A note from the Editor
Jackie Walsh
Washington Wine Country Collection Vintage Posters Touted as Most Unique Northwest Christmas Gifts 
The spotlight was on Washington Wine Country's vintage posters on King 5 as part of Evening Magazine's "hard-to-find, never-been-seen, you-won't-believe, most-unique Northwest Christmas gifts show ever!"
Name That E-Zine" Contest Winner We are so happy to report that we had enormous response to this contest and a plethora of great submissions. It was a tough choice but as you can see we have settled on "Juice" submitted by Cindy Doan of Kennewick, Washington. Congratulations Cindy! You have won a vintage size Washington Wine Country art print, valued at $225. We would not dare go on without recognizing some of the other wonderful and creative submissions. We loved reading them and truly gave many of them sincere consideration. Here are just a few of the others: Cellars Tale . . . Red, White and Sparkling . . . East of The Cascades . . . WAWINEZINE . . . The Balance Sheet . . . Perfectly Balanced Postcard . . . Tendrils . . . Washington Wine Country Notes . . . From The Vine . . . The Washington Terrior . . . The Vines Have It . . . Washington Wine Fusion . . . The Washington Toast . . . Wine & Wisdom . . . Vintage Washington . . .En Vino Veritos . . . Savor! AND the number one most frequently submitted title . . . The Grapevine! Thank you all for your submissions! Holiday Entertaining . . . Wine Country Style
First, and most obvious, is the wine itself. Practice your pairing skills with some of the beautiful wines of Washington and your favorite recipes. If you're serving a sit down meal, remember to serve your wines in the proper order beginning with the lightest and moving on to the fuller bodied varietals. Balance flavor intensity as well as sweetness but also consider matching some contrasting flavors. For instance, try serving a hot and spicy dish with a sweeter Riesling or dessert wine. For a buffet or finger foods, you may try placing a bottle on the table near the complimentary dishes with a note card about the wine.
Try these luscious pairings as you focus on food, wine and gatherings this holiday season.
Go a step further and host a tasting for your guests! This can become an overwhelming task for some as you begin to wonder how, so it's best to focus on wines of a specific variety or region. For instance, sample Chardonnay or Syrah from the various appellations. Compare the tastes of the terroir of Yakima Valley, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain and Walla Walla Valley. Accompany your wine with french breads, cheeses and pear and apple slices. Then it's time to look, swirl, smell and taste the wines. Remind your guests that there isn't necessarily a right or wrong, it's all a matter of taste! Imagine hosting your loved ones to an intimate gathering in the midst of a beautifully decorated winery surrounded by the glimmer of candlelight and the smell of oak barrels. Consider taking your friends to a local winery. Many of the regions' wineries will rent out their space for private affairs. My favorite? Have you ever seen the view from Windy Point Vineyards in Wapato? Absolutely breathtaking! The chateau at Hedges Cellars in Red Mountain offers a gorgeous stone fireplace and an exquisite barrel room for a larger group. Call your local favorite winery for bookings. When attending a holiday gathering and you're not sure of what wine to bring to match the food, never fear! The objective here is not about the pairing as you have no way of knowing what food will be served. Instead, focus on bringing a really good Washington wine, one that suits your taste and style. Most importantly, remember to bask in the enjoyment of sharing the joy and spirit of the season with those you love! To learn more about wineries and events in Washington's wine country during the holidays, please visit www.winecountrywashington.org. Facts & Tidbits 
Wine Country Research
Did you know . . .
Living Wine Country 
The Culinary Cutting Edge Pasco's Red Lion Hotel introduces Bin No. 20 Wine Bar and Restaurant. Designed to focus attention on the wines of Washington State, with menu items complementing the wines, Bin No. 20 launches under the banner, "Great food, great wine, great people." In addition to offering a choice of 20 different wines by the glass on any given night, the wine bar and restaurant will draw on a cellar of 110 different wines, allowing guests to sample tasting flights. Using seasonal ingredients to showcase regional flavors, Chef Travis Carter is pairing his menu selections with the varying list of offered wines. The wine bar offers a selection of tapas-style appetizers -- a first for the area -- while the restaurant features signature entrees. "Bin No. 20 Wine Bar and Restaurant offers a unique experience in the Tri-Cities area, which has never had a true wine bar" said Troy Woody, General Manager of the Red Lion Hotel Pasco. "Washington wines are on the rise and we're proud to showcase such an outstanding, quality product in a contemporary, fun atmosphere."
Bin No. 20 is open nightly, Monday through Saturday. For more information call 509-547-0701 of visit www.bin20.com.
Along The Wine Road
Having opened in April of this year, Alexandria Nicole is providing a well-rounded repertoire of tastings, gourmet lunches and dinners, catering and jazz. Gather around the large, sturdy oak bar for a glass and a nosh while listening to the sounds of local tunes. Chef "Big John" Caudill is paring "food bites" paired with Alexandria Nicole wines while Partners Jarrod & Ali Boyle feature winemaker dinners with their own Robert Smasne. You can also take part in demonstration cooking classes there in the winery led by Caudill and educational wine classes with Smasne. A future winery is slated to be built in the wine district of Prosser. This building will consist of a barrel room for the aging and blending of Reserve wines, as well as a state of the art culinary kitchen. Visit www.alexandrianicolecellars.com for more info.
Give The Gift of Wine
During the holiday season many wineries have new releases allowing you to share the wines of a new vintage. Instead of telling those in your circle how great Washington's wine is, let them experience it for themselves! Mark Your Calendar Please submit your upcoming special events or regional events that you are aware of to events@winecountrywashington.org and we will post them in our next issue. December
View a complete wine country calendar at www.winecountrywashington.org/eventCalendar.aspx
Formed in 2003, Washington Wine Country is a non-profit association of Eastern Washington businesses promoting wine-related tourism, economic development and recognition of the world-class wine-growing region comprising the Yakima Valley, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley and Red Mountain appellations. www.winecountrywashington.org
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Capture the spirit of wine country in your holiday entertaining and gathering! It's a wonderful time to introduce those you love to the beauty of the region. There are a number of ways to achieve this.
Wines produced from Destiny Ridge Vineyard are the centered feature of a new downtown Prosser winery and Cafe, Alexandria Nicole Cellars.
Looking for that fantastic gift idea? There's nothing better than sharing your favorite Washington wine with friends, loved one or business associates across the country. Christmas is a big time of year for wine shipping and most of the state's wineries are happy to oblige.
Fri, 12/10, Art Show with Kerry Siderius at Tsillan Cellars in Chelan. Enjoy an evening of Wine~Art~Music with local artist Kerry Siderius and music by Terry Hunt. Call 509-682-9463 or visit