Site Maintenance...

Desert Wind Winery grape clusters in front of the Walter Clore Center.

I am doing some back-end work on this blog.

Switched to the old blog layout temporarily. It seems Google has made changes to the Blogger engine. I am tweaking the settings and exploring these modifications.

Hope to find time to address some of the wine reviews I have not posted. More soon if I can.

12/12/16 Blog Anniversary - 10 Years!

December will mark the 10th anniversary of this wine blog. So many changes over the years. I have learned a great deal. It would seem suitable to reflect on what I have learned these last 10 years. On my to do list.

*Note: You can find my daily wine pics on instagram.com/wild4wawine

Bubbles Blind Tasting November 2016.

Impact of Wine Tasting Sessions

Yesterday, I hosted two wine tasting sessions at the Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center in Prosser, Washington. The morning class was Washington vs. France and the afternoon class was a blind tasting of sparkling wine. Wonderful discussions at both sessions. However, I did ask, "Were any doors opened for you today?" "Did you come away more knowledgeable about wine?" "Did I change any of your biases?"

I was pleased that I made some, small impact on yesterdays guests. A group of ABC drinkers in the first group (Anything But Chardonnay), left a little more open to trying Chardonnay again. That is progress.

And in the afternoon session, a gentleman said that I had opened a door for him. He never thought much about sparkling wine. He had no understanding or appreciation for it. Now he does. That's a win too.

I'll continue to do what I can to share and educate my readers and guests about the wide world of wine. All the best to you and yours this holiday season. The year is almost over.

Cheers!

Spirit Review: Ole Smokey Tennessee Moonshine White Lightnin' @OleSmoky

Today I have crossed the line from wine to spirits. At 100 proof the Ole Smokey Tennessee Moonshine is definitely turning up the volume (ABV 50%). "Moonshine, white lightning, mountain dew, hooch, and Tennessee white whiskey are terms used to describe high-proof distilled spirits, generally produced illicitly...The word "moonshine" is believed to derive from the term "moonrakers" used for early English smugglers and the clandestine (i.e., by the light of the moon) nature of the operations of illegal Appalachian distillers who produced and distributed whiskey." Source Wikipedia My family is no stranger to Moonshine. That is, my great-grandfather and grandfather were not strangers. Evidently the family occasionally produced their own spirits on their Oregon ranch. My grandfather told me about his younger brother getting into his dads stash with predictable results. Grandmother also told me stories about midnight runs and secretive deliveries d...

Review: Sho Chiku Bai, Unfiltered Sake

Last month in Seattle, I purchased a bottle of Nigori sake at Uwajimaya. Uwajimaya is one of the largest Asian grocery retailers in the Pacific Northwest. I’ve been visiting Uwajimaya for almost 40 years. When I was much younger, I’d buy model ship and plane kits, Japanese comic books (manga) and I never left without at least one steaming Humbow in hand. Today I buy the manga for my son; while I still enjoy the tasty steamed Humbows, now I never leave without at least one bottle of Sake in hand. Uwajimaya has a terrific selection of imported sake. This most recent visit, I left with a bottle of Sho Chiku Bai Nigori sake. Nigori sake is generally the sweetest of all sakes, with a fruity nose and a mild flavor, making a great drink to complement spicy foods or as a dessert wine. Typical sake is usually filtered to remove grain solids left behind after the fermentation process; however Nigori sake remains unfiltered, resulting in a cloudier beverage. Before serving, the bottle ...

Col Solare Cabernet Sauvignon. The style has changed.

“There is something special going on at Col Solare." In mid-June 2022, I began working for Col Solare winery on the Red Mountain AVA in Washington state. The Red Mountain AVA and Col Solare are famous for stunning Cabernet Sauvignon. That I knew going in. We are not here to make more wine... We are here to showcase place. At the end of June 2022, Col Solare winemaker Darel Allwine retired. Darel had been winemaker since 2013. Prior, he had been Col Solare assistant winemaker for Marcus Notaro. Marcus had been Col Solare winemaker when the Red Mountain facility opened and was winemaker before we had our Red Mountain facility. On July 1, 2022, Col Solare assistant winemaker, Stephanie Cohen, was promoted to Col Solare winemaker. I was present for this change. It was the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new one. Col Solare is the third winery I have worked for. I chose well. Often, I am asked by Col Solare guests, as I was last week, “Tell me about Col Solare. Wh...

William Pollard Jr | aka: Wild 4 Washington Wine

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