Effective immediately and until further notice, we at Brian Carter Cellars are implementing the Enological Consumption Stimulus Plan (ECSP). Our new prices are as follows: ORIANA was $24, now $20, $17 for wine club. LE COURSIER was $30, now $25, $21.25 for wine club. SOLESCE was $58, now $50, $42.50 for wine club. ABRACADABRA  RED was $20, now $15 for everyone (no further wine club discounts).

For all our Southern Washington and Oregon friends, Mike will be at Cafe Al Dente in Vancouver, Washington on June 27th starting at 4:30p.m. Experience the marriage of food and wine. A unique five course dinner expertly paired with wines from award winning winemaker Brian Carter. Tickets are $65.00 per person and available at www.cafealdente.net/index.html

I first met Tedd Wildman some 24 years ago and he quickly became a great friend. At the time we were both without children and were footloose enough to spend time climbing together in the Cascades. Now it is family and work that come first, he with three children, me with two; he with a vineyard to manage, and me with a winery.  Our first professional arrangement was when I hired him as a viticultural consultant at Outlook vineyard where he advised Apex and me on managing the vineyard with particular emphasis on pest management which was his expertise.
 
Tedd left his consulting career when he entered into a partnership with Mark Wheeler to plant and grow wine grapes in what he called "The last great piece of vineyard property in Washington".  While that statement may have some poetic license, the site has no doubt proved itself to be great and the wines made from Tedd's vineyard don't lack in poetic expression either.  The Stone Tree Vineyard was planted in 2001 and I have been fortunate enough to have been walking the vines and buying the grapes since 2003.
 
The Stone Tree Vineyard was named for the petrified wood found on the site and has a prominent position high (between 950 and 1200 feet) on the Wahluke Slope.  The Wahluke Slope is home to several thousand acres of wine grapes and was awarded its own AVA status in 2006. The area, also sometimes referred to as Mattawa for the small town located on the western edge, has sandy loam soils with basalt rock prominent on the upper slopes.  The appellation is noteworthy for its consistent and gentle south facing slope running from the Saddle Mountains to the Columbia River and is known for warm dry weather, resulting in red wines with loads of fruit and soft ripe tannins.
 
The Stone Tree Vineyard contributes the largest percentage of any vineyard to the wines of Brian Carter Cellars; it also contributes more different varietals than any other vineyard. These varieties are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Tempranillo, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre.  All these grapes have over the vintages contributed to every Brian Carter blend except of course our white blend, Oriana. Of particular note is that Stone Tree was the sole source of Tempranillo for the Corrida blend for the first two vintages and continues to be by far the major source of this wonderful grape. While the winery has no plans to purchase additional varieties, Stone Tree does grow several others including Petite Syrah, Zinfandel, Primitivo and Barbara. Thanks to Tedd's meticulous care and the great terroir at Stone Tree the vineyard supplies many of the most prominent wineries in Washington State.
 
Cheers Tedd!! To many more vintages together and let's try to get out in the Cascades again sometime soon.