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4th Annual Rosé Party 2016

Posted on August 12, 2016 | Leave a comment

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Kevin and I spent the week of July 30th keeping very busy, finalizing our RSVP list, buying and prepping foods and preparing the house for over 40 people. With a collection of Woodinville Rosé Wines and a guest list including friends and neighbors, we go all out for this big party every year. We prepare all of the food ourselves and have a great time picking up Rosé wines as they are released every year.

(Photos: courtesy of Jeff Lantz Images and @tastingfoodwine)

 

 

This year, we included a “secret” imposter wine to our blind tasting. Every year, guests attempt to match the wines with the tasting notes provided. This year we had around 3 people who guessed them all right!

 

It was a great night and we look forward to seeing everyone next year at our 5th Annual!

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Valentines Day just got a whole lotta Rosé

Posted on February 14, 2016 | Leave a comment

Rose 2015 party

Click this link to go directly to the 2016 Valentines Day Events in Woodinville Wine Country

Rosé wine, whether its in the middle of February on a rainy day in Woodinville, or a hot sunny day in the park at the Celebrate Woodinville Festival, Rosé wine is one of our favorites. There is something about the wine that is exciting to me, because it has such a range of dryness and sweetness, depending on the grapes used and each winemakers creation.

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Photo courtesy of Gorman Winery Facebook

 

This weekend is Valentines Day, the start of an exciting time for Kevin and I in Woodinville. We head out collecting Rosé wines each year, amassing a large collection of wines from Woodinville wine makers. Whether its a seafood dinner on a Tuesday, or a romantic dinner at the LeBrendt Bistro, or our 4th annual Rosé Roundup party in August, a Rosé wine is great at anytime! Get out for a visit to Woodinville Wine Country, there is so much to see!

Here is a list of Valentines Day Events!

Cheers!

Julia & Kevin @tastingfoodwine

 

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Posted in rose wine, Wa Wine, Wine, Woodinville, woodinville wine country

Posted on March 21, 2015 | Leave a comment

It is Halibut season and WA Wine month. Tonight at home (aka “Café LeBrendt”) Kevin cooked up fresh blackened Halibut resting in a bed of spicy fruit salsa puree and topped with a mango papaya salsa. The fish was so fresh, the spices of the blackened seasoning (from World Spice Market in Seattle) went really great with the fruits and paired well with a beautiful Washington Rosé.

Spring is upon us, and there is no better way to start off spring than with a vertical of Long Shadows Julia’s Dazzle Rosé of Pinot Gris, and a great reason to open up two bottles.

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At first glance you notice the color between the two wines, the 2013 has a light copper color compared to the 2014 with a light rose petal hue. Tasting both vintages, the 2013, I get notes of raspberries, strawberries and a hint of sweetness in the finish. The 2014, I get vibrant kiwi and melon notes and it finishes with a slight effervescent. They were both a great accompaniment to the halibut, cooling the palate from the heat of the spiciness of the dish.

Spring has sprung, which means more Rosé releases, and Julia and I heading out to cover ground here in Woodinville, visiting many wineries to collect all of the Rosé wines for our 3rd Annual Rosé party here at our home this summer. We are excited about this year’s party, as we will have music by Larry Murante. Along with the wines, of course, I cook up spectacular bites, including a salmon and chicken taco bar.

Need suggestions for a great Rosé? Afraid of pink wine? Here are some great ones to try: A Maurice Cellars, Longshadows Vintners, Gramercy Cellars, Charles Smith (Walla Walla wineries). Woodinville: Patterson Cellars, Gorman Winery, Page Cellars, Woodinville Cellars, and Lauren Ashton Cellars Rosé release event is Saturday the 4th of April. I am lucky to have had an early preview of LA Rosé recently and I must say, it’s fantastic once again this year. So, go out and get your Rosé on!

and as Charles Smith says “Yes, you can drink pink wine and be a badass!”

Cheers!

– Kevin

@tastingfoodwine

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Get your crush on in Woodinville Wine Country!

Posted on September 21, 2014 | Leave a comment

Now’s the time to watch or give a helping hand during one of the most exciting times in here in Woodinville, WA.

Fruit is arriving daily; I wish we could take a two month sabbatical just to volunteer at the wineries! It is so fascinating, the entire process from bud breaks to harvest.  Part of crush time is bottling the wines if they are ready to make way for the fresh grapes and a new vintage. A couple of weeks ago, we helped bottle 120 cases of Syrah for Patterson Cellars.

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(Bottling Syrah with John Patterson)        (Kevin putting Foils on bottles)     (Foiling “machine” one bottle at a time)          (Papa Patterson labeling)

Last weekend, we wandered the warehouse district to see the crush action, Patterson just got some brand new tanks and if you are a wine geek this is super cool to watch them try to get these mammoth tanks in place.

        Johns New Tanks

 

The action in the tasting room at Patterson was bustling; Patterson just released their 2012 Tempranillo, which is one of my favorites. Their Forbidden White is just fantastic as an everyday white, maybe that’s why they named it “forbidden”. After Patterson Cellars,

 

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                (Kevin and Julia and the new tanks)  

We crossed the lot to see Sparkman Cellars; I was on the lookout for Thanksgiving wines and picked up a Pinot Noir and Birdie Riesling. The Pinot Noir by Sparkman Cellars is a must this year.

Patterson Release

While sipping on glass of the new Sparkman Darkman Syrah, we snuck out back to see Jerry and crew from Guardian Cellars working crush out back, destemming the grapes. These three guys made it look like child’s play! After watching the crush action, a quick sneak into the tasting room at Guardian to grab a bottle of Angel to have with dinner, one of the best Sauvignon Blanc’s out there.

 

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(This process takes a human touch)                                    (up they go to get destemmed)          

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(Jerry, Guardians wine maker in crush action)                                                                                                                                

As we headed out to Redmond to pick up some fresh caught Salmon at a friend’s home, we had to land a quick stop at the Funai Farm, which has been serving the valley since the 1930’s. We picked up vegetables for dinner; kale, chard, carrots, beets and plums. Harvey took us down to the field and pulled a couple of ears of corn that we chomped right into, they were so sweet, like fruit.

Funai    Funai (2)    Funai (1)

Stop by the Funai Farm when you see that ladder out with the “white corn” sign on it, they are located at 14209 Woodinville – Redmond Rd NE, right next to Woodinville Lavender. Stop in at Woodinville Lavender for their fantastic lavender products and even lavender ice cream!

If you love wine and food, you must make a stop in Woodinville! We are so blessed to live here and make sure you sign up for volunteering at one of your favorite wineries!


LogoColorNoText           – Cheers! Kevin Brendt @tastingfoodwine

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