FoodTrek: Summer... is it Really You?

I've heard tales of  a season where a blazing orb sits in a blue sky, sometimes with a few wispy clouds, shining down warmth and light upon people as they come out from their polar-tec fleece underpinnings and rub the winter sleep from their eyes like little mole people. I think that's what's happening now in the Pacific Northwest, because this last weekend actually felt like that strange season some call "summer." To celebrate the change, Mr. Wasabi and I were very lucky to be invited to Woodinville's DeLille Cellars' Summer Solstice party, and sampling some of their brightly-flavored vintages in the glowing afternoon sun.

Cheers to DeLille's Liquid Sunshine ! - Photo by Wasabi Prime

DeLille must truly be blessed by the Powers That Be, as the day couldn't have been more perfect to have an outdoor party, especially compared to the RIDICULOUS weather that had been drowning Western Washington the week before. I know I've said I manage the grey rainy days just fine with baked goods and stacks of books, but when you do get a truly beautiful day, you really do comprehend the comparision between amazing and rainy-awful-as-hell, and you totally check the "amazing" box, if given the choice.

The dawn of a new rose - Photos by Wasabi Prime

Maybe the weekend weather was blessed by the vino powers of Greek god Dionysus, as DeLille's Summer Solstice party was celebrating their Doyenne 2009 Rosé, which was the perfect pink hue of summertime delight. After going from the chilly winter months of heavier red wines, the fruity blush of a nice rosé, along with samplings of their 2008 Chaleur Estate Blanc, were nice, bright flavors to match the atmosphere. There were two reds, their Doyenne 2007 Aix and their 2007 Harrison Hill. Their Aix is a longtime fan favorite, very much in-tune with Northwest sensibilities towards flavorful reds, with a mix of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Mourvedré grapes, but I found that I enjoyed the lighter Harrison Hill, with a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, given the day's sunny disposition. It's funny how surroundings can totally affect one's taste for an afternoon. I've always liked their Aix and will continue to do so for cozy nights with a touch of frost. Having the Harrison Hill, I think that would be the perfect red wine to enjoy on a summer day, without it feeling too heavy.

Cheers to summer grill marks! Photos by Wasabi Prime

To go along with the wine samplings, they put together a nice, light fare of grilled skewers, orzo and cole slaw -- a bit like a fancy barbecue. As always, their event sold out and it was a big crowd of people, so we took to exploring the winery grounds a bit to find some pretty spots to enjoy our lunch and wine. There's quite a few hidden treasure-like spots outside, past the field where sheep were grazing, and beyond the little pond. We took some time to soak up the day's dose of vitamin D -- a light breeze made it perfect to just stand out in their grassy fields and literally feel like your batteries were recharging. Wandering over to the fence, Mr. Wasabi and I observed a goat and some freshly-shorn sheep and had silly thoughts like, do they get sunburned?

Walking along a little gravel trail in back of the pond, there were benches near shady spots and wine barrels set up like side tables, perfect to perch a wine glass and a plate of food. I spied an old chair made into an adorable planter, and a pretty little stream running through some ferns and trees. I think it needs to be noted that I'm glad I wore low-heeled wedges, which lent themselves well towards exploring their great outdoors. If you get a chance to visit DeLille for one of their wine events, defnitely go for flat sandals, so you can fearlessly explore the grounds while balancing a plate of food and a glass of wine.

The hidden natural gems of DeLille - Photos by Wasabi Prime

Much Wasabi Thanks to DeLille Cellars for inviting us to the Summer Solstice event. Keep an eye on their Events page for upcoming celebrations at their winery in Woodinville -- their next big event is a celebration of Bastille Day on July 11 with multiple local chefs. Oui, oui!

FoodTrek: Wasabi Woodinville Wine Woman at DeLille Cellars

I felt like a Pemco Northwest Profile character this weekend, wine tasting around Woodinville with Auntie S. visiting from Northern California. Sadly, she missed out on the Big Finish, having to fly back on Sunday, but Mr. Wasabi and I were lucky to be invited to DeLILLE Cellars' Spring Barrel Tasting on April 25th, aka, the birthing day of Wasabimus Prime. The day was blessed with lovely wines, delicious eats care of Skillet Street Food, live music, and an amazingly sunny day. Walla Walla Wine Wine Woman Woman, we salute you!

