A note from the Editor

As the official Washington Wine Month, March continues to be a time when retailers in Seattle showcase some of Washington's best coinciding with the 25 for $25 restaurant promotion. I've been putting Seattle to the test by taking note of their wine list and 25 for $25 menu pairings to see just how supportive they are being. And to my surprise . . . we've come a long way baby.

At my favorite sushi spot in Madison Park, Nishino, there were not one but three Washington wine pairings listed: a shitake mushroom soup with a 2005 Novelty Hill Sauvignon Blanc, a ginger Dungeness crab cake with a 2005 Dusted Valley Viognier and their assorted sushi entree was suggested with a 2005 Seven Hills Riesling. Although the wine is produced in Oregon, Serafina's on Eastlake is currently promoting Owen Roe's 2005 Columbia Valley Red Splendor as their wine of the month. Get out and take notice and if your favorite restaurant isn't promoting Washington wines, ask them why. Remember, it takes a village . . . or at least a dedicated group of Washington wine lovers.


Salut!

Jackie Walsh
Editor
Washington Wine Country
jwalsh@winecountrywashington.org

Building Washington Wine Country: One Winery at a Time

When driving by any new winery construction site in Eastern Washington, it’s no surprise to see a “Mountain States Construction” sign erected proudly front and center. The contracting company who first got its name in concrete work for industries like water treatment, retail and healthcare, is now at the forefront of winery construction.

Born and Raised in Sunnyside, Washington, Henry "Hank" Stamschror is President of Mountain States Construction. He runs the business his father began in 1964 and is now a premier general contractor located in the heart of the Columbia Valley Wine Country. Mountain States got its beginning in commercial and concrete work with projects like Kadlec Hospital in the Tri-Cities and the original downtown mall in Yakima. Mountain States continues to build solid working relationships within commercial industries, food processing, water and wastewater treatment and medical. However, Hank has a heart for Washington Wine Country and believes strongly in building an economic future in the wine producing valleys of Eastern Washington.

“It's been exciting to watch the growth of the wine country the past few decades,” Stamschror says. "We're now more than just apples and everyone longs to be associated with the wine industry."

The first winery contract for Mt. States was in 1995 when they took on a project to expand the Hogue Cellars' tank room in Prosser. Two other expansion projects followed with Hogue including barrel storage and office facilities. Next, Hank and his crew began working with Maryhill winery located in what is now known as the Columbia Gorge. Over a ten year period, Mt. States worked on numerous projects for Maryhill including the initial top to bottom construction and two additional phases.

The winery projects kept coming and today Mt. States is working on approximately eight projects simultaneously with winery owners from Alderdale to Walla Walla. The ever growing and expanding North Prosser Business Park has seen a mass explosion of winery business starting with the new Willow Crest facility in 2005. And yes, it was Mt. States who kicked it off.

“I chose to work with Mountain States because of their experience and reputation in the area and because of what I know about Hank and his family,” states Willow Crest owner and winemaker Dave Minnick. “Hank has passion and he’s taking his passion for construction and using it towards the growth and betterment of the wine country.”

Minnick designed the tasting room but looked to Mt. States for guidance and expertise. The desire was to add to the main metal housing of his new facility by incorporating rock, stone and rough sawn fir in the tasting room to create a warmer, country feel. Guests enter through massive double vertical grain fir doors into what Minnick describes as "the tower." Standing in the vestibule, guests can look upward to see cross fir timbers rising into a sky lit dome tower above. The massive wood tasting bar is welcoming and invites visitors to cozy up to it for tastings.

Immediately following Willow Crest’s Phase I construction was Thurston Wolfe’s new contemporary facility. A complete juxtaposition from the old world style of the Willow Crest tasting room, Thurston Wolfe displays sleek sophistication with a long granite tasting bar highlighted with track lighting. The fireplace on the opposing wall is embedded in a large concrete frame and surrounded by sleek leather seating.

