Over the winter, we've forged new relationships with dairies to procure fresh milk to make hand-crafted cheese, beekeepers for local honey, and Heritage Farm on San Juan Island for ethically raised veal and locally grown wheat.  We will feature their wheat in our upcoming Small Vineyards wine dinner as well as for Easter and Mother's Day Brunch.

The wine tasting is always the most fascinating.  Last weekend alone, we attended three wine tastings in Seattle: one focused on wine from Lyon France; the second, presented by the Walla Walla Wine Alliance, included 150 wines from 48 wineries; and the last by Small Vineyards, who  introduced their new Iberia collection from Spain and Portugal.  This month we have four more tasting events to attend including two that we are hosting at Coho.

We are really fortunate to have the opportunity to attend these tastings considering our geographic isolation.  It provides us the ability to keep abreast of the latest releases, vintage changes, and helps us educate and refine our palates.  We seek out interesting varietals, great value International producers and wines from small production lots.  Our favorite tastings are the private ones - where we can sit down with the winemaker and taste his or her wines one-on-one.  Two weeks ago, we had that opportunity with Casey Chellum from Seven Hills and Michael Sheridan from Northwest Totem Cellars.  That is why we enjoyed the Walla Walla tasting so much. Of course, it was on a much larger scale.  We met Annette, one of the 'girls,' from Bergevin Lane Winery and Shari Corkrum Derby from Spring Valley Vineyard.  Her grandfather Uriah is featured on their Merlot bottle, father Frederick on their Cabernet, and Nina, Frederick's wife, on the Syrah label.  I remember tasting the Uriah at another large industry tasting last year and fell in love with the wine.   At this tasting, the wine came alive as I was able to personally meet the family responsible for producing these wonderful wines.  It is the same feeling as when I am purchasing an antique.  I would much prefer to buy a piece directly from the owner than from a dealer.  I love hearing all the family stories.  It is the sense of provenance that I seek with wine - knowing where it is coming from and who made it, makes it so special. 

Small Vineyards has this same philosophy when choosing the winemakers they represent.  Since they source wine from Europe, they work to ensure that their customers know the provenance of the wines they carry.    Small Vineyards presents wine from small family-owned wineries that are biodynamically produced and hand-harvested.  After a tasting, you are intimately familiar with each winemaker.  I felt like I had personally met 24-year-old Martina Prieto Pariente.  I learned about the region in Spain in which she farms, and how she made the delightful Verdejo in my glass.  The wine had notes of melon and apricot, dried mint and a touch of minerality at the end.  As I sipped and spit, I thought of all the fabulous dishes we would create to pair with this wine.  We are pleased to have an opportunity to showcase an evening of Small Vineyards winemakers on April 9^th at Coho.   That evening, we will virtually visit Spain and Portugal and learn about the provenance of these wines paired with tasty tapas-style dishes.