Women Stars of Food and Wine

Sunday Feb. 9th at the Columbia Tower Club. Funds raised at this culinary collaboration supported programs delivered through Women's Funding Alliance. 

This event was well attended and superbly done.

Taste of show - Food - Mary Swanson, Columbia Tower Club
Taste of show - Winemaker - Kristin Sheelar, Robert Ramsay Cellars
Most notable Sommelier - Mary Silva, Columbia Tower Club

Women’s Funding Alliance envisions a world where all women and girls have the opportunity to live, lead and thrive. They build leadership, drive community investments and accelerate systemic change to improve the lives of women and girls in Washington State.

Washington State Wine Awards

Monday’s well-attended Washington State Wine Awards at McCaw Hall showcased exemplary retailers, tourism professionals and distributors for the first time, along with restaurants. Winners were selected from more than 100 nominations and were chosen for their impressive menus, innovative educational programs and marketing efforts, and commitment to excellent service.

“The nominees and winners of the Washington State Wine Awards perform a vital role in shaping Washington State as both a favored home and destination for those who enjoy outstanding wines,” said Commission President Steve Warner.

 

“These exemplary businesses and individuals help us spread the word that Washington State has a reputation for premium wines with superior quality across a range of varietals and distinctive character exhibiting a unique balance of the Old World and New World,” Warner added.

WINNERS

 

 

Walter Clore Honorarium: Doug Charles (Anacortes)

The Walter Clore Honorarium recognizes an individual who has demonstrated dedication to the advancement of the Washington wine industry. Charles is the owner of Compass Wines store, where he dedicates more than 75 percent of his inventory to Washington State wines. His label ded.reckoning is made by some of the top producers in the state.

 

Restaurant of the Year: Visconti’s of Wenatchee

 

Sommelier of the Year: Thomas Price of Metropolitan Grill (Seattle)

 

Best Event Featuring Washington Wine: Urbane (Seattle)

Independent Restaurant of the Year: Copperleaf Restaurant at the Cedarbrook Lodge (SeaTac)

 

Best Restaurant Group: Mackay Restaurant Group, operator of El Gaucho restaurants (Western Washington)

 

Tourism Champion of the Year: Seattle’s Convention and Visitors Bureau

Tourism Concierge of the Year: Anne Peavey, of Seattle’s Convention and Bureau Visitor

 

Hotel of the Year:  Hotel Vintage Park (Seattle)

 

Retailer of the Year: Metropolitan Market (Seattle, Kirkland)

 

Retailer Group of the Year: Yoke’s Fresh Markets (Eastern Washington)

 

Independent Retailer of the Year: Wine World and Spirits (Seattle)

 

Retail Steward of the Year: Doug King of Metropolitan Market

 

Distributor of the Year: Young’s Market Company (Western United States)

 

Distributor Salesperson of the Year: Kris Patten of Young’s Market Company (Seattle)

 

 

Grand Awards:

·         Anthony's at Columbia Point (Richland)

·         Anthony's at Pier 66 (Seattle)

·         AQUA by El Gaucho (Seattle)

·         Barking Frog at Willows Lodge (Woodinville)

·         Bistro San Martin (Arlington)

·         Canlis Restaurant (Seattle)

·         Cypress Lounge & Wine Bar at The Westin Bellevue

·         Daniel's Broiler Prime Steaks and Chops of Bellevue

·         El Gaucho Bellevue

·         El Gaucho Seattle

·         RN74 (Seattle)

·         SkyCity at the Space Needle

·         Sun Mountain Lodge (Winthrop)

·         Swing Wine Bar (Olympia)

·         The Marc at the Marcus Whitman (Walla Walla)

·         The Metropolitan Grill (Seattle)

·         The Triple Door (Seattle)

·         Tulalip Bay at the Tulalip Resort and Casino

·         Valley Cafe (Ellensburg)

·         Visconti's of Leavenworth

·         Washington Athletic Club (Seattle)

·         Waterstreet Cafe and Bar (Olympia)

·         Wild Ginger (Seattle location)

·         Compass Wines (Anacortes)

·         Full Pull Wines (Seattle)

·         Willows Lodge (Woodinville)

·         Marcus Whitman Hotel & Conference Center (Walla Walla)

·         Tri-Cities Visitor & Convention Bureau (Kennewick)

·         Yakima Valley Visitors & Convention Bureau

 

Awards of Distinction:

·         Acqua Via (Olympia)

·         Adriatic Grill Italian Cuisine & Wine Bar (Tacoma)

