Wine Dinner Weekend, Part 3

All things considered, not being able to remember 1 of the wineries we stopped at isn’t all that bad. 7 is a LOT of places to stop at in one day.

• Tyrus Evan
• Canas Feast (bricco)
• Troon
• Angel vine
• the one in the barn – on the main street.
• Lange
• Torii Mor

Our first stop was at Tyrus Evan – a place that, even though the wines were good, they weren’t good enough for the price point. $40 is just too much for your low end wine. Here was where I reaffirmed my love of Red Mountain and all things Ciel du Cheval. mmm. they grow some tasty grapes there.

Canas Feast surprised me. For some reason, I had expected their wines to not be good. I don’t know what gave me that impression – I ended up liking lots of different things! We left with a bottle of sangiovese and a red table blend. Their power was out, so we tasted wine in their garage-like tasting room, lit by the small rays of light that crept through the open door. The man that was working was both jovial and knowledgeable. I’d definitely recommend stopping in next time you’re in Carlton.

There was another winery in here somewhere, but I can’t remember the name of it or any discerning details, only that we almost bought a case of merlot (because it was on sale) and that they had neat art.

After that we stopped at Troon and then Angel Vine. Troon, makers of Druid wine, isn’t all that awesome. They had a really well decorated tasting room, but i thought their format was a little odd. They wouldn’t tell you the price point on the wines until the end, which I’m sure was well intended but actually turned me off a bit. Jon got a bottle of port, which was perhaps the best thing (imo) on their list.

Angel Vine – makers of zinfandel. The previous weekend we had had some friends over for zinfandel and Jessi/Elvis commented on how zinfandel is 52% more likely to be punned upon. So when we saw the sign outside that said “zinners welcome”, we laughed and stepped in. This place was a bit odd too – because they are a new winery, they were selling futures rather than bottles. We managed to walk out with an older vintage of something we had tried. Perhaps it was the high amount of wine that I had just consumed, but the wine maker here reminded me of what my dad could have been, had fate taken a different turn. The guy that was pouring for us had the spunk and character of my dad 10 years ago – back when he was making plans for a vineyard and before the life had taken it’s turn.

M’s Birthday, Part 3

Hello Team!

After wino-tasty-happiness-time, we came back home and drank…. some wine. Not just any wine, my friends, tasty pink bubbles from our friends at Mumm in Napa Valley. Sparkling wines fall into two categories: masculine and feminine. Masculine sparklings are those bready, yeasty, kind of intense wines, and their Feminine counterparts are more floral, strawberry, fruity, happytime. This rosé was fabulous – like the androgynous men that live in my neighborhood.

I think that we made a bigger deal out of my birthday this year than I have since I turned 21. I opened a couple gifts; a *fantastic* handmade iphone case from Elizabeth, and an iPod from jon’s mom and dad. I’ve been looking at these iPod shuffles for some time, and was convinced that it would be a really odd decision to get something that looked so easy to lose or accidental throw in the washing machine. Since I started running again, it seems like such a spectacular idea. I’m really excited to start using it!

I love thematic things. Because we were going to an Italian wine class in the afternoon, I thought it would be an awesome opportunity to check out the new Italian restaurant on the hill that’s been getting such great reviews.

The chef is always on the “chef’s to watch” list, and their food usually gets great reviews.

I started with anchovies in a parsley sauce with egg yolks. I asked the server to choose a wine that would go well, and she gave me something that vaguely resembled a citrusy chardonnay. The acid cut through the subtle fishiness of the fish, but the creaminess paired with it perfectly. It rocked.

One of the things they do best is handmade pasta. I were so excited to try it, that I managed to get myself a pasta-maker for Christmas so we can try again later.

Whenever the tv’s on, i can’t look away. It doesn’t matter if it’s a good show, a bad show, or a commercial. I hate that.

As it turns out, I don’t have very much intelligent to say. I drank a *lot* that day. Had a lot of great food. Remembered that I have a fantastic life. All in all, a great birthday.

Sparkling Wine

I find myself really…. happy, lately.

