Hotel Vintage Park Seattle is offering Brian Carter Cellars wine club members who plan to attend Taste Washington March 27th and 28th Hotel Vintage Park their lowest rate, plus an an additional 20% discount! So don't drive home. Stay at the beautiful Hotel Vintage Park. Who knows...You may get lucky and get the Brian Carter Cellars room.

Each month we will feature a story on one of our restaurant or wine shop customers.  We intend to highlight our customers who have made it their mission to provide the very best dining or wine tasting experiences. We hope you will help support these businesses in their efforts to deliver great service and the very best in Washington foods and wines. 

Spazzo Italian Grill and Wine Bar, located in Redmond Town Center offers a taste of Italy in downtown Redmond.  Chef Kris Evans loves creating dishes that pair beautifully with local wines.
 
The menu canvas is painted with garlic, fresh herbs, cheeses, beef, pork and a wide variety of seafood and vegetables. The antipasti display showcases a wide variety of appetizers perfect for sharing. Fresh pastas and salads, slow-roasted meats and unique pizzas continue the experience leading up to the housemade desserts and espresso.
 
Of course no Italian experience would be complete without the wine! Spazzo Italian Grill & Wine Bar features a temperature controlled "cellar" stocked with an award-winning list. The wine list emphasizes the diversity of the regions, Super Tuscans, Amarone, Barbaresco, Chianti and Pinot Grigio. The wine bar will also feature signature cocktails and exciting happy hour early and late.
 
Throughout our wine list, you will see an * by the wines from our Woodinville neighbors. Woodinville is home to not only some of the "legends" of the industry, like Brian Carter, but also to many of the "rising stars".

Brian's history with the Solstice vineyard only goes back to 1988 when he remembers  his first time walking though Jim's then 7 year old Cabernet Sauvignon block high on the Rosa above Prosser.  "Between Hedges Cellars, Apex and Brian Carter Cellars we made a lot of great wine from that bloc," recounts Brian.  Today the Solstice Vineyard is Brian Carter Cellars second most purchased vineyard after Stone Tree.  A cooler site than most, Brian is enamored by the great fruit and balanced acidity the wines have. "They are some of my favorite wines in many of our blends, particularly the Oriana and Tuttorosso."  In addition to Viognier and Sangiovese, Brian also buys Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Riesling. "Now that Jim is growing Roussanne, on what looks to be a perfect site for it, we are going to add that variety to the list in 2010."

In addition to the 15 wine grape varieties at Solstice, Jim also grows Apples and Cherries. Members of the community since 1949, three generations of the Willard family have always been leaders in the Prosser Community where they are participants in a number of boards and clubs. Always innovators their dome shaped home located on the vineyard is one of the most unique in the state.

Ever wanted to know how wine makes it from the barrel to the bottle?  Now is your chance.  We are looking for volunteers to help with our spring bottling.  Join Brian, Robert, Mike, and the gang for a robust eight hour day of work on the bottling line.  And the best part is you get rewarded with wine! To schedule a volunteer slot for April 13th, 14th, 15th and/or 16th contact our Assistant Winemaker Robert Takahasi via email at Robert@briancartercellars.com

Barrel Sale

Getting ready to plant new bulbs or flowers? We have half barrels for sale ($30) at the Tasting Room in Woodinville. Full barrel are also available for sale ($50).  Give us a call to order.

Come see our currently featured watercolor artist Mary F. Lampe.

Artist Goals: My original goal was to learn to use the watercolor medium and paint handsome pictures. More recently, I am trying to create images that are expressive and uniquely mine. I started by using traditional methods with watercolors but became frustrated with the effects. I now use these beautiful paints to try to convey a mood or something that catches my eye like reflected light, a pattern, or an interesting scene. This takes me in directions that are non-traditional but so far, the watercolor police haven't caught up with me! I hope to keep on learning and always have FUN!

Show off your artistic side with all our Facebook Friends.  Simply post your favorite bottle shot of a Brian Carter Cellars wine from a family celebration, a recent trip or just an evening of fun. Your picture must feature a bottle of our wine and will be judged on quality, artistic merit and creativity.

Our first contestant and leading contender is from Rebecca and Jens.  This shot of our Corrida was taken on a beach north of Tulum in Mexico.  Great job!

The winner will receive their choice of six Brian Carter Cellars logo wine glasses or a logo baseball cap. So get creative, have fun and don't forget to  see all the other photos from other Fans of Brian Carter Cellars on Facebook.

Contest ends June 1st.