Redmond/Woodinville Wine Country
Saturday, 25 October 2008 00:00
Sniff, Swirl, Sip…
Let it be wine, wine, wine. But where are we doing all of this sniffing, swirling, and sipping? Italy? France? Spain? Australia? No, no, no! We are in Washington State, USA.
Big wineries with lots of glamour, glitz, gadgets, bus tours, summer concerts and tasting rooms, are all part of the Washington wine scene. These well-established wineries are the granddames of the state wine industry. They fought the early battles of government rules and regulations. They hung in there while the public learned to say “Washington wine” without a curl of the upper lip or an over-the-shoulder sneer. Now Washington competes proudly with vintages from around the world.
One offshoot of all this hard-earned recognition is the opportunity for a small new group of Western Washington wine makers to emerge, with a mind of their own. These new vintners produce wines with provocative names like Gun Metal Red, Sinner’s Punch (red or white), Wilderness Red, Evil Twin, Outlaw Merlot, and even wines titled after Pearl Jam songs.
Being of the “with a little help from my friends” mindset and an “I’m doing it my way” attitude, these artisans are drawn to an industrial park on the outskirts of Woodinville. “Hoodinville,” they fondly call their wine-making corner of the world. There’s even a “godfather” of this new-found ‘hood, credited with being the inspiration to these new and upcoming entrepreneurs and oenophiles. His name: Mark McNeilly.
McNeilly is not your typical godfather—of winemaking or anything else. Don’t get me wrong: Mark is a far-sighted leader in Western Washington’s burgeoning small winery business. Who else would have the chops (and cojones) to name an early Bordeaux-style blend Dead Horse or a Pinot Noir, Black Love (after an album by The Afghan Whigs music group)? Mark’s “overnight success”—following 8-plus long, hard years of trial and error, naturally—makes him the go-to guy for those just getting started in the biz. Now, that fits my idea of the perfect godfather, with observable results.
On any given fall weekend, just take a drive to Woodinville and see for yourself. As you cross the railroad tracks in rapt anticipation and motor along 142nd Avenue NE, watch for the roadside sandwich boards heralding your entry into this realm of truly eclectic wine tasting. Most likely, your vintner of choice is on hand personally to describe his journey to this current acme of beverage creation. It’s sure to be a story of passion for the art of wine making, struggle, extreme hard work, personal and family sacrifice, and certainly pride in the wine you are by then sniffing, swirling and sipping. And, he hopes, buying.
Any of these so-called Hoodinville wines make a great conversation piece as a gift or an addition to your table. They speak great things about judgment and insight into the Washington wine world, always an expression of (your) good taste!
Here’s to SNIFF, SWIRL, SIP…
Belva & The Bearded One
