Bottling Day!

So, day 2 and we're almost done. This is the best day because the wine is now safely in bottle. The build up is crazy because we're ordering supplies, finishing the wine in barrel and then agonizing over what to feed our bottling crew! :-) We use a bottling line called Signature Bottling and they do a great job! Drew pulls up, backs up to the facility and we pump the wine onto the truck and it comes out in a finished product. It's a little like Laverne and Shirley for those of you old enough to remember that show. I used that analogy in the break room yesterday and half of our bottling crew just stared at me blankly...I think I'm totally aging myself. I must have been in diapers when I watched that show. So, I'll attach a few key photos and then get back to the truck!

P.S. if any of you are ordering capsules make sure to give yourself at least a 3 day window. We gave plenty of notice and ended up having my dad drive to Pasco yesterday to pick up capsules at the trucking company. Supposedly our capsule company is based in France and they take the month of August off. I truly think that should be published someone in their ordering guidelines. Oh well, the stories we wineries can tell about bottling troubles. Someone needs to write a blues song entitled, "I've got the bottling line blues." ....or not. :-)

Food and Wine Recipe

A club swirl member sent us a recipe and thought we may want to share. The only catch is that this person didn't want credit for the recipe. So, if you like it feel free to take it on as your own. Or, you could just send a note to the blog thanking this anonymous person. :-)

Here's the recipe!

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Halibut marinated with Bergevin Lane Calico White

Fresh Halibut
Calico white wine
fresh dill and thyme
little bit of butter
Mrs.Dash original blend
Fresh lemon

Marinate it for an hour or so and the then throw it on the grill to desired doneness. yummmm!!!!
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We're looking forward to trying this ourselves! Feel free to send in recipes that pair well with the wines. They are always a lot of fun to try.

Dee's Deep Thoughts!

We have many friends in the wine world and one is our local poet, Club Swirl member and wine diva, Dee. She sent in a poem she wrote and we thought we'd share.


Wine...
W...worldly, wicked, wise, wayward,
I... intuitive, intriguing, intellectual,
N...naughty, nice, needing, necessary,
E...exciting, erotic, enticing, evolving, ecstasy
Wine, they say is the nectar of Kings and Gods
Wine, like blood runs though our veins,
so does the holy nectar flow through our soul.
Wine, a rich mans pleasure,
yet a poor mans sustenance.
Wine, fruit from the earth,
fluids from the heavens.
From the earth below our feet arises the fruit of our souls.

2006 Calico Red...still going!

So...many trials later we're getting closer to finalizing our blend of our 2006 Calico Red wine. We've been agonizing over what juice to use and the final mouthfeel. Just this morning Steffan announced that we're 98% there! If any of you have EVER run across Steffan that last 2% can be HUGE! We tasted this morning 9am (spitting of course) and just retasted (afternoon) 2pm. The wine opens up beautifully, fills your mouth and gives you a sweet kiss before sliding gently down the hatch (that's the small ceremonial part we don't spit).

Steffan has been really focusing on getting the mouthfeel right. He wants the mouthfeel to be as full, smooth and round as possible...he adds that he's actually working on both the mid palate and the finish. We always have a great entry with our Calico Red, our 2006 base blend has a big entry and he's working to carry that through to the finish, so that it rolls over your tongue and continues down in as smooth of a manner possible which is what our Calico Red is all about.

I just made a new mix of music for the tasting room. It will put a little giddy-up in your step. I heard someone whistling to the music already!

P.S. the radio show I was scheduled to be on tomorrow has been rescheduled for next Wednesday, August the 8th. 8am. (did I mention that is early?!)