William Pollard Jr | aka: Wild 4 Washington Wine

Pete Hedges, head winemaker for Hedges Family Estate on Red Mountain, was injured Monday morning while repairing the grape press. Pete, head winemaker for the family owned winery since 2002, fell while repairing a leak in the press, said Sarah Hedges Goedhart, assistant winemaker. He was taken to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland with a fractured vertebrae, punctured lung and broken ribs.   Our prayers are with you and your family Pete, get well. Update: Pete is doing well, two titanium rods and twelve pins have straightened his spine. Follow Hedges Winery news here: http://www.facebook.com/hedgesfamilyestate?v=wall .

An Evening at Col Solare Evening View of Col Solare What a lovely time we had last Saturday. My wife and I were at Col Solare for the release of their 2007 Col Solare red wine. We ran into friends and ended up staying longer than planned. A strong crowd attended the event, happy to sample the newly released 2007 vintage and to barrel sample the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon from Klipsun Vineyards. Indeed, there were many cheerful faces. I found the facility quite striking; along with the live music and plentiful finger food, everyone was kept entertained. Afternoon View of Col Solare from the Vineyards Col Solare Vineyards in Front of the Winery Since Col Solare is typically not open to the general public, this was one of the few opportunities to visit the facility and sample their wine. Interestingly, Col Solare is a collaboration between Tuscany’s Marchesi Antinori and Washington State’s Chateau Ste. Michelle. The winery is located on Red Mount...

Ready to get naked? Once again, my wife brought home a wine I would not have selected. A wine I’m going to buy again and again. The Ryan Patrick 2009 Naked Chardonnay was fermented in stainless tanks, not touched by oak and no malolactic fermentation. The first thing I noticed was the color, a pale yellow with a hint of green. Ah, this is a crisp, crisp wine, with a butter-lemon and honey finish. This wine has qualities reminiscent of a dry Sauvignon Blanc, a really good Sauvignon Blanc. I totally enjoyed this wine, tart, crisp, thoroughly refreshing. Amazing value at $6.99 at the local Costco. Go buy some. Winemaker for Ryan Patrick is Craig Mitrakul , who joined Ryan Patrick Vineyards as Head Winemaker in 2004. Craig also instructs winemaking classes at the Wenatchee Valley Community College. I’d sign up for those classes if I lived closer. Ryan Patrick Vineyards has two Estate Vineyards providing the majority of the grapes for their wines. The 20 acre Bishops Vineyard is...

Gordon Brothers Winery Tasting Last Saturday I'm making time today to share some photos from my visit to Gordon Brothers Winery last weekend. The winery is located off of the Pasco Kahlotus Highway, above the Snake River and Levy Park. It's about a ten minute drive from Pasco, Washington. While it's not the most exciting drive, it's worth the trip for the view and the fantastic wines. The Gordon Brothers winery is only open to the public twice a year, Crush weekend and in December ( contact the winery for date and time). Enjoy the view of the Snake River from the winery. Freshly harvested Syrah grapes. Katie Nelson pouring while Winemaker Tim Henley gives a tour in back. Winemaker Tim Henley gives a barrel tasting tour. The newly released 2005 Tradition - my favorite of the weekend. 2005 Tradition - Estate Grown : This is a just released vintage. It's been in the bottle for 1.5 years. As I've mentioned before, 2005 is one of my favorite years. This wine...

Taste at the Gordon Brothers Winery on CRUSH WEEKEND 2010  The winery is located above the Snake River near Pasco, Washington October 1 - 3, 2010 They're only open for tasting twice per year, so come on out and taste their new releases and take advantage of vintage closeout specials! If you are in the Tri-Cities, passing by on the way to or from Walla Walla, then this is your chance to sample some fantastic wines at the Gordon Brothers winery. Enjoy our great weather and the view from the winery. Friday, October 1: 2PM-6PM (sorry I'm late posting) Saturday, October 2: Noon-6PM Sunday, October 3: Noon-4PM Directions: From Pasco, take I-182 East towards Walla Walla. Take the Kahlotus Exit and head NE on the Pasco-Kahlotus highway 10.2 miles. Turn right on Levey Road. The winery is about a mile ahead on your left. http://www.gordonwines.com/ I'm going out there today, hope to see you. Cheers!

Wines not Reviewed now Reviewed Say goodbye to summer friends, it’s gone and now it’s time to welcome fall and cooler weather. Fall in the Columbia Valley is one of my favorite seasons. Crisp mornings, clear skies, warm comfortable clothing and the essential fruit hanging from the vines. While a cool season has delayed harvest by a couple of weeks, I'm told the fruit of the year is of excellent quality. Growers and wineries will be very busy for the next several months. Although I look forward to enjoying the 2010 vintage next year and in the years to come, today I’d like to reminisce about some of the wines I enjoyed this summer. I have not figured out a practical method for documenting all the wines I enjoy. In some instances, I am able to photograph the wine, but lack the time to properly review them. Facebook and twitter assist to partially “document” some of these wines. But, I’m often left with just the memory of the wine. Friends and sp...

A Red Mountain Winery There’s a winemaker with his own unique vision who’s moved to the Red Mountain AVA. His name is Bill Kimmerly, the winery is named Masquerade Wine Company. I had the pleasure of visiting with Bill last Friday afternoon. Some of you may remember Masquerade as a Prosser winery, but Masquerade Wine Company is now a Red Mountain winery. Bill and his wife Jennifer have had quite the adventure, moving from California to Washington State and from Prosser to Red Mountain. I found their story a fascinating read; Bill tells a good tale about their many adventures in the world of wine - it's on their website . Entry to Masquerade Wine Company. While Masquerade is not on the Red Mountain Sunset Road, they are just across the street and part of the Red Mountain AVA. You’ll pass them either entering or leaving the Red Mountain area. They have a newer, larger, better secured sign on their property – you can’t miss it. The road to the tasting room is framed by sagebru...