ) 2005 Rulo Silo Red–I’ve had a soft spot for  Rulo ever since 2002 when I poured for them at a charity function and they dubbed me “Ben”. Besides good people, they make good wine! This balanced wine has explosive blueberry/blackberry nose and deeper notes of smoke, charcoal and a whiff of white pepper. / $35

7 ) 2006 Owen Roe Lady Rosa Syrah–YUM. Always a favorite. rich plum, dried blueberry and mocha flavors with a long, delicious finish. $45 (get the 2007 if you can’t find the 2006)

8 ) 2006 Justin Isosceles– This wine knocks my socks off year after year. This particular blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot has aromas of blackberry, black plum, leather, mocha and cassis that combine with hints of caramel, vanilla and even a touch of smoke. One word: Yum. / $50

9 ) 2006 Truchard Cabernet Franc– This is, hands down, my favorite Cab Franc. One of the lesser-known Bordeaux varietals, it’s often blended with Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon. But this wine proves that the grape has enough character and structure to stand on its own! / $60

10 ) Gosset Brut Grand Rose Champagne – Someone once bought me this champagne as a gift, and I’ve been in love with it since. With a salmon pink color, it has just a hint of spiciness and a flavor that manages to be delicate and intense at the same time. So festive! / $65

11 )  2000 Moet et Chandon Dom Perignon Champagne – So it’s the holidays and every body’s making wish lists. Mine always included a bottle of Dom, named for the Monk believed to have discovered sparkling wine / $120

12 ) 2006 Joseph Phelps Insignia Proprietary Red Napa Valley – No doubt, this wine is legendary. Yes, the price reflects it but, trust me, it’s worth it. Intense blackberry fruit with red berry, anise and oak vanillin accents. / $199

Let it breathe, let it breathe, let it breathe.

Champagne and the holidays go together like trolley cars and San Francisco, Tracy and Hepburn, and martinis and oysters. In other words, you don’t think of one without the other. And while I’ll never pass on a proffered glass of champagne anytime throughout the year, the twinkly lights and the goodwill towards men definitely gives me a hankerin’ for some good bubbly.

If you are a champagne whore like me (and you know you are), you are always on the lookout for a superb sparkling wine (French, if possible) which doesn’t totally break the bank, tastes exceptionally yum, and makes you feel like you, too, could have tipped a glass with the best of them at one of Jay Gatsby’s lavish parties or in the parlor room of the Buchanans.

Oh happy conincidence I stumbled upon this tasty bottle at Thanksgiving (those within yackin’ distance of me have already heard about my newest romance, so just pipe down and let others embrace the bubbly love). Heidsieck Monopole Blue Top Champagne NV. Not only is it French, its got street cred (established in 1785), it tastes exceptionally yum (strawberry nose and grapefruit finish but also has a creaminess about it), you can find it for $30 and under if you try, AND, it’s got that perfect champagne story. Ready? It was the official champagne aboard the Titanic. Yep. So you can pop a bottle, share with friends, and feel like we want champagne to make us feel: special.

Cheers!

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Going wine tasting on a sunny, crisp fall day is near perfection, at least in my book. Thanks to the timing of crush, there is always a flurry of activity which provides joe-average-wine-drinker opportunity for an inside peek at the behind-the-scenes world of wine making. With the continuing boom of garagiste-type wine making, many of the resulting (and ever growing) warehouse wineries are doing their thing right before our very eyes.

Tasting room decor is often reflective of a fluid design of wine vats and barrels mixed in with the regular decor in order to keep the wine a little warmer during this critical fermentation period. It’s also not unusal to come across a mobile bottling truck in the parking lot, cellar masters manuevering fork lifts like their hair is on fire, and winemakers toggling appearances in the tasting rooms and working in the back with other winery staff scrubbing tanks, punching down grapes, and tending to other duties during their 7-day, fall work weeks.

The tell-tale uniform of crush participants seems to be wine-stained clothes and purple hands (and some facial hair for the men). If you spy this uniform, you most likely know you are dealing with the winemaker, winemaker assistant or the cellar master. Keep in mind they are super busy, super tired, but also super pumped. They are usually excited about the vintages they are working on along with upcoming releases. It’s a great time to engage them in an all things to do with wine making conversation, if you are lucky enough to catch them when they can afford a break.

