A couple of my unsuspecting new home owners received a few twigs this week. I’m sure it wasn’t the new house warming gift they were expecting. But once I explained that the twigs were cuttings of cool climate wine grape vines that could be grown in their very own new backyards I was let in the door.
If you live in the Puget Sound area and desire to grow nice wine grape in your backyard. Believe it or not there are a number of nice varietals that do well in our cooler Puget Sound climate. Siegerrebe is one of them. It is a hardy cold climate grape great for growing in the Pacific Northwest. It makes a fabulous white wine that pairs well with the local fare of seafood, oysters, apples and pears. A late harvest Siegerrebe can be comparable to a Sauternes(not kidding)…when done well! And if all fails these grapes make fabulous table grapes that are a real treat to eat off of the vine.
Directions for Cuttings to Vines:
10-14″ long (from planted vines)
3-4 buds
Soak for 2 weeks in water
Start in pots or raised bed
Water and fertilize heavily
Bottom heat for a couple of weeks to start roots
Plant with 2″-3″ of vine showing with one bud showing.
Here is a list of wine grapes that grow well in a cooler climate:
White ~ Chardonnay, Chasselas, Gewurztraminer, Madeleine Angevine, Madeleine Sylvaner, Melon de Bourgnone, Muller-Thurgau, Pinot Gris, Siegerrebe
Red ~ Leon Millot, Marechal Foch, Pinot Noir , Regents
To learn more about and to get hands on experience growing wine grapes attend Hollywood Hill Vineyards 2010 cool climate grape growing class coming up February 21st.
Siegerrebe pronounced “see-a-greb-bey” or “victory vine” is a white wine grape grown mostly in Germany with a few plantings in Washington State, England and B.C.’s North Okanagan County. Here are the tasting notes from Bainbridge Island Vineyards Siegerrebe wine ” our spicy Siegerrebe grapes have found their way into a wine not unlike an off-dry Gewürztraminer. Peppered with citrusy hints of grapefruit and tangerine”
Recent converts to this wine are demanding more. The first plantings of this grape in Washington State were on Bainbridge Island and the planting is small. You can find the wine at Bainbridge Island Vineyards or on-line at www.bainbridgevineyards.com. Look for upcoming Bainbridge Island pilgrimages to the Siegrebbe source coming to you soon!
Do you have a local Siegerrebe source?
Dey Farm ~ Woodinville
Certified homes under the Built Green, Energy Star or LEED for Homes programs proved to be a strong selling point for builders in the Seattle and King County real estate markets.
Starting in 2007 The NWMLS created search and listing criteria to help buyers search specifically for “green” certified homes at the same time the listing data has helped the burgeoning building industry of “green” be able to follow the trends. Ben Kaufman owner/broker for GreenWorks Realty and Development Group compiled the data for 2009. Here is what he found:
In Seattle, the data showed that certified homes sold for 8.5% more per square foot and sold in 22% less time than non-certified homes.
In King County, certified homes sold for $72 more per square foot and in 7% less time than other new construction homes.
In summary, the true “green” trend is viable and happening in Seattle and King County. It is being defined by smaller homes that offer higher quality finishes and more efficient design. Green homes were almost 600 square feet smaller than non-certified homes.
Are you interested in owning a “green” certified home? If so, here is your opportunity to work with the areas most talented, leading edge green builder designer and architect. YS Development and De Forest Architects have united their talents coming together for an exciting newly conceived pre-sale project in Woodinville. Become part of the team!
THE PROJECT:
Dey Farm – located in Hollywood Hill in the heart of Woodinville’s agricultural rich wine country.
Site – 1.34 acres
House – 3 bedroom, 3 1/2 bath, 2432 sq. feet
Guest House: 309 square feet
Decks – 806 square feet
two car garage and workshop
$1,125,000
Click here for Carmenere Part 1 a grape so great in my mind that it deserves a part 2.
My Carmenere fixation began with a visit to Village Wines where Patrick Merry of Merry Cellars was pouring his 2006 Seven Hills Vineyard Carmenere. At that very moment a believer was born in all things Carmenere.
The Seattle Wine Awards helped me add another fine find to the list and that was Tertulia Cellars their 2006 Phinney Hill Carmenere won a Gold….
And then wandering around Woodinville’s warehouse district I discovered Smasne Cellars 2006 Carmenere – Phinney Hill Vineyard, Horse Heaven Hills. bold, pepper, spicey really nice.
Well, back in the warehouse district, hearing rumors about Smasne Cellars 2007 yet to be released Carmenere. I made a visit to Smasne and Gard Vintners tasting room. Bart Fawbush, up and coming winemaker and owner of Bartholomew Winery was running the show for Smasne. He said I could look but not touch. Despite Bart’s artful Carmenere tasting dodge Bart admitted to being a fan and that he will be releasing his own 50% Cab and 50% Carmenere called Reciprocity sometime this year.
