Wine Lovin Women

Another Year…….. The vines are now asleep; the wine is aging in the barrels and we gather with family and friends to celebrate the holiday season and the end of 2018. It has been another fantastic year for discovering new wines and revisiting old favorites.   Our busy lives kept us mostly in Oregon and Washington this year but its amazing what you can find in your own neighborhood. Palouse Winery - Vashon Island, Washington was a great find.   On our way to a friend’s wedding, we stopped for a quick sample and discovered a complete line of beautiful crafted wines.   We took the opportunity to come back on another day and experience the full line up.   If you have an opportunity to visit Vashon Island you must stop and visit Palouse. Denise discovered Olalla Winery in Olalla, Washington.   This is a family operated winery that has become a local gem.   Evenings of music out on the lawn, while sipping great wine and nibbling on your favorite appetizer.   Throughout th

Cinco de Mayo, break out from the standard Sangria, Margarita or Corona….try Tempranillo. Tempranillo/Rioja is one of the oldest variety of grapes.   Why isn’t is more poplar?   I wanted to taste for myself and I came to find out it’s fantastic! Tempranillo pairs so well with spicy food, we served it for our tasting event with baked goat cheese topped with roasted tomato pesto, smoked chicken and roasted corn empanadas with spicy adobo dipping sauce and spicy guacamole, grilled shrimp topped cucumbers.    Tempranillo brought out the spicy notes of the food and the food brought out the spicy, berry and earthy notes of the Tempranillo.   Next time you think of getting a margarita, go for the Tempranillo instead, you will be pleasantly surprised! At our tasting we tried two Rioja from Spain which were 100% Tempranillo grape and Tempranillo from Oregon, sometime Rioja can be mixed with other variety’s however usually predominantly Tempranillo. Oregon and Washington stat