East Fork Cellars – Page 2 – Savor, Sip and Sojourn

Lots of live music to accompany wine this weekend

Perfectly chilled wine, a picnic, some live music - what more can a person ask for to beat the heat wave in Clark County — Perfectly chilled wine, a picnic, some live music – what more can a person ask for to beat the heat wave in Clark County

Looking ahead:

July 19 – Cottonwood Winery of Oregon will host its 1^st annual Library Wines Night tasting and sales with winemaker, Aaron Lieberman, from 7-10 pm. Aaron is in business with his father, Phil, who has over 20 years of farming experience. The winery is located in Amity OR. $15 per person or $25/2 people with advanced purchase. Price includes tastings and some small bites.

This weekend:

Downtown

Downtown Vancouver’s First Friday was postponed to this Friday due to the 4^th of July holiday. 5-9 pm is designated as a time to enjoy different mediums of art, shops, restaurants and lounges get in the act, as well. East Fork Cellars and Cellar 55 Tasting Room try to schedule live music during First Fridays and Burnt Bridge Cellars opens its doors from 4-8 pm with small plates and wine tasting.

Charlie’s Bistro – Boy & Bean performs from 7:30-9:30 pm tonight. They’re a swingin’ trio from another era. Inviting outdoor seating and a thoughtful wine list make this a terrific place to be on a hot summer night.

Evergreen Wine Cellar is hosting a lineup of five wines from 5:30-8 pm for $5 per person. Included this week is Barnard Griffin’s 2012 Pinot Noir for $14 that I can personal vouch for being a delightfully fruit-forward Pinot.

North County

Confluence Vineyards and Winery recently released their 2013 Walla Walla Semillon – a perfect patio wine for the summer time. Singer/songwriter, Matt Brown, will be performing on Saturday from 2-5 pm. Jae describes his music as bluesy and soulful.

Koi Pond Cellars opened June 28. They’re in the quaint downtown area of Ridgefield (occupying the vacated Seventh Son Vineyard building). Open daily but check them out this Saturday and stop by Ridgefield’s Farmers Market while you’re there.

Three Brothers is hosting 80’s night with Radical Revolution this Sunday from 6-8:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale at www.tickettomato.com.

Moulton Falls Winery is hosting Jeanne Walker this afternoon from 4-9 pm. Her vocals will accompany their award-winning wine, beautiful scenery and wood-fired pizza. Their Sangria Sunday specials are in full swing each Sunday from noon-6 pm.

Heisen House Vineyards hosts a summer concert series every Friday from 6-9 p.m. Check their Facebook page for tonight’s performance. Catered dinner available for purchase to accompany some local, refreshing vino.

Olequa Cellars is open this Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. and Brian’s marking down some white wines to pair with the heat wave we’re experiencing. 2011 Chardonnay $10.80, 2012 Riesling $22.50 and 2013 Cabernet Franc Rose’ $13.50. You can also sit a spell under the shade and enjoy these wines by the glass.

Rusty Grape Vineyards is showing Ferris Bueller’s Day Off on their lawn tonight beginning at dusk (I’m never sure what time that actually is, either).

Battle Ground Produce is hosting their weekly free wine tasting from 4-7 pm. Check them out on Facebook.

Emanar Cellars in Battle Ground is releasing their homemade Gazpacho this weekend. Perfect timing for cold soup, I’d say. Their newly unveiled tapas menu includes olives, almonds, a trio of cheeses served with quince paste spread over bread (very traditional Spanish tapas), as well as a few classic meat selections. Wine available by the glass, as well,

East County

English Estate Winery’s Friday night dinner theme is kabobs. Music and food begin at 6 p.m. Head on back this weekend for their 7^th annual Art & Wine Fair (Sat 11 am-7 pm & Sun noon-6 pm), featuring over 30 arts & craft booths and nine different musical acts to choose from.

Puffin Café floats along the port in Washougal. They have a limited wine selection but their menu is varied, the ambience is hard to beat in the summertime and their live music tonight (Friday) from 5:30-8:30 pm features solo guitarist, Nate Botsford, who’s currently auditioning for American Idol. Come see him before he makes it big so you can say you knew him when.

Memorial Weekend provides an array of tasting options all over the County.

Memorial Weekend is upon wine lovers everywhere and, while I’ll be spending it in the Basque region of Spain (San Sebastian), there’s plenty of voluptuous vino in and around Clark County to fill a long weekend.

