Wine and cheese are ageless companions, like aspirin and aches, or June and moon, or good people and noble ventures.
M. F. K. Fisher

Looking for a reason to gather your friends for a unique evening? What about an evening of wine and cheese tasting?

Our co-host, Jim

Friends Jim and Joyce recently hosted an educational, tasty and increasingly jovial evening that featured nine wines paired with matching cheeses. Thank you to Jim, Joyce and all the other participants! Here are some tips gleaned from the party:

1. Start with a wine steward. Jim and Joyce worked with Ernie, the sommelier at their neighborhood Fred Meyer, to choose the four whites and five red wines featured for the evening.

2. Coordinate with a cheese specialist. After choosing the wines, our hosts worked with Berry of Trader Joe’s in Vancouver to pick the cheeses that best matched the wines.

3. Create a fact sheet about each wine. Jim shared information about each wine including the winery location, vintage and a description of the wine. Fact sheets were on the table and available for guests to take home.

Fact sheet for the Argentinian red

4. Label the cheeses. Each cheese was tagged by type with its matching wine.

Asiago with rosemary - paired with the Chardonnays

5. Provide wine glass labels. I, for one, always lose my wine glass. No one could do that with Joyce’s special paper wine glass labels, which are available online at Wine Compliments No more misplaced wine glasses!

Where is MY glass? No more lost glasses with these paper labels

6. Start with the whites. (Our hosts had a light white wine, Oisly-Thésée Les Gourmets 2009 Sauvignon, available to all upon arrival. This gave us something to drink while waiting for all the participants to arrive.) You want to go from dry to sweet whites, and light to full-bodied reds. Provide new glasses when switching from whites to reds.

Serving the cheese

7. Provide a pitcher of water and a dump bucket. The water will allow tasters to rinse glasses between tastes. The dump bucket? It speaks for itself but, frankly, I couldn’t bring myself to toss out good wine and it was ALL good wine!

8. Serve more food after the tasting. To avoid sending guests who have been consuming fabulous wines out into the driving public, serve food, coffee and conversation AFTER the tasting. Our hosts served us wonderful quiches, salads and coffee.

Salad and quiche

Perfect post-tasting dinner

What wines did we taste? Here is the delectable list in serving order:

Mezzacorona (Italy) 2009 Pinot Grigio

Vino Noceto (California) 2010 Pinot Grigio (award-winning, fruity, sweet, my favorite white)

Peachy Canyon Winery (California) 2008 Zinfandel

Blackstone Winery (California) 2008 Zinfandel

Davis Bynum Winery (California) 2006 Chardonnay

Gordon Brothers 2006 (Washington State) Chardonnay

Don Tiburcio Bodega Benegas Winery (Argentina) 2007 Red Wine

Estancia Winery (California) 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon

Jones of Washington Estate Vineyard (Washington State) 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon

The final, nearly empty line up

The best wine? Personally, I would move to Argentina for Malbecs so I loved the red wine of Don Tiburcio Bodega Benegas Winery. All the wines were excellent. This is the one of the group that I would take to my final picnic.

I confess. After about the fifth wine, I lost track of the cheeses. Best idea: pick your wines and then talk to your local cheese buyer for pairing suggestions. Joyce and Jim wisely used their consultant at Trader Joe’s.

Want to do this party on a budget? To preserve your checking account, create the wine list and then assign a bottle to each guest to bring. Ask each person to put together the fact sheet and give a brief lecture on the wine. This WILL generate a FUN evening!

A votre sante!

Spring is kicking in with LOTS of activities and events in Southwest Washington. Here are a few ideas to get you moving:

March 18-April 24 Spring break is FIVE weeks long at the World Kite Museum in Long Beach. Make a kite, get coupons for local businesses at a museum treasure hunt, participate in themed weekends at the Spring Fling.

April 1-3 – Passport Weekend to a World of Wines in 40 Miles -Start the month with a trip to Columbia Gorge wineries with this special event, which takes place on both sides of the river. Details here on where to purchase your $15 passport, which will give you special offers including lodging deals.

