Gone With The Wine

It’s beginning to be a tradition. Well, I think it is, as how does one define a tradition? Is it twice, is it thrice or maybe for five or ten years. I call it a tradition to be, as this was our second year in a row, and we are already planning for next year, so if it’s not already, it will slowly become a tradition just like our twice a year trips to the Oregon coast. Our traditional Memorial Day weekend trip to Washington wine country.

Charlie Hoppes - Fidelitas -  has been one of my very favorite winemakers for over a decade.

We have driven over the mountain pass to the fruit orchards and wineries for years and the wine industry in the state of Washington has come a long way from 2003. At first it was just the two of us tasting wines for free – yes, no tasting fees back then – and driving home with a case or two. Then one car seat joined us, and finally there were two infant car seats and a stroller. Other vinos were laughing and praising us for “teaching ’em young”. But our wine caravan never stopped, and over the years garages and dusty backyard sheds became more and more sophisticated tasting rooms and the wine tours found their ways over the mountains too driving people around in vans and limos.

L'Ecole is an institution. I have to admit I'm not a great lover of their wines, but many are. I love the old school building though, and it's well worth a visit. 

Even a lot of Washingtonians don’t know the hidden treasures of our state. Most people know that after the pass, the trees grow further and further apart until replaced by dust, grass and tumbleweed. Many have never been to wine country, roughly the area from Yakima to Walla Walla alongside Yakima River and I-82. Horse Heaven Hills, Wahluke Slope and Red Mountain are just words on wine bottles rather than real places.

Basel Cellars, was originally built as a private residence, and the subterranean 7 car garage meant for the owners classic car collection is now being used for wine making.  

In reality, Washington is the 2^nd largest premium wine producer in the United States with its over 900 wineries and almost 400 grape growers. When talking about Washington wines we are talking about $4.8 billion economic impact, 16 million cases of wine and 270.000 tons of grapes growing on over 50.000 acres of land. The wine industry employs around 6,000 people in the state with roughly half of them working in the vineyards. The industry has grown from 13 million bottles in 1985 to today’s 178 million bottles. So, the wine industry in this state is becoming a big thing, and this thing called tourism is growing with it. Yes, there are those employed directly by wine, but in total wine creates nearly 26,000 jobs through supply chain, tourism and everything else.

It started a while ago, since the first grapes in this state can be traced all the way back to 1825 and based on that it would be hard to call Washington wine a new thing, I would rather call it a well-kept secret that has now been let out there and it’s getting more and more recognition around the world. But in all reality wine didn’t become a thing until later, and the area receiver its first AVA (American Viticultural Area distinction in 1983. Today we have 14 AVAs in the state.

Saviah Cellars is located South of Walla Walla, just a stone's throw away from the Oregon state line.

So, we pack the truck, always the truck for wine trips and head to I-90 and over to Eastern Washington. As said, the kids have done this since they were babies in their infant car seats and thus they know what to expect. But even as such, they are children, and it is a relatively long drive so usually someone will if we’re there yet by the time we get to Fall City (about 15 minutes from our home, before hopping on the freeway).  

Once we hit the freeway they start pondering whether or not there’s still snow on the pass, and how much water there is in Keechelus Lake, the water reservoir feeding into Yakima River and the irrigation systems providing water for fruit orchards and fields in the Yakima Valley giving the valley some insurance against drought. After the passing the lake they grab their books and/or iPads and entertain themselves until we arrive in Benton City and our first stops.

Not Bud but Martha.

When we are getting closer to our destination starts the discussion on whether Bud will be there or not, and as always, he is there welcoming the kids and Martha to Cooper Wine Company. We sit down, grab some wine and chat a few words with Neil Cooper while my crew plays outside with Bud. The first time we visited Cooper, it was merely an industrial looking barn with Neil’s boat in the corner, an old couch in the middle and wine. It still has its industrial look, that I absolutely adore, the couch is there, but no more boat for the kids to climb on. The boat has been replaced by more wine, tables and chairs and a more official kind of look. When it comes to Chardonnay, I admit, I’m a bit old school. I like mine oaky, thick and buttery, with that oily feeling on your tongue. Neil Cooper makes that kind of a Chardonnay, and I dare to say it’s way worth the drive!

Resources:

Washington State Wine