Emanar Cellars' Cata Red and 2007 Gran Oristan (Gran Reserva) — Emanar Cellars’ Cata Red and 2007 Gran Oristan (Gran Reserva)

This is one of two weekends during the year that wineries throw open their cellar doors in a bigger way than usual.

Confluence Winery seems a bit off the beaten path but it’s only three miles from the Ridgefield exit and the drive is carpeted with bucolic vistas. Once there Confluence truly is offering wines that are just a little different than other wineries in the area. Greg’s gained his experience from a man who’s been making wine for over 40 years. Their 2011 Bellisimo and 2011 Equilibrium are my favorites.

Gouger Cellars Winery, in the old Ridgefield firehouse, has an ideal rooftop patio for drinking in countryside views as well as his well-crafted wines. Gary’s goal is to host music on the patio. He also makes his own line of wine-inspired ice cream for all ages to enjoy.

Taking nothing away from the craftsmanship and artistry of other wineries in the area, Bethany Vineyard & Winery is arguably the big daddy of visual mastery. The expansive view as you meander up the drive is equal only to the whimsical pond that is made the backdrop of many weddings and special events. Walt is a hard-working man with a genuine fire to share his love of wine with everyone who comes in to the tasting room as well as other winemakers in the area. Bethany also hosts a Music in the Vines concert series each summer. This is a perfect location to enjoy a picnic lunch.

A neighbor of Bethany, off NE 29^th Avenue, is Three Brothers Winery. Three Brothers is distinct in its care with Tempranillo which won them a Double Gold at the 2012 US National Wine Competition. Spice, tobacco and smoky tasting notes remind me of walking into a cigar bar and makes me hungry for my Goat Cheese-Stuffed Chicken with Sundried Tomatoes. As is the case with many wineries, Three Brothers hosts a summer concert series so be sure to ask about the upcoming line up.

Thirty five minutes away, in a pastoral setting near a railroad crossing, sits Moulton Falls Winery. Do not let the drive keep you away from this wonderful destination winery. Saturday promises to be clear and sunny. Combine the drive with a walk around Lewisville Park or a light hike around the trails of Moulton Falls. For your efforts, you will be rewarded by an impressive tasting room unlike anything else in the area.

Walking in, you are overtaken by the smell of wood and the vastness of the space and then envy the group who’s scored the leather couches in front of the woodstove (or become the envied). Moulton Falls teams up with the Chelatchie Prairie RR for wine runs throughout the year so be sure to inquire about their 2014 schedule. Keep an eye out for Jake, their Great Pyrenees mix who looks like a golden retriever on steroids.

Less than 15 minutes southwest brings you to Heisen House Vineyards which has the distinction of being a National and State Historic Site. In addition to tastings, they have scheduled festivals throughout the year. If you’re in the mood to poke around a quirky country store, be sure to take a left out of their drive onto NE 279^th St and pull into Heisson Store, home of the politically incorrect yet uproariously funny Red Neck board games as well as other locally made gifts and foods.

Heading back toward downtown Battle Ground, be sure to stop in at Olequa Cellars on 142^nd Avenue. As I’ve mentioned in the past Olequa is not open every Saturday but they sure will be this Saturday (and Sunday, I believe). Brian’s wines are worth the time it takes to plan and prioritize and it’s my understanding he now has a selection of food available as well as live music in the afternoon.

Emanar Cellars is a favorite of mine. Richard and Mar opened their elegant Spanish-style tasting room at the entrance to the Battle Ground Village last October. They’ve incorporated some sweeter wines for palates that do not lend to the full-bodied Tempranillo-heavy Spanish wines but their red line-up is still impressive and exciting. Mar hails from Madrid and they’re both well-versed on the grapes that go into the style of wine they’re pouring. They’ve added outdoor seating and patrons can purchase wines by the glass beginning May 31^st! They’re also one of the stops on the Passport to Battle Ground Memorial Weekend tour.

For all their efforts, Rusty Grape Vineyards is probably a well-known name with Clark County residents. People drive in from Portland routinely to enjoy the relaxed Cheers-esque feel that Jeremy and Heather have worked hard to provide a quick five minutes east of Old Town Battle Ground. This place has a lot going on; approachable wines, live music, movies on the lawn, craft fairs, wood fired pizza, craft beer and they’re open until at least 9 pm.

