The Four Seasons

When wineries back in CA told me they had Ice Wine, I had to ask if they meant Refrigerated Wine. By the looks of things around here, we could be in for some of the Real Thing in Umpqua Valley!

Vines are hearty fellows. It's another Metaphor I like about wine; like life, you have to stand up to the extremes. Vines can take a lot of punches and still put up a good fight. I've seen them up to their "knees" in water, baked to a crisp, and covered with snow, but each Spring the little buds pop out and start it all over again.

As the Solstice (Happy Holidays) approaches I am reminded that in a few shorts weeks the Promise of Spring will bring the new Vintage and with that the Circle of Wine keeps rolling.

So make a little Mulled Wine and grab a book: It's a Snow Day!!

It's All In The Wrist.

Umpqua Valley's first wine cave is now officially open! Cin-Cin! A Votre Sante, etc. Diane and I had a grand time enjoying the visit with some friends, old and new, we ran into at the festivities. A short list of 4 wines were poured along with a plate of nicely matched finger food. Nora, our pourer was at her best.

Here's hoping that this "attraction" can do just that for our local wine industry; attract more wine enthusisasts. In my book getting anyone interested in wine to get off I-5 and take a detour to visit a winery only boasts the exposure of all our wineries.

Now once the novalty of the cave wears off it all comes down to the wine. As Diane would say, "You can't drink the wine cave!" And there is no sense in drinking (and yes, tasting) good wine without good friends and a feeling of celebration in your heart.

This all brings us to the wrist. When it comes to visiting any winery it is the humans you encounter there that give the whole event meaning. With a friendly smile and a well trained wrist the pourer, be it the winemaker or the staff, light the match that gives wine its glow!
So get out and explore Umpqua Valley and the many friendly wineries we have.