A Note from the Editor

March and April represent Spring in Washington's wine country. While the vineyards are awakening to the season, the big tourist season is getting underway. In fact, the annual Spring Barrel Tasting is the last weekend in April. Wineries throughout the Yakima Valley and other regions will be open with special treats and tours. The winemakers are often on hand to share their knowledge of the winemaking process and share a little taste of what's to come with their next vintage, straight out of the barrel.

This month is also From the Heart of Washington's Dine Around Seattle promotion. What used to be known as 25 for $25 is now 30 for $30 where select Seattle restaurants offer a fixed price 3-course meal for $30. For a little extra, they will pair each course with a specially selected Washington wine. This is a great opportunity to try some new Washington wines while you're out and about in Seattle while supporting your state's vino.

Also check out our Calendar of Events at the bottom of this newsletter. There are always many opportunities to enjoy both Washington's wine country and Washington wines.
 

Salut!

Jackie Thai
Editor
Washington Wine Country
 

Relax in a Wine Country Spa

As you travel through wine country, you may seek out a luxurious haven in which to rejuvenate yourself. From Quincy to Walla Walla, from Resort spa to local boutique salons, you'll find a spa experience no matter where your travels take you.

Ummelina International Day Spa, Yakima

The popular Seattle spa recently opened a second location in none other than the Yakima Valley. Ummelina Owner and President Nina Ummel has partnered with two local residents on the opening of the Spa. Her wish to open "urban spa retreats in under serviced areas" made Yakima a prime location and Ummel's first choice.

Services are listed as Global Remedies, Journeys and Rituals which characterize the "international" journey this spa promises to take you on. From a safari for the body to an Asian inspired tea ritual, there's something to delight the senses of most anyone. The spa offers an expansive menu of treatments, "from a rich variety of massage packages to facials, manicures and pedicures, and exotic shower treatments."

Located on Yakima Avenue next to the new Hilton Garden Inn, the spa has taken on a nature inspired theme to honor the Yakima Valley. The spa also opens onto a plaza which houses an outdoor tea garden, complete with hand-blended teas, cabana seating, fireplace and outdoor treatments." To accompany the local theme, the owners have also customized their body care products to include a Wine Collection and a Hops Collection. For more information, visit www.ummelina.com. 

The Spa at Sagecliffe, Quincy

Sagecliffe in Quincy is home to Cave B Winery, Tendrils Restaurant, The Inn at Sagecliffe and its most recent addition, The Spa at Sagecliffe. With stunning panoramic views of the Columbia Gorge and an awe inspiring natural setting, a trip to this spa will truly be a destination.

"It begins the moment you journey through a beautiful vine-covered trellis to enter the tranquil world of the Spa at SageCliffe. Unwind in a quiet, serene room or on the patio amidst indigenous basalt rock and fragrant gardens. At the Spa at SageCliffe, we are inspired to support your physical and emotional well-being with relaxing and restorative treatments."

Services include body treatments of all sorts. Depending on the treatment you choose, you can moisturize, exfoliate, detox, repair sun damage or sculpt your body. As for massages, there are hot and cold stone, aromatherapy, tandem (that's four hands instead of two!) and couples. There are also a variety of options for manicures, pedicures and waxing.

After your massage, you can simply retire to your personal "cliffhouse" amidst the rock and unwind or enjoy the view from the deck of the lodge while sipping a glass of Cave B wine. This is a wine country resort and spa destination in a class all its own!

Visit www.sagecliffe.com to book your spa escape.

Nouveau Skin Care & Day Spa, Kennewick

Owned by Kris and Jenna Waltze, Nouveau is a full service salon and spa in the Tri-Cities area attracting much local attention. It's THE place to go for brides and their attendees on the day of wedded bliss and turns out to also be a great place for tourists and visitors in need of a little R&R.

"Often the men go golfing, while the women come here and then they all take a limo and go wine tasting," says Kris. "Actually, these days the men often enjoy a spa day as well."

With over 40 employees, Nouveau is not just your little shop around the corner. The spa has 10 massage therapists on staff and each massage is accompanied by a complimentary foot soak prior to the treatment. Elegantly decorated, the spa also has rooms for private spa days to include lunch and a full body work-up of choice.

Jenna was the first employee of the salon when the original owners opened it nine years ago. She and Kris moved away for awhile and she continued to work in spas and salons around the country following her husband's hockey career. Upon his retirement, they returned to the Tri-Cities last May and in November they became the new owners of Nouveau.