But wait, there’s more. East Fork Cellars Winery closed their Ridgefield location back in April but scored the coveted Old Slocum House spot in downtown Vancouver last July. To pair with their fun-loving, ready to drink wines they regularly host live music and will, no doubt, be rolling out a hospitable carpet for fans of the grape this holiday weekend.

While downtown, be sure to check out Burnt Bridge Cellars, owned by an engineer and a chemist. Mark deftly runs the winery while David uses his skills to take prized Walla Walla grapes and create award-winning wines…just for us! Their reds are full-bodied and luscious-words that reach nirvana for me.

Cellar 55 rounds out the wine tasting options in downtown Vancouver (though there are restaurants that have some terrific wine selections but that’s a different post). Michelle Brinning partnered with Trish Nolan back in September to expand this wine storage facility into a four-winery cooperative that feels like a posh cigar lounge (non-smoking, don’t worry). With so many wineries to choose from, the tastings provide a mini-tour of wine-making styles and grape varietals. Live music this Friday and Saturday are also on tap.

The Loafing Shed at English Estate Winery

A round up of tasting options would be sorely incomplete without venturing to English Estate Winery which I posted about a couple weeks ago. This is the second-oldest winery in the area, the first (Salishan Vineyards) having closed years ago. The ability to use estate-grown grapes planted in the 1980’s is enjoyed by this family-run winery and, with the generations of experience, oenophiles are in for a treat and a true education with a visit. Every Friday night there’s also live music and catered food available.

This aggressive wine tasting tour illustrates how much our area has grown literally and figuratively with the options in quality and award-winning wines and I’ve heard there’s more to come. Make it a point to get out and explore for yourself. Cheers!

Weekend wine ideas

The weather promises to be cooler as the weekend approaches but there’s only a slight chance of rain called for this evening – a perfect opportunity to enjoy the First Friday Art Walk going on in downtown Vancouver tonight. Pick up a Hot Sheet at Vancouver’s Downtown Association site for all the goings on. Cellar 55 and East Fork Cellars are hosting live music in addition to being open extended hours.

For Saturday and Sunday, it’s always warm inside the area tasting rooms. Cheers!

Downtown Vancouver

Cellar 55 Tasting Room – 1812 Washington Street; Thu 4-8 pm, Fr 2-8 pm, Sat noon-7 pm, Sun noon-6 pm.

Burnt Bridge Cellars – 1500 Broadway Street; Sat-Sun noon-5 pm and for First Friday Art Walk from 4 pm-8 pm with small plates from Class Cooking.

East Fork Cellars – 605 Esther Street (in Old Slocum House); Fri-Sun noon beginning at noon (Ridgefield location now closed).

East County

English Estate Winery – 17806 SE 1st Street between 192nd Avenue and 164th Avenue-hours: Fri noon-6 pm, Sat-Sun noon-6 pm, Mon 4:30-7 pm.

Birch Street Uptown Lounge – 311 NE Birch Street, Camas; Mon-Sun 4 pm-midnight with live music Fri and Sat beginning at 7:30 pm.

Krystal’s Champagne Lounge – 500 NE 4^th Avenue, Camas; Wed-Thur 5 pm-11 pm, Fri-Sat 4 pm-midnight.

North County

Confluence Vineyards & Winery – 19111 NW 67th Avenue, Ridgefield, WA 98642; Sat-Sun noon-6 pm.

Gougér Cellars -26506 NE 10 Ave, Ridgefield; Wed-Thu 11-6 pm, Fri-Sat 11-8 pm, Sun noon-5 pm.

Bethany Vineyards and Winery – 4115 NE 259 St Ridgefield; Fri-Sat noon-6 pm, Sun noon-5 pm.

Three Brothers Vineyard & Winery – 2411 NE 244 St Ridgefield; Fri 1-6 pm, Sat noon-6 pm, Sun noon-5 pm.

Moulton Falls Winery – 31101 NE Railroad Avenue, Yacolt (25 minutes north of the Battle Ground Fred Meyer); Fri 4-9 pm, Sat noon-9 pm, Sun noon-6 pm. Fri and Sat live music beginning at 6 pm.

Heisen House Vineyards – 28005 NE 172 Ave, Battle Ground; Sat-Sun noon-5 pm. Connect with them on Facebook.

Olequa Cellars – 24218 NE 142 Ave, Battle Ground; every other Sat (last tasting Apr 26), noon-5 pm, also by appt.

