Yes, I know everywhere you look you can find wine reviews, where to go and what to drink, but my purpose is to focus in Clark County and what we have here in our own backyard. Vancouver, endearingly referred to by Portlanders as Vantucky, gets no credit for what we have. It's great that we can visit upwards to fifty wineries within driving distance of our homes and have all the fine restaurants in Portland to patronize but let's check out the 'Couv. There are a lot of opportunities to taste fine wines right here in our own community.
This weekend I went to Tommy O's, a locally owned Hawaiian bistro and enjoyed a bottle of Cline Zinfandel from Sonoma County. Attached to the restaurant is a lounge that provides a relaxing combination of elegance and simplicity. I spoke with the owner, Tommy Owens, and asked him why he chose to open his restaurant in Vancouver versus Portland. His answer suits the purpose of this blog, he wanted to stay on this side of the river. He also noted that he found his niche here in Vancouver. Tommy O's is a nice way to begin our tour of Clark County tastings. It's a locally owned bistro that promotes our community and provides a refined atmosphere right in the 'Couv.
Just my thoughts
Wine Tasting
Intro
WHAT IS THE IDEAL TEMPERATURE FOR WINE?
Whites: chilled (45-55 degrees F) for a few hours in the refrigerator.Reds: slightly cooler than room temperature (about 65 degrees); Younger fruity reds benefit from chilling. Sparkling Wine: thoroughly chilled; refrigerate several hours or the night before serving.Dessert Wine: room temperature.
Chilling tones down the sweetness of wine. If a red wine becomes too warm, it may lose some of its fruity flavor.
Whites: chilled (45-55 degrees F) for a few hours in the refrigerator.Reds: slightly cooler than room temperature (about 65 degrees); Younger fruity reds benefit from chilling. Sparkling Wine: thoroughly chilled; refrigerate several hours or the night before serving.Dessert Wine: room temperature.
Chilling tones down the sweetness of wine. If a red wine becomes too warm, it may lose some of its fruity flavor.
- 1 grape cluster = 1 glass
- 75 grapes = 1 cluster
- 4 clusters = 1 bottle
- 40 clusters = 1 vine
- 1 vine = 10 bottles
- 1200 clusters = 1 barrel
- 1 barrel = 60 gallons
- 60 gallons = 25 cases
- 30 vines = 1 barrel
- 400 vines = 1 acre
- 1 acre = 5 tons
- 5 tons = 332 cases
The bill for a celebration party for the 55 drafters of the US Constitution was for 54 bottles of Madeira, 60 bottles of claret, 8 bottles of whiskey, 22 bottles of port, 8 bottles of hard cider, 12 beers and seven bowls of alcohol punch large enough that "ducks could swim in them."
Why swirl the wine glass? Why smell the wine? Find out here!
Find Out About Aroma's and the Wine Tasting Wheel
REGULAR WINE TASTINGS
- K'SYRAH, tastings and dinner every Friday, 6-8
- BETHANY VINEYARDS, tasting room open Saturdays 11-6
- RUSTY GRAPE VINEYARD, tasting room open Fridays 4:40-8, Sat. 12-8, By appt. Sundays
- VANCOUVER GIFT AND WINE CELLAR, wine tasting on Fridays, 6-8 pm
- DISCOUNT TOBACCO AND BEVERAGE wine tasting on select Fridays, next wine tasting: Date to follow
- CAFE AL DENTE Wine Tasting each Wednesday
- SALUT! Wine Tasting each Friday at both locations, 5-8 pm
Wine Shops in Clark County
Clark County Wineries
Local Restaurants and Bars Featuring Fine Wines
MORE!!
- Sandhill Winery, LaCenter WA
- Wine Alliance of Clark County
- Discount Tobacco and Beverage
GRAPE VARIETALS AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS:
SAUVIGNONN BLANC - Sauvignon Blanc is a white wine best known for its grassy, herbal flavors. Sauvignon Blanc is also called Fume Blanc, and is a popular choice for fish and shellfish dishes.
PINOT GRIS (PINOT GRIGIO) - The low acidity of this white varietal helps produce rich, lightly perfumed wines that are often more colorful than other whites. The best ones have pear and spice-cake flavors.
CHARDONNAY - Chardonnay is a white wine which can range from clean and crisp with a hint of varietal flavor to rich and complex oak-aged wines. Chardonnay typically balances fruit, acidity and texture. This varietal goes well with everything from fish and poultry to cheeses, spicy foods and nut sauces.
MUSCAT - The white Muscat grape produces spicy, floral wines that often do something most other wines don't: they actually taste like grapes. Muscats can range from very dry and fresh to sweet and syrupy. This varietal is often served with puddings and chocolate desserts.
GEWURZTRAMINER - Gewurztraminer is a white wine that produces distinctive wines rich in spicy aromas and full flavors, ranging from dry to sweet. Smells and flavors of litchi nuts, gingerbread, vanilla, grapefruit, and honeysuckle come out of this varietal. It is often a popular choice for Asian cuisines and pork-based sausages.
RIESLING - Rieslings are white wines known for their floral perfume. Depending on where they're made, they can be crisp and bone-dry, full-bodied and spicy or luscious and sweet. The flavor is often of peaches, apricots, honey, and apples and pairs well with duck, pork, and roast vegetables.
CHAMPAGNE/SPARKLING WINE - These wines are made effervescent in the wine-making process. Champagnes and sparkling wines range in style from very dry (Natural), dry (brut) and slightly sweet (extra Dry) to sweet (sec and Demi-Sec). Many sparkling wines are also identified as Blanc de Blancs (wines made from white grapes) or Blanc de Noirs (wines produced from red grapes).
PINOT NOIR - Pinot Noir is a red wine of light to medium body and delicate, smooth, rich complexity with earthy aromas. They are less tannic than a cabernet sauvignon or a merlot. Pinot Noirs exude the flavor of baked cherries, plums, mushrooms, cedar, cigars, and chocolate.
ZINFANDEL – Primarily thought of as a Californian varietal (though recently proven to have originated from vineyards in Croatia), Zinfandel is a red wine with light to full body and berry-like or spicy flavors. The Zinfandel grape is also widely used in the popular off-dry blush wine known as White Zinfandel. The Red Zinfandel pairs well with moderately spicy meat dishes and casseroles.
SYRAH (SHIRAZ) - Syrah can produce monumental red wines with strong tannins and complex combinations of flavors including berry, plum and smoke. It's known as Shiraz mainly in Australia and South Africa.
PETITE SIRAH - Petite Sirahs are red wines with firm, robust tannic tastes, often with peppery flavors. Petite Sirahs may complement meals with rich meats.
MERLOT - Merlot is a red wine with medium to full body and herbaceous flavors. Merlot is typically softer in taste than Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s flavors and aromas include blackberry, baked cherries, plums, chocolate, and mocha.
Cabernet Sauvignon - Cabernet Sauvignon is a red wine known for its depth of flavor, aroma and ability to age. It is full-bodied and intense, with cherry- currant and sometimes herbal flavors. Cabernet Sauvignon may have noticeable tannins.