If you find yourself in the Tri-Cities on business or pleasure, look up Nouveau Skin Care & Day Spa for a special treat. www.nouveauspa.com. 

Misbehaven Spa & Salon, Walla Walla

"Well behaved women seldom make history." - Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

If your wine country travels take you as far as Walla Walla, you're in luck! Misbehaven Spa & Salon is located in quaint downtown Walla Walla. A full service hair salon and spa, you'll find everything under the sun in terms of beauty and relaxation.

In addition to massages, exfoliations and body wraps, you'll find a salon with a real eye for beauty. Not just hair and nails, Misbehaven offers clients above and beyond beauty services including permanent make-up, eyelash extensions (that's right!) and body glow treatments. With a tag line of "when you're here, your misbehaven," it makes you wonder what kind of trouble you may be able to get into.

The next time you're headed to Walla Walla, visit www.misbehavenspasalon.com. 
 

Facts & Tidbits

What's in a Color?

It makes sense: white wine, white grapes; red wine, red grapes; rosé wine . . . ?

With the weather beginning to turn, crisp white wine and cool summer rosé become warm weather favorites. So, how does rosé get its luscious pink color? The term rosé refers to more than just color, it's a process using nearly any type of red grape (though some maker better rosé than others) in which the skins of the grapes are left on in the juice just long enough to give it that beautiful color and make it ever so slightly tannic. Red wine, by comparison, uses the entire grape and the skins are left on during the whole length of the fermentation process, being strained off just before it hits the barrel. It is true that some winemakers make "blush" wines by mixing a little red wine into white but this is not the preferred process.

 

Living Wine Country

Along The Wine Road

Yakima

So is it the wineries that are spurring the redevelopment of downtown Yakima or is the new business development bringing in the wineries?

"It's hard to tell which came first," states Yakima Valley Visitors and Convention Bureau President John Cooper. "I honestly think it's a synergy that's happening and that they're both part of the new direction that downtown Yakima is headed."

Whichever one it is, one thing's for sure, Yakima's downtown business core is on the rise as well as other surrounding areas of Yakima. In the past year, there have been several additions that have seemed to spark investment and bring more business, including the construction and opening of the Hilton Garden Inn on Yakima Avenue.

Located in the bottom of the new Hilton Garden Inn are three new businesses. Joe Simon located his second gift and home design business, Shopkeeper, in the hotel, which has long been located on Summitview. Shopkeeper carries furniture, bedding, gift items for baby, pets and friends as well as a large selection of beautiful lighting and chandeliers. Stems, a wine and wine accessory shop owned by Brad Baldwin, is also located in the hotel. Stems boasts a selection of Northwest wines as well as wine related home and gift items. The most recent opening in this trio is the second location of Seattle based Ummelina International Day Spa (see Spa story above).

As for downtown winery business, the second location for Massett Winery, Massett Winery Downtown Cellars is now located on Yakima Avenue. Greg Massett decided to join the downtown wineries of Kana and Donitelia to promote his long beloved brand. In addition to the tasting room, the new location is open later in the evening and offers appetizers, desert and rooms dedicated to local art. The Massets wanted to add a bit of nightlife to downtown Yakima.

"It's nice for locals as well as visitors from the hotel and convention center to have a place to go and relax in the evening," stated Masset.

Two more wineries will soon be joining the downtown crowd including Gilbert Cellars, an agricultural spin-off of Gilbert Orchards, ran and managed by brothers Sean and Nate Gilbert. Gilbert Cellars will be taking over the space long occupied by Corday's. The winery and vineyard is currently located on family land in the Ahtanum Valley west of Yakima.

Bryan Eglet and Rita Jorgensen are opening Plaza Socievole in the historic Larson Building, home to Dunbar Jewelers for many years. With a plan to be open around the end of March or first of April, the tasting room will also house a bistro and outdoor summer jazz venue to serve as a gathering place for locals and visitors alike.

This sort of wine clustering is good for the overall downtown business core and it's great for the wineries themselves.

"People may not travel out of their way to visit one tasting room," Masset mentioned, "but they will for four or five or more. At that point, you've created a destination."

Not only is downtown business seeing growth, real estate is apparently booming. In a recent real estate report published in USA Today discussing market trends in the last quarter of 2007, Yakima was 2nd in the nation in terms of the highest single home family price increase which was up 18% from 2006. At that time the median home price was displayed as $170,600. This is just another great reason people are investing in Yakima.