Rusty Grape Vineyards – 16712 NE 219 St, Battle Ground; Wed-Thu 4- 9pm, Fri-Sat noon-10 pm, Sun noon-6 pm. Live music every weekend.

Emanar Cellars – 1113 SE Rasmussen Blvd, Battle Ground; Fri-Sat 2-8 pm. The first area Spanish tasting room located at the east entrance of Battle Ground Village.

SW Washington Wine Tour

Okay, timely I am not. It would’ve been better to post this information on May 24th but, hey, there are so many weekends stretching out before us like elegant legs slowly making their way down a wine glass.

Any given Saturday (some of these wineries are open on Wed, Thurs and/or Fri) put an empty cooler in your car and drive to Battle Ground Bakery. Have them make you up some deli sandwiches for lunch and, while you’re waiting, enjoy a cup of coffee and a donut or muffin. Any choice will not disappoint.

Heading west on 219^th St, take a left on 72^nd Avenue and pull into Love Leathers Outpost. Although geared toward bikers (and I’m talking the motorized kind), they also sell jewelry, t-shirts and other interesting knick knacks. Pick up their monthly newsletter and make a plan to come back for one of their scheduled breakfasts or barbeques.

interior of Love Leathers — interior of *Love Leathers*

Back on 219^th, your next destination is East Fork Cellars Winery just over one mile north of the 219^th St intersection with 10^th Ave. With potentially seven wineries to visit today, I recommend the swirling and spitting technique as opposed to swallowing unless you have a designated driver. East Fork recently scored the coveted Old Slocum House in downtown Vancouver as a second space to pour their delectable wines to world (projected opening July 2013). East Fork’s 219th Street location has a unique setting in that it shares its parking lot with Pacific NW Best Fish Co. This place sells the most amazing fish tacos in their café among other things. Definitely peruse the market before or after your tasting.

Less than three miles away off NE 29^th Ave is Three Brothers Winery. Three Brothers is distinct in its care with Tempranillo which won them a Double Gold at the 2012 US National Wine Competition. Spice, tobacco and smoky tasting notes remind me of walking into a cigar bar and makes me hungry for my Goat Cheese-Stuffed Chicken with Sundried Tomatoes. As is the case with many wineries, Three Brothers hosts a summer concert series so be sure to ask about the upcoming line up

Taking nothing away from the craftsmanship and artistry of other wineries in the area, Bethany Vineyard is arguably the big daddy of visual mastery. The expansive view as you meander up the drive is equal only to the whimsical pond that is made the backdrop of many weddings and special events. This might be your perfect place to enjoy the picnic you’ve been carrying around with you.

Belly filled, it’s time for a bit of an adventure. Thirty five minutes away, in a pastoral setting near a railroad crossing, sits Moulton Falls Winery.

For your efforts you will be rewarded by an impressive tasting room. Walking in, you are overtaken by the smell of wood and the vastness of the space and then envy the group who’s scored the leather couches in front of the woodstove (or become the envied). Moulton Falls teams up with the Chelatchie Prairie RR for wine runs throughout the year so be sure to inquire about their 2013 schedule. Keep an eye out for Jake, their Great Pyrenees mix who looks like a golden retriever on steroids.

Less than 15 minutes SW brings you to Heisen House Vineyards which has the distinction of being a National and State Historic Site. In addition to tastings, they have scheduled festivals throughout the year. If you’re in the mood to poke around a quirky country store, be sure to take a left out of their drive onto NE 279^th St and pull into Heisson Store, home of the politically incorrect yet uproariously funny Red Neck board games as well as other locally made gifts and foods.

Heading back toward downtown Battle Ground, be sure to stop in at Olequa Cellars on 142^nd Ave but be aware they‘re not open every Saturday. Brian’s wines are worth the time it takes to plan and prioritize. The unique name comes from the type of soil in our area.

If you’re still standing and able to distinguish a Riesling from a Sangiovese, you’re in for a treat because a five minute drive takes you to Rusty Grape Vineyards and, fortunately, they’re open until at least 9pm. This place has a lot going on; live music, movies on the lawn, craft fairs, wood fired pizza, craft beer, oh, and wine.

Admittedly, this is an aggressive wine tasting tour coupled with some fun pit stops so you might want to break it into two different days. We have a lot of award-winning wines being grown and blended in our area. Make it a point to get out and explore for yourself.