Leaving Smasne a bit dejected I went to JM Cellars. Without mentioning my previous close encounter with the grape of the moment John Bigelow offered a barrel tasting of their yet released Carmenere….it was excellent….(rumor is only 80 cases wine club member only wine).
So, my recommendation if you want to experience Carmenere at it’s finest make a visit to JM Cellars, go on the winery tour with John and ask about their Carmenere….soon. Another option would be to convince Smasne Cellars you are worthy of a pre-release tasting somehow, someway!
And then let me know what you think..capiche?
Wine and social media merged as Alexandria Nicole Cellars or @ancwine hosted a winery tweet up complete with food pairings from local restaurant Russell’s. A cast of wine twitter characters were invited including the organizers @WriteforWine and @Shona425 as well as other wine industry folks like @YasharSeattle a Sommelier, @Smalllot a wine distributor, @WABrokers a restaurant/wine bar broker, @incrediblechef a chef and a bunch of Washington wine fans @Nwwines @Seattlewinegal @DivaTink @winebeerWA @beanfair and me…@NwWineandRE.
Oh and @Smalllot’s dogs came along for the fun too….excuse them but a good tasting room has to have dogs roaming and mingling with the guests doing what they do best!
Wines served: ‘08 Sauvignon Blanc, ‘08 Shepards Mark (Rhone blend), ‘07 Merlot, ‘07 Syrah, ‘07 Quarry Butte (Red blend), ‘06 Cabernet Sauvignon, and a nice, nice, Syrah Ice Wine ’08
Thank you @ancwine, Russell’s and tasting room staff Kathy, Loren @eastsideupdates, Kate @Kiestlo!
As 2009 comes to an end and the New Year begins there is still time to get out and taste Washington wine. Here is a list of Woodinville Wineries their locations and tasting room hours. Who knows you may discover a wine that will make your New Years festivities really special or you may find a wine that will impress even your most ardent California wine drinking…. friends… WoodinvilleWinerys-Hours
Cheers!
Y-T-D statistics for Woodinville single family home sales shows the following data:
Median sales price: $614,711
Absorption Rate (supply vs. demand): 13.73 = Buyers Market
Average Days on Market: 211 days
Median price per sq. ft.: $209/sq. ft.
This data includes only single family homes. Condo’s and townhomes as well as new construction are not included in this data. For more information go to Altos Research.
If you are thinking about selling or buying a home in Woodinville and would like more information about the current real estate market email me at nwwineandre@gmail.com or call 206-200-9849.
If you are a Dwell Magazine fan you may have read the November issue about back to basic modern goes country and the article titled Farm Fresh. One of the featured back to basic homes is Yum, Yum Farm of Wellman, Iowa. The owners commissioned Seattle’s very own John Deforest to help them create a modern incarnation of a farm house.
Bringing a bit of Dwell to Woodinville’s Wine Country I can’t be more excited to announce a “pre-sale” release for a version of this Dwell inspired farm. The talented team of YS Development and Deforest Architects have joined forces to create a once in a lifetime opportunity featuring a custom architecturally designed modern incarnation of a “wine country farm house” much like Yum Yum farm but with a Northwest premier wine country address.
Site: 15526 NE 173rd Street, Hollywood Hill, Woodinville
Lot: 1.34 acres
House: 2,741 sq. ft., 3 bedroom, 3 bath, Garage + Guest unit
Price: $1,125,000
NWMLS #29162032
For more information about this home go to www.maureennolan.com or for a private tour contact me at 206-200-9849.
There were 12 NW wines included in this years Wine Spectators Top 100! And one of Washington’s very own came in at numero uno!
#1
95 $27 Columbia Crest! Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley Reserve 2005
# 18
95 $60 Argyle! Extended Tirage Willamette Valley 1999
#26
95 $65 Cayuse! Syrah Walla Walla Valley Cailloux Vineyard 2006
#33
92 $25 Novelty Hill! Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2006
#36
93 $29 Efeste! Syrah Red Mountain Ceidleigh 2006
#38
92 $28 Chateau Ste. Michelle! Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills Canoe Ridge Estate 2006
#60
93 $50 Spring Valley! Uriah Walla Walla Valley 2006
#66
90 $8 Barnard Griffin! Riesling Columbia Valley 2008
#72
91 $20 The Magnificent Wine Company! Syrah Columbia Valley 2006
#74
Hestia is a great small boutique winery in Woodinville that I discovered at the Seattle Wine Awards. Using grapes from Yakima Valley and Wahluke Slope appellations Hestia Cellars is dedicated to “producing wines of individual character, richness, balance, and longevity”.
But wait…more wines… Fall Release November 21-22. Well worth the visit!
**Seattle Wine Awarded a BRONZE to their 2006 Hestia Cellars Syrah, Dineen Vineyard