For more information on downtown Yakima such as a business directory or properties for lease, visit www.yakimadowntown.com.


Get a Taste of the Destination

Feast Walla Walla

On April 12, Walla Walla wineries, restaurants, food purveyors and artists are joining together to create an enticing public event celebrating Walla Walla's local bounty. Feast goers will receive tokens to use to sample bits and tastes at any of the 50 vendors pouring wines and cooking up delicious foods. While strolling the streets of the historic downtown Walla Walla, attendees will also have the opportunity to take in artwork from local artists, including the Walla Walla Foundry, and listen to the sounds of live musical performances.

Hosted by the Walla Walla Downtown Association, Feast Walla Walla will include samples from 26brix, Cheese Louise and Salumiere Cesario, as well as wine tastes from wineries such as Buty, Fort Walla Walla Cellars and Woodward Canyon, just to name a few.

Tickets are now on sale and for $45 participants receive ten tasting "tokens" with additional tokens available at $2 a piece. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.feastwallawalla.com.    

Save the Date: June 20-21, 2008
Wine Country Celebration & Grand Gala

Escape for a weekend of culinary bliss in celebration of the unique terroir and lifestyle of Washington Wine Country

Now in its sixth year, the exclusive Wine Country Celebration has become the signature event of Washington’s vineyard region, offering a rare opportunity for wine lovers to escape to the hidden charms of wine country’s finest estate wineries. This weekend of events throughout the region attracts business and community leaders from around the state to celebrate and support the continuing growth of Washington’s wine country.

Friday, June 20
The Seasons of Yakima Celebration Jazz Concert
Dance the Night Away with Steve Tyrell

"He sings the great songs the way they should be sung." - Woody Allen

Sway to the Sinatra-smooth sounds of Grammy Award winning vocalist Steve Tyrell at the historic Seasons Performance Hall in Yakima. With hits like “The Way You Look Tonight” and “A Kiss to Build a Dream On”, Tyrell’s rich, sultry voice will take you back to the by-gone days of Ol’ Blue Eyes, when music was charming and sincere, open-hearted and compelling, “Nice ‘N’ Easy.” Upgrade to a VIP ticket and join the exclusive wine reception with the band prior to the concert, plus front row seating for the show.
 
Winemaker Dinners in the Vineyards
Gather for an Intimate Evening in the Vineyards

Sit down for a behind-the-scenes candlelight dinner with the region’s premier winemakers – right at their very own estate vineyards:

• Fidelitas and Stevens Winery at Sheridan Vineyard in ZIllah with Chef Jason Wilson of Crush, Seattle
• Col Solare and Mark Ryan Winery at Hedges Family Estate on Red Mountain with Chef Philip Mihalski of Nell’s Restaurant, Seattle
• Long Shadows Vintners and Mercer Estates at Olsen Estates in Prosser with Chef Ken Sharp of El Gaucho, Tacoma
• Pepper Bridge Winery and Spring Valley Vineyard at Northstar Winery in Walla Walla with Chef Mike Davis of 26brix, Walla Walla

You’ll delight in a unique menu created by one of our state’s most renowned chefs and paired with the winemaker’s favorite, hand-picked wines. This delicious evening has all the right ingredients.











Saturday, June 21
6th Annual Grand Gala Benefit Dinner and Auction
Experience a Wine Country Tour-de-Force

Join 200 guests for the premiere event of Washington Wine Country, the exclusive Grand Gala Benefit Dinner and Auction at the palatial DeAtley estate in Yakima. Indulge your palate in a multi-course culinary showcase of exquisite French-inspired regional cuisine, prepared by Chef Jason Wilson of Crush, paired with an elegant portfolio of perfectly balanced Washington wines. Then join the spirited bidding for our limited, must-have luxury auction items. By invitation only.

For tickets and information, visit www.winecountrywashington.org/celebration or call (206) 285-0514.

Founded in 2003, Washington Wine Country is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting wine-related tourism and economic vitality by fostering collaborative regional partnerships throughout the celebrated wine growing region of Eastern Washington, where 99 percent of Washington State’s wine grapes are grown. The region includes the Yakima Valley, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley, Red Mountain and the newer appellations of the Columbia Gorge, Horse Heaven Hills, Rattlesnake Hills and Wahluke Slope. For more information, visit www.winecountrywashington.org.