Since the addition of these two facilities, Mt. States has continued building Prosser’s new wine tourist area with the recent projects and additions of Mike Haddox’s Winemaker’s Loft, Olsen Brother’s Estates Winery and now Mike Hogue's new venture, Mercer Wine Estates. Other current projects are the Fidelitas’ new Red Mountain winery, Allen Shoup’s Long Shadows Vintners facility and the tasting room for Tertulia Cellar, both in Walla Walla. Mt. States also built Sheridan Vineyard Estates barn style winery in Zillah for owners Patrick Dineen and Scott Greer.

The most recent project Mt. States acquired is the Riesling production facility for a new venture between Pacific Rim Winemaking and Red Mountain Wine Estates. A unique business structure, Red Mountain Wine Estates is responsible for overseeing the construction of the facility (working with Mt. States), for staffing the winery and overseeing the day to day operations, while Pacific Rim provides the style and direction of the winemaking.

“Most of our grapes come from Eastern Washington so it made sense for us to move production here,” states Nicolas Quille, General Manager and Winemaker of Pacific Rim. "We're serious about making a Riesling statement and we believe that the best Riesling in the world is grown in Washington state."

A spin off of Bonnie Doon Vineyard in California, the Pacific Rim facility is being built near Red Mountain between West Richland and Benton City near the intersection of  Van Geesen Avenue and Keene Road.

Andy denHoed of Red Mountain Estates knew he would work with Mt. States on the Pacific Rim facility.  "It makes sense," says denHoed. "Hank has proven himself time and time again in the wine industry. It's the name people go to."

With so many winery contracts and the company of Washington’s wine industry’s biggest players, Mt. States has definitely found a niche for itself.

“We never want to put all of our eggs in one basket,” states Stamschror. “Industries flux and grow and it’s important to be diversified. [However] My friends aren’t necessarily colleagues in the construction industry, many are the visionaries of Washington wine country.”

When asked what he loves most about working so closely with the wine industry, Hank spoke proudly of the opportunities he has had to introduce various people in the industry and help them make connections. “It’s bringing people together that I really enjoy most.”

To learn more about Mountain States, please visit their Web site at www.mtstates.com.

Facts & Tidbits

Anthony's Seafood Rocks in the Tri-Cities

Did you know?

Anthony's Restaurants' Richland location was recently reported to be the highest producing location in the state outside of the Seattle/Puget Sound market. Its ever popular Columbia Point location overlooks the Columbia River and has been among the top Tri-Cities dining locations since its opening in 2003. Next time you're over, check it out at 550 Columbia Point Drive, Richland, WA 99352. Be sure to call ahead for a reservation as it's always packed 509-946-3474.

Source: Lane Hoss of Anthony's Seafood
 

Living Wine Country

Get a Taste of the Destination

Yakima's A Touch of Europe Bed and Breakfast Offers European Style to Wine Country

More than just a historical bed and breakfast,  A Touch of Europe is a culinary treasure in the Yakima Valley wine country. Erika and James (Jim) Cenci have operated their B&B for the past 12 years in Yakima and have worked hard to create a true Victorian atmosphere with old-world European hospitality and charm.

Raised and trained in West Berlin, Chef Erika went through a German Chef apprenticeship in the 1950's. She and Jim met while he was abroad in the air force in 1958. After their marriage in 1960 they remained in Europe for 16 years before coming to the states. They decided to provide "a touch of Europe" through Erika's cuisine when they first opened their catering company in Tacoma. After five years, they moved the business to Yakima becoming one of the few Chef owned B&B's in the country.

"She's the magician in the kitchen and I'm the support staff," says Jim proudly of his wife's culinary expertise.

At A Touch of Europe, all guests are treated to a European, candlelit breakfast. To add a bit of adventure to cuisine, guests, locals or visitors can arrange private, multi-course dinners, creatively prepared by Chef Erika. Chef Erika and James personally work with each guest to create a personalized menu and will also make suggested wine pairings for the menu. Entrees include organically grown beefalo (crossbred domestic cattle and buffalo) with a port wine sauce, Australian farm fed rack of lamb prepared Mediterranean style with fresh fruits and naturally fed guinea hens flown in from New York. Entrees are selected and Chef Erika adds her own unique accompaniments such as black tie rice soufflé, parsnip pear bisque or rutabagas roasted with fresh herbs and olive oil.