·         Assaggio Ristorante (Seattle)

·         Blackfish Wild Salmon Grill & Bar at Tulalip Casino

·         Blueacre Seafood (Seattle)

·         Breadline Cafe (Omak)

·         Cafe Flora (Seattle)

·         Chandler's Crabhouse (Seattle)

·         Churchill's Steakhouse (Spokane)

·         FAR-EATS (Seattle)

·         Ivar's Acres of Clams (Seattle)

·         Ivar's Mukilteo Landing Restaurant

·         LOCAL 360 (Seattle)

·         Masselow's Restaurant at Northern Quest Resort and Casino (Spokane)

·         Matt's in the Market (Seattle)

·         Monsoon Seattle

·         Palisade Waterfront Restaurant (Seattle)

·         Pike Brewing Company (Seattle)

·         Purple Cafe and Wine Bar (four locations – Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, Woodinville)

·         Ristorante Italianissimo (Woodinville)

·         Rover's Restaurant (Seattle)

·         Salty's at Redondo Beach (Seattle)

·         Salty’s on Alki Beach (Seattle)

·         Spazzo Italian Grill & Wine Bar (Redmond)

·         Steelhead Diner (Seattle)

·         The Fireside Restaurant at the Resort at Port Ludlow

·         The Lincoln Center (Spokane)

·         The Station Pizzeria (Woodinville)

·         Toulouse Petit Kitchen & Lounge (Seattle)

·         Tuscany Downtown (Prosser)

·         Volterra (Seattle location)

·         Washington State Convention Center (Seattle)

·         Wild Ginger at the Bravern (Bellevue)

·         Sullivan's Steakhouse (Seattle)

·         Urbane (Seattle)

January 31-February 2San Francisco, CA — 22nd Annual Zinfandel Festival

The 22nd annual Zinfandel Festival offers samples from more than 250 wineries specializing in Zinfandel.  The festival kicks off with the Epicuria Food & Zin Pairing event, where award-winning wineries match up with noteworthy restaurants to bring you the ultimate in artful food and wine pairings. During the Zinfandel Winemakers' fundraising dinner event oenophiles will have the opportunity to purchase one-of-a-kind Zinfandels and other fun, wine-related packages in a live auction, which benefits ZAP programming, education and Heritage Projects. For more details and ticketing information, visit www.zinfandel.org

Looking for a Great Thanksgiving Dessert Wine?

2011 Patterson Cellars Late Harvest Roussanne

 

Honey in color, the aromas of this year hint of dried apricot, pear, herbal tea and honeysuckle. The wine has great sugar, acid and mineral balance.

• Release: August 2012
• Varietals: 86% Roussanne | 14% Viognier
• Vineyard: Willard Farms
• AVA: Yakima Valley

$22.00

St. Nick's Winter in Woodinville Wine Tasting

Saturday, Dec. 1 – Sunday, Dec. 211 am – 4 pm Saint Nick’s Winery Open House Weekend
$65 two-day pass; $50 Sunday only; 21 & over only
More than 45 participating Woodinville wineries open their doors for this annual holiday tasting. Tickets include a commemorative glass, shopping coupons for use at participating wineries and a wine tote bag.

Thanks Isenhower Cellars for hosting a superb Industry Night! Also, thanks Cory for the gourmet salmon creation.



Isenhower Woodinville Tasting Room
15007 Woodinville-Redmond Rd
Woodinville, WA 98072

Walla Walla - Certainly Worth the Visit

We recently had the opportunity to visit Walla Walla and experience their great hospitality, great people and fine wines.

There's no doubt that Walla Walla was voted one of the most friendliest towns.The folks were amazing!

We stayed at the Marcus Whitman Hotel. What a magnificent oasis! The managers, sommelier and staff treated us like royalty.

Be sure to check out the chef's table in the kitchen where sommelier Dan McCaffrey will share his extensive knowledge of wines paired with Chef Antonio Campolio's culinary creations. It's treat you'll not want to miss! Our thanks to Jonathan Grant, the front desk manager, for ensuring that our stay was certainly a memorable experience.

There are more than 20 wineries within walking distance of the Marcus Whitman Hotel in the downtown area.

Many other superb wineries are located within just a few miles of downtown area.

We'd especially like to thank Brian Rudin of Cadaretta Winery for the amazing tour of his vineyards and soils experimentation in Milton Freewater. We'd also like to thank Fort Walla Walla Winery for their hospitality and "local networking party".

Make this your next destination for fine wines and hospitality!