We did a short purple hand tour out in Woodinville’s warehouse district this past weekend and here are a few highlights:

1) Darby Winery: This charming tasting room is only open when they have wine to sell. The wines are all outstanding, the staff is superb and winemaker Darby English is busy behind the counter selling wine and carrying it to your car, purple hands and all.

2) Guardian Cellars: Trippy-patterned tasting room embellished with a cloak of protective darkness. Winemaker by day and policeman by night….don’t miss Gun Metal Red (or the cheese).

3) Sparkman Cellars: We just peeked our heads into the spacious tasting room (I’ve had Chris’s wine many times before and it is yum). The space offers bistro style tables and an artful glass, cellar door which allows for opportunity to gaze into the barrel room.

4) Anton Ville Winery: Chocolate pairing with every wine poured. Delish. Discovered Melissa’s Chocolates–divine. They make a Cab Franc (always a fave) and the Merlot was a delight. Our pour-er was the purple-handed co-owner, Janeice Haug.

5) Des Voignes: Reliably fun place to taste good wine. Colorful and lively staff. The Duke is always on our to-buy list.

6) Smasne Cellars: The barn-inspired tasting room offers quite a selection of wines to taste. If you want bang for your $5 (tasting fee) buck, go here. The friendly staff makes for a warm and inviting experience. The dry Riesling was exceptional.

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I don’t pretend to be a wine connoisseur. Not even at parties. That being said, I do enjoy a good late afternoon winery tour every now and then. So when the crisp fall air in Seattle becomes impossible to deny any longer, it’s the perfect time to make a pilgrimage east to the latest Washington wine Mecca: the Lake Chelan Valley. With September temperatures well into the low 80s, you can extend your summer “glow” by at least a weekend or two.

 Here’s a quick roundup of what I experienced on a recent getaway:

Hard Row to Hoe Vineyards

Formerly known as Balsamroot, the owners seemingly changed the name and label to prompt people like you and me to ask, “What does that mean?” Which, of course, I asked. Well, it involves an early 19^thcentury house of ill repute on upper Lake Chelan, some miners and a row boat. I’ll let you do your own research to fill in the blanks. The bordello theme is a bit overwhelming, but at least shows commitment to message. Make sure to look closely at the wallpaper for an amusing eye trick.

Standout Sips: The 2006 Miss de Miner (note the play on words), which is a cab-merlot blend, and the 2006 Zinfandel.

Insider tip: Beat any late summer heat waves on the patio outfitted with misters.

Tildio Winery

Fronted by a row of vibrantly purple lavender bushes, Tildio Winery is perched on a hill overlooking Roses Lake. Their approach is gentle. The staff is helpful without being bossy and knowledgeable without being pretentious. A difficult balance to achieve in the world of wine.

Standout Sips: The crisp 2008 Viognier and the 2006 Robusto, a spicy blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Petit Verdot.

Insider tip: The veranda offers a spectacular view of the lake and beyond. Grab a bottle (or two) and a cheese plate and pretend you are lord of the manor surveying your land.

Web site: www.tildio.com

Web site: www.hardrow.com

Lake Chelan Winery:

Avoid the gift shop and indoor tasting room riddled with tour bus folk and head straight to the backyard BBQ to get down with a huge platter of ribs. Dripping with tangy sauce, wine in hand, you’ll have the best seat in the house on one of their picnic-style benches.

Standout Sips: The ribs are best paired with the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon or the 2006 Syrah.

Insider tip: The BBQ only runs from May to October, so hurry up!

Web site:  www.lakechelanwinery.com

 Where to Stay: Recently renovated Campbell’s Resort on Lake Chelan slashes its rates after Labor Day, meaning great deals at $99 and up for deluxe rooms. Web site: campbellsresort.com

Getting around: The Lake Chelan AVA web site offers a printable map to stake out your best course of action.