April 1 – First Fridays. Both Vancouver and Camas have first Friday events. Enjoy art, meet the artists, have dinner and celebrate with friends. Camas even has “Will you pick the golden egg?” contest happening at various shops. Details are at Vancouver Art Walk and Camas First Friday.

April 2 – 30 – Woodland Tulip Festival No need to travel to The Netherlands to touch tulips. Tour the bulb fields and display gardens of Holland America Bulb Farms. This annual event includes crafts, music, children’s activities and more. Check here for details.

April 4 – Guitarist Greta Pedersen performs a matinee concert at the Columbia Theatre in Longview as part of the Rainy Months Series. Information and tickets are available here.

April 9 – International Discovery Walk Festival This beloved event attracts walkers from all over the world to Vancouver. It is such a delight to see the flags of the countries represented. Biking and swim events are offered, too. Admission charge. Go to the Festival Web site for more information.

April 16-May 8 – Lilac Days Festival We have plant hybridizer Hulda Klager (plus MANY volunteers) to thank for this fragrant festival, which is held on the Klager homestead in Woodland each year. All things lilac are offered at a special store (including lilac starts) and Hulda’s home is open for tours. The Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens are located at 115 S. Pekin Road, near the Holland America bulb fields. Admission. Click here for more details.

April 23 – Easter Tea Tour the historic house at the Pomeroy Living History Farm and enjoy tea with scones, sandwiches and desserts. Admission. Visit the Pomeroy Web site for more information.

April 27 – What do I do now? A financial summit for women will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Red Cross Building at the Fort Vancouver National Site. Financial writer (www.sixtyandsingle.com) Julia Anderson will moderate a panel of experts. Admission. Details and tickets are available here.

There is so much to do this month. See you out there in Southwest Washington!

It’s February, and, although this winter has been mild and fairly dry, now is when the rainy days start to get to you. So get out there! Here are some events to keep you moving toward spring:

February 3 Chinese New Year! Celebrate at your favorite Chinese restaurant. We’ve invited 20 neighbors for a New Year’s dinner at a local buffet. It’s an EASY way to entertain and celebrate the holidays at the same time. The holiday on the full month 15 days later so you have plenty of time to plan a party. This is the Year of the Rabbit. Gung hay fat choy!

February 5 - Don’t miss the International Guitar Night Concert at the historic Columbia Theatre in Longview. The four world renowned guitarists are from England, Italy, Brazil and the US. Tickets are available through the Columbia Theatre.

February 12-13 - Looking for a romantic event? Head for the Toast to Passion Weekend at the Maryhill Winery. View a photography and art show while tasting the fine wines of the 2009 Washington State Winery of the Year.

February 18-19 – Have the quintessential Pacific Northwest experience by clamming on the Long Beach Peninsula. Dates are always tentative until last minute testing is conducted. ZEST had a great time clamming at Ocean Park last year. Get out your bucket and clam gun!

March 1 – Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea and Stones into Schools, comes to Longview for a lecture scheduled by the Lower Columbia Community Action Program. No matter where you live, Greg’s inspiring story is worth the drive. Details and tickets here.

February is such a short month. Don’t let it slip by without getting out in the great Southwest Washington!

We have way too much stuff at our house. When we joke about moving to a boat (which won’t happen but we can joke about it, anyway), we ask “Will it fit on the boat?” The piano? No. More clothes? No. More furniture? No. New experiences? YES!

My favorite gifts are experiences — presents that get me moving, seeking, learning, growing or relaxing. The memories of those experiences WILL fit on the boat.

Here is a short but fun list of experiences (with gift certificates available) in Southwest Washington (of course!) that you can give this holiday season, or year round, to friends, family or to yourself:

Pacific County
Give a gift certificate to one of my favorite places, Shakti Cove Cottages. These cute little cabins are within walking distance of the beach at Ocean Park, include kitchens and are near some of the best areas of the Long Beach Peninsula including Oysterville and Nahcotta.