Jon reminded me in an email today that I should be working to live, not living to work. I love that he reminds me of that, that he pauses his day to make sure that I remember to enjoy mine. I have a job that challenges me and that, on occasion, I find inspiring. Today was kind of break-through for me in a couple of ways. For the first time in a long time I didn’t come home exhausted and feeling overwhelmed. Enough Sesa’talk.

I’m currently at home, drinking a glass of sparkling wine and getting ready for a dinner-date with friends. Counting Crows is playing through my iPhone-cum-iPod. They’re a band that will forever remind me of the best times of high school; Of sitting in my car with Elizabeth and Jon in the 11th grade, outside of Alterra Coffee. Of laying in bed at night with Jamie, singing lyrics that I only kind of knew. Of a softer time, filled with ambitions and angsty poetry.

I don’t know. Maybe it’s just the half-glass of bubbles talking, but it all feels *right*. The World-At-Large may be in a state of disarray (and I certainly understand and appreciate that), but life right here, right in this moment, life is quite fantastic.

Andy & Nikki

I just realized that we haven’t talked at all about our time in Wisconsin this year.  I’ll post a few things over the next couple of days as a back-log of that. May as well start with the reason for the trip:

We came into town this summer to see Andy & Nikki’s get married:

Andy was in our wedding party, and jon was Andy’s best man. If boys ever talked about BFFs, I’m pretty sure that Andy and Jon would be right up there on each other’s lists. So you know, it’s really cool to see him happy. Nikki’s such a fantastic person, I’m really excited that we’ll get to be friends for lots of years.

We’re at this age where lots of people we know are starting to pair off and buy houses together, and it’s kind of a wake up call that we’re all growing up. I think one of the coolest things that is happening is that you grow your friendship circle by a bit. You know? Andy marries Nikki and now we can count nikki as friend that will be around until we’re all in walkers and the boys throw their backs out, trying to throw a disc golf. Isaiah marrying Corey – and, corey’s a fantastic chick that I would have never met otherwise. Chris married sarah, and now I have a sister-in-law that I like quite a bit and well, you get the picture. It’s exciting.

This picture was from their rehearsal dinner on Saturday night. Andy’s gramma hosted a picnic in her (incredible) back yard. This picture is so “milwaukee” to me.

Dinner with Cheryl & Michael

My sister text messaged me today. I’m with Aunt Debbie.

For those of you who have been following the Fetzich / Grimord drama over the past five years will understand why this message made my spit water out of my mouth and onto the person sitting next to me. It’s fair to say that Ashley has been cheated out of a functioning family. One with aunties, uncles and cousins that love her. She has… well, she has all of us instead. And I think she’s relatively well adjusted regardless.

Anyhow, Ashley’s only Stateside aunt kind of sucks. This is unfortunate for Ashely because I have another, much cooler aunt that Ashley knows very little about. So this is a small tribute to my way cooler aunt, Cheryl.

Given the choice, Mom would choose Cheryl as a sister over Debbie any day. Even though they haven’t talked in quite some time, I think she likes her way better. It’s unfortunate that families don’t really work that way.

Cheryl and Michael live down in L.A., so it’s kind of a rare treat to see them. Just as Jon was moving up to Bremerton, they bought a house in Olalla – a town about 40 minutes south of where jon works. Pretty crazy coincidence, but it results in me getting to have dinner with them a few times a year. This is the front of it – behind the house there are about two acres of grass, a pond, some deer, and more grass.

They live in what I can only describe as “the country”, even though I know it’s less than an hour away from a majour city. There’s more nature here than anywhere else that we go regularly. There’s nature. And despite it’s lack of wifi, it’s beautiful.

Michael, who I can only picture as an Los Angelite, looks surprisingly at home on a tractor with a baseball cap and a Miller Lite. It’s almost like he was born to not live in the city and he’s just been waiting for his golden opportunity to mow grass and buy rugged guy-toys.

Anyhow, the two of them have always been quick to offer support and advice, and to welcome jon into the family. They rock and I’m happy to have them in my life.