Wearing the Northwest Profile badge of honor proudly at DeLILLE Cellars - Photo by Wasabi Prime

I think the first thing people say when they come to DeLILLE is, Ye gods, how did I ever miss this place - it's freakin' amazing! Well, maybe they don't say exactly that, but you get the idea. The main DeLILLE Cellars' Chateau is along Route 202/Woodinville Redmond Road NE, nestled atop a woodsy picturesque hill, and they have a new tasting room at the nearby Carriage House, which recently opened last fall and makes their wines available to the public for tasting. For DeLILLE events, the Chateau is used and it's a beautiful space. For their seasonal releases, they have tasting bars inside and out, and for this perfect spring day, they had tables set up under a tent where a live band played, people sat on the sunny steps or found a shady spot by a little fish pond. It's such a pretty location -- I sometimes want to keep it to myself and not tell anyone, so that it stays a little hidden Northwest gem, but it's just too lovely a location, the wines are tasty, and let's face it -- I stink at keeping a secret. So consider this the wine-soaked cat being let out of the bag. And stumbling.

The most-awesome silver bullet of Skillet Street Food (bacon jam love!) was there to provide guests with picnic-friendly pulled pork sandwiches with a tangy apple slaw on a grilled bun and crispy fries, or a vegetarian spring risotto. It was too nice not to eat outside, so we grabbed a spot on a park bench by a little fish pond, sat our glasses on a wine barrel, and had our meal al fresco, with a glass of vino. If I wasn't totally om-nomming to my heart's content, it would have been a lovely photo, so just take my Wasabi Word for it.

Skillet Street, live music, tasty wine - spring is HERE! - Photos by Wasabi Prime

I was lucky to chat with winemaker Chris Peterson for a bit, and he explained the process behind DeLILLE wines.Working with a profile of elegant, refined and classic tastes, they produce the Bordeaux styles that include their Chaleur Estate (red and white), and their very popular D2 full of Merlot flavor, as well as their Doyenne wines that include a Rhone-styled Syrah and their Aix, a Provence-style red that was sampled at the event. Their Chaleur Estate blends are their flagship wines, and both their Blanc and Rouge were available for tasting -- I personally enjoyed the 2008 Chaleur Estate Blanc, which had a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grapes. It had a dry sweetness that made it very enjoyable on its own, but could easily be paired with a fresh spring salad. One of the popular favorites has always been the D2, with a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot grapes, giving it a really rich flavor that Chris aptly described as, "voluptuous," and "silky on the palette" -- this is exactly why people love this wine with such a great mouth feel, and why it's been a favorite. And this is also why we have a bottle sitting in our humble little wine collection at home.

The DeLILLE wines represent a harmony of tastes with careful attention to the combination of grapes and the knowledgeable palettes of experts to classify flavors to match their time-tested wines. Each wine truly has its own profile, like a character in a book, and winemakers like Chris Peterson are given the opportunity to sort the flavors of the many vineyards to ensure the personalities of each wine comes through. I asked about DeLILLE's sustainable practices, and along with working towards LIVE (Low Input Viticulture and Enology) certification, they do other practices outside of typical certification like encouraging biodiversity in the plants and animals who can naturally prevent imbalances and keep pests under control, as well as "soft" farming techniques that encourage the use of environmentally friendly pesticides, like organic-certified oils. At the end of the day, responsible and careful practices in both growing the grapes and making wine is mutually beneficial to both the quality of the wine and the soil and plants that produce its rare flavor.

The tasting events at DeLILLE are fun. It's as simple as that. They have seasonal release events from February thru August, so head to their Events page to see when the next one is. Even in the dead of winter, they'll hold toasty-warm release events and you feel lucky to be living in the Pacific Northwest, sipping wine and just enjoying life. Granted, maybe it was the birthday-high of getting old(er), but this made for a super-duper spring day -- and to top it all off, we saw Mr. and Mrs. Salty Seattle at the event as well! I love foodie blogger Salty Seattle to bits -- she's such a doll and she was so sweet to leave me a Happy Birthday singing message on my phone when I had to go home and rest like an ol' lady because of a pulled back muscle. Yes, getting old kinda stinks, but a day of wine, song, and pulled pork sammiches make for a pretty nice day.

Sshhh... it's the best-kept Pac NW secret! - Photos by Wasabi Prime

Wasabi Cheers to DeLILLE Cellars for the invitation to enjoy this event in the lovely springtime sun, as well as to Chris Peterson for letting me bend his hear for a bit to chat wine and the love of grapes.