"My goal is to provide the freshest local meats, fish and vegetables available," says Chef Erika. Her ingredients arrive Fed -Ex from game farms and other natural resources and currently Chef Erika's menu is almost entirely organic.

In addition to their beautiful, fresh and organic menu options, Erika and Jim make suggestions to guests for only Washington wine pairings. Some of their favorites are produced from Yakima Valley fruit and include wineries such as Kiona, Thurston Wolfe and L'Ecole No 41.

Now on her third cookbook, Chef Erika is focusing on a new addition including how and where her ingredients are procured from and how they are raised.

"We do all we can to make our guests' stay in Yakima and in our home as memorable as possible," say the Cencis.

For more information on a Touch of Europe, call 509-454-9775 or 888-438-7073 or e-mail AToEurope@msn.com.

SAVE THE DATE: Wine Country Celebration and Grand Gala
Friday & Saturday, June 22 & 23, 2007

The 5th Annual Wine Country Celebration and Grand Gala will be held on Friday and Saturday, June 22 and 23rd. Three distinctive fundraising events form the cornerstone of this exclusive weekend celebration. Enjoy a special VIP wine reception and a first rate performance by the Bill Charlap Trio, one of the premier jazz pianists in the nation, as we once again partner with the Seasons of Yakima Performance Hall. Or, select from one of four Winemaker Dinners in the Vineyards hosted by some of Washington's most heralded winemakers. Then, top off the weekend by dancing under the stars at the Grand Gala Benefit Dinner and Auction. The complete weekend of events is as follows:

Friday, June 22, 2007

Seasons of Yakima Performance Hall

Guests can  kick-off the weekend by attending the Celebration Jazz Concert where they will receive VIP treatment at the regionally acclaimed Seasons Performance Hall in Yakima. Experience unparalleled natural acoustics and historically significant architecture in this beautifully renovated church that is attracting top talent from around the country. This year, guests will enjoy the sounds of the Bill Charlap Trio, first-rate interpreter of the Great American Songbook and pianist with the Phil Woods Quintet.


Winemaker Dinners in The Vineyards

Select one of four locations for a Winemaker Dinner in the Vineyards where guests will be hosted at some of the region’s most celebrated estate wineries for an evening of culinary indulgence led by renowned winemakers. Host wineries include Sheridan Vineyards in Zillah who is pairing with Cadence and Andrew Will to showcase the very best of Yakima Valley to those with discriminating taste. Experience the jewels of Red Mountain at the scenic Hedges Family Estate who is pairing with Hightower Cellars and DeLille Cellars, with a special tour and tasting at the newest gem Col Solare preceding the dinner. Newly opened Desert Wind Vineyard and local great, Kestrel Vintners, will delight your senses with classic European varietals, dark rich reds and food friendly whites. Three Rivers Winery in Walla Walla and Reininger Winery pair up for an extraordinary dinner featuring Walla Walla's top chefs followed by a lively concert on the lawn starring the entertaining and danceable band, Blues Attitude. 

Saturday, June 23, 2007

Grand Gala Benefit Dinner & Auction

The Celebration culminates with the romantic and exclusive Grand Gala Benefit Dinner and Auction hosted at a heralded estate with sweeping views of the Yakima Valley. Guests will literally dine and dance under the stars and have the opportunity to take some of the magic home by bidding on fabulous wine and event pairings.

The Wine Country Celebration produced by Washington Wine Country has become the signature event of the vineyard region and is the first of its kind to host a series of fundraisers in wineries throughout the appellations themselves. Through this event, Washington Wine Country is able to fund programs that continue our mission of reinventing the economies of Eastern Washington. Over the past four years this popular celebration has continued to evolve and attract influential business and community leaders from around the state, in addition to shining a spotlight on the many hidden treasures of Washington’s wine country.

For more information and to see for yourself, visit www.winecountrycelebration.com.