Entrance to Shakti Cove Cottages

Consider including a gift certificate to Nanci and Jimella’s Klipsan Market Café just down the road. Remember the famous and fabulous Ark restaurant? That was Nancy and Jimella’s before they sold it. Their tradition of wonderful food continues in Klipsan Beach. Call 360.665.4847 for details.

Clark County
The beautifully restored Camas Hotel offers a relaxing getaway that is surrounded by shops and restaurants including Oliver’s at the hotel. Call for details and reservations.

The charming Camas Hotel

How about a gift certificate to Magenta Theater? Their 2011 plays include classics Life with Father and You Can’t Take it With You. It’s a sweet deal to have dinner in one of the many restaurants in downtown Vancouver and then stroll down to Magenta’s space on Main Street, near 6th.

Cowlitz County
Speaking of theater, do not overlook the recently restored Columbia Theatre in downtown Longview. Upcoming events include ‘S Wonderful, The Fab Four, 39 Steps (4 actors doing 150 characters!) and more including performances for children. Call for a gift certificate!

The Columbia Theatre

What about a pre-show dinner? Consider a gift certificate to JT’s Steak & Fish House, which comes highly recommended. Call 360-577-0717 for a gift certificate.

Skamania County
A night or two in the beautiful Skamania Lodge would make anyone happy. You could include a gift certificate dinner or brunch at the lodge or Big River Grill in downtown Stevenson.

The view from Skamania Lodge

Dinner at the Big River Grill

Klickitat County
Maryhill Winery offers a beautiful tasting room overlooking the Columbia River. A gift certificate to the winery can be used on their wines and items in the retail store. It’s a wonderful drive out to the winery and can easily include the remarkable Maryhill Museum.

The stunning terrace at Maryhill Winery

One more suggestion
Okay, after purchasing “experiences” for your loved ones, you may still feel the need a gift in hand to fill a stocking or to wrap for under the tree. Stop by or shop online at the Fort Vancouver Bookstore for the 2010 ornament – Fort Vancouver Village by Paul Lanquist. You’ll find lots of other gift ideas related to Southwest Washington, too.

The Fort Vancouver Village 2010 Ornament

And please HAVE A HAPPY HOLIDAY AND PEACEFUL AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!

By Shawna Burkholder
Fall is the perfect time to wine tour. You no longer have to travel an hour or more to find “wine country.” In Clark County alone there are now nine wineries available for tastings. I heartily encourage you to pick a weekend this fall to explore and taste the literal fruits of our talented vintners.

Linda pours wine for a tasting at East Fork Cellars

To get the most enjoyment out of your trip follow these quick tips…

1 – Designate a Driver. This should go without saying…drinking and driving don’t mix. I usually volunteer, as I’m a “lightweight” when it comes to alcohol. However, I also enjoy wine so I allow myself to sip a wine that is particularly good rather than tasting from a full flight. I am also the default “buyer” as I have the ability (sobriety) to make sure we stay within our budget.

2 – Go with Friends. There are a number of reasons to invite your friends to go with you. Mostly, it’s fun!  There is also a wider opinion on the taste of each wine. This may include consensus on wines that are fabulous vs. spit-worthy.

3 – Plan a Route. For a comfortable trip, plan to visit 4-5 wineries and allow an hour per winery. Although you may not stay a full hour at most of them, this allows for exploring the grounds, travel between wineries and/or stopping for a bit to eat.

4 – Pack a Picnic. I love to bring travel food to go.  A few vineyards have expansive tasting rooms and gift shops where you can buy food items, but most don’t. So be prepared and at the very least bring snack foods like cheese, salami and crackers. Finger food is convenient to eat in the car while traveling between wineries as long as you don’t mind the crumbs. Also, it’s good to keep food in your stomach throughout the day.

