Wine and Words to Live By... with "Reverend" Al

Ok, so he's not clergy... He's Mr. Al Portney from Ste. Michelle Wine Estates (the umbrella company for the most celebrated estate wineries in Pacific NorthWest and California.) But with the passionate, almost religious way this man spoke about vinifera... and the fruits of the new world... and the countless adages about wine and life (that he so eloquently shared during our wine seminar yesterday), I'd like to think that Al might as well be a holy man preaching the good news in the wine world...

Al and his bottled stories...

His mission? To enlighten us on Washington State's premier wine estates - "Columbia Crest" having the no 1. wine in the world by Wine Spectator and "Chateau Ste. Michelle" the No. 1 winery in the world by Wine & Spirits. (For novices like me, I just understand it to be like the Academy Awards of the industry) 

 

It is said that, before enlightenment, there is confusion... . After tasting a dizzying 20 wines at 11 am, to say I was in a daze is quite the understatement.

First, there was the geographical issue of where Ste. Michelle Wine Estates is exactly... I made the grave mistake of assuming it was in D.C... Al's reply, "No, we aren't growing grapes at the back of the White House." So I must establish that it is in the West coast, at the border of British Columbia, near Canada."

Let's face it, Washington State is not the first place you think of when talking about wineries. But here's a bit of trivia: What do Washington State, Bordeaux and Burgundy, have in common? The perfect climate for growing vines. (44 degrees N and 45 degrees S to be more exact, is where the globe's premium wine belts are located.) 

With its ideal location and weather, Chateau Ste. Michelle has produced the ultimate Riesling in the planet. (In fact, according to Al, it sells so well that the Germans - who are historically known for their Riesling - are the ones purchasing by the case.) 

The Big Daddy of Riesling is not from Germany...

Here are some of the other wines we've sampled...

Very elegant sparkling wine... for its price range of 800, this aromatic is perfect for a laid back party at home.

unoaked, very light and fruity. It's clean and so easy to drink for those who don't want too complex tastes.

Unoaked, fresh and sweet. Good wine for young folk. Smells so good its almost perfume.

Citrusy with the right acidity.

A DOSE OF WINE WISDOM: To servers: "Don't keep refilling glasses with wine that's already warmed up to room temp. Wait until its empty so you can enjoy a fresh, chilled glass each time."

Five Star Chardonnay...

keem 'em coming, Chris!

an accurate depiction of how i was seeing things a few minutes later...

EROICA actually refers to the unfinished concierto of Beethoven... But if the sexier meaning works for you, we say "Whatever floats your boat."

nothing like Jindi Cheese and Waterthins Crackers to go with wine. 

Syrah or Shiraz means the same thing...

Leaving a message on the winemaker's wall of fame.

More of Al's Wine Wisdom:

On wine personalities: "There are Wine Drinkers (those who treat wine as just another beverage), then there are Wine Thinkers (cork dorks)...

Don't get stuck in these extremes."

On where to buy your bottles: "Buy wine only from reputable people"

On quality: "Get wine that's tried (pedigree & heritage), true