Naturally, this is only a small sampling of what the Chelan Valley has to offer. But I can only drink so much wine in two days. Nefarious Cellars, Tsillan Cellars, Vin du Lac and Tunnel Hill Winery are nearby wineries, just to name a few. And being only three hours from Seattle, it’s just one more reason to return again and again.

Thea Nyberg is a homegrown Seattle girl, a mom, a writer, a caffeine addict with a wicked sense of style who has an aversion towards her growing celebrity and is a contributing writer for Miscelaney.

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This past Sunday I (again) had the good fortune of being part of this fabulous, annual event. For a $55 ticket, guests gain entry into one of Woodinville’s premier boutique wineries for a fun-filled afternoon which includes an amazing meal, an etched Riedel logo-glass (filled with some of Sean Boyd’s award-winning wine), live music, a relaxed yet festive atmosphere, a now-infamous cork-toss game, fun-loving company (including mingling with the winemaker) and, by hook or by crook, sunshine.

The food this year was provided by local favorite Italianissimo. Chef/owner Kent Betts entertained the crowd by hand-tossing and b-b-qing his fresh pizzas in the open-air food station. Accompanied with a pesto lasagna, crab-filled crepes, and gelati for dessert, there wasn’t room for too much else…except wine and dancing. The Blues Orbiters got the crowd to their feet and kept them entertained with an energetic blend of originals and favorites from “the rich blues tradition”. And let’s not forget the cork toss. Much harder than it looks, let’s just say if you were playing for three bottles of Sean’s wine, you may get a little serious, too.

Guests purchased bottles of Woodinville Wine’s current releases to enjoy throughout the afternoon on the lush picnic grounds. Choices for the day were the delightfully refreshing  2008 Sauvignon Blanc, the ever popular 2006 Little Bear Creek, the smooth-drinking 2006 Syrah and the flagship 2006 Indomitable (same Ausonius goodness, just a new name). Sean also shared the highly coveted 2006 Reserve
Cabernet Sauvignon and let guests sample the upcoming fall release L.M.S. which is their very yummy Malbec.

Always a wonderful event, WWC fans return year after year knowing they are in store for a really perfect summer’s day. I consider myself soooo lucky to be involved with this Northwest wine gem, and morever, to also call this fun-loving yet crazy-talented group my friends. If you haven’t tried any of Sean’s wines yet, do yourself a favor. They are superb.

Tasting room hours are Saturdays, 12-5pm April-November. www.woodinvillewine.com.

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Beef Tartare on Brioche Rounds

The other evening I had the good fortune to participate in a food and wine pairing held at Bis on Main in Bellevue, with DeLille Cellars. The event was an auction item from the 2009 Leukemia and Lymphoma Celebrity Waiters event, which my fellow waiter came home with. Forty of her closest friends gathered together to share in her generosity and celebrate her birthday (thank you Cindy Lou!).

Winemaker Chris Upchurch walked us down the pairing menu educating the group not only on the wines themselves but also on his personal wine philosophy (which was peppered with fascinating facts from this global industry). In between pairing courses, the group had a chance to casually chat with Chris and his lovely wife Thea, which added to the intimacy of the experience.

The food paralleled the superb wines, and staff ensured a seamless evening. A fantastic event which made me miss my magazine and winery days, where this kind of (now) rare treat was nearly a weekly occurrence (and I wonder why my jeans got a little tight). 

A twist of irony from such a posh evening, our host pointed out that many in the room were “momentarily” unemployed (an interesting snapshot of the current unemployment rate here in Seattle). The relaxed group chuckled accordingly, clearly that little detail wasn’t going to stop us all from sucking the cask of life dry. What a delicious event, and great way to end Seafair (I wasn’t the only one to step off a boat and head over to the event).

If you are curious, here’s the complete pairing menu:

• Salmon Gravlax on Warm Potato Pancake, 2007 DeLille Chaleur Estate Blanc
• Wild Mushroom & Gruyere Phylo, 2007 Doyenne Aix
• Beef Tartare on Brioche Rounds, 2006 DeLille Harrison Hill (still my favorite!)
• Bleu Cheese Crostini with Plum & Cherry Chutney, 2006 Doyenne Signature Syrah
• Duck Confit Tartlets, 2005 Doyenne Grand Ciel Syrah