One of my favorite things is to pack a full spread of options, especially if touring during Thanksgiving weekend.  It’s a great way to use leftovers. Turkey finger sandwiches, French bread, brie cheese, olives, pickles, sliced pears and dark chocolate are usually my staples and I build from there.

5 – Take Your Camera. The vineyard grounds are gorgeous now with their autumn colors and you’ll want to capture memories of the experience. Snap shots of you and your friends tasting. Ask another patron or the pourer to take a picture of you as a group in front of the winery sign, the wine barrels or a distinguishing feature like a fountain.

6 – Meet the vintners. Over my 15 years of wine touring, the one thing I find invaluable is meeting the winery owners and/or vintners. Their passion, commitment and stories about their wines provide an additional layer of flavor that makes a bottle of wine extra enjoyable.

It can be years later when you open a bottle purchased while wine touring and inevitably the conversation will include, “Do you remember when…?” and the memories will center around the people with whom we shared a taste.

Visit these Clark County wineries. Be sure to check ahead for days and times they are open.

Bader Winery: 711 Grand Avenue, Vancouver. * 360-750-1551 or baderwinery.com.

Bethany Vineyard & Winery: 4115 N.E. 259th St., Ridgefield. * 360-887-3525 or bethanyvineyards.com.

Confluence Vineyard & Winery: 19111 N.W. 67th Ave., Ridgefield. * 360-887-2343 or confluencewinery.com.

East Fork Cellars Winery: 24415 N.E. 10th Ave., Suite 104, Ridgefield. * 360-727-3055 or eastforkcellars.com.

English Estate Winery: 17806 S.E. First St., Vancouver. * 360-772-5141 or englishestatewinery.com.

Gougér Cellars Winery: 1812 Washington St., Vancouver. * 360-909-4707.

Olequa Cellars: 24218 NE 14nd Avenue, Battle Ground. * 360-666-8012 or olequa.com.

Rusty Grape Vineyard: 16712 N.E. 219th St., Battle Ground. * 360-513-9338 or rustygrape.com.

Three Brothers Vineyard & Winery: 2411 N.E. 244th St., Ridgefield. * 360-887-2085 or threebrotherswinery.com.

Addition: Two more wineries are now available since the post was written – Benke Cellars, 1804 NW 119th Street, Vancouver, 360-907-9525 and Heisen House Vineyards, 28005 NE 172nd Ave, Battle Ground, 360-713-2359.

Isn’t it always the case that when you travel someplace new, you wish you had more time to spend there? We just discovered that in Glasgow (and Edinburgh and Inverness and…) but that’s another blog for another day. This is about Washington State’s scenic Cranberry Coast.

We spent four days there in mid-summer and pined for more. So we returned a month later for a camping trip with long-time friends, Mary and John Tyburski. Again, we were enchanted by the area. Cranberry Coast, Part I is here.

Westport Marina

Friday afternoon. Taking I-5 north, we make our ritual stop for milkshakes at the Dairy Barn in Chehalis (Exit 77). Cookie Dough and Hazelnut shakes in hands, we head west on SR6 through PeEll, which has what must be the world’s largest stop signs, and through Frances and Lebam—a town with a name to love. It’s backwards for Mabel.

We pass the Pacific County Fair in Menlo, hurrying on to Raymond, where we pick up SR105. We’re eager to get to our campsite before sundown at Twin Harbors Beach State Park.  Setting up a campsite in the dark is not my idea of fun and it’s raining so we are grateful for our snug tent camper. Our days of sleeping on the ground are over. Guess we are getting older…

Home Away From Home

What a multi-generational community we find! Park demographics include all ages, from infants to grandparents and a diverse, well-behaved canine population. We must have missed the memo that said “bring your dog.” Two doors down, so to speak, at least 30 high school girls (also well-behaved) are on a field trip and eating dinner under the world’s largest tarp.

Much later, two cars of very polite surfers from Port Orchard set up their tents next to ours in the dark. We save them from an imminent medical emergency by lending them our hatchet. Watching a barefoot surfer try to chop wood with machete is not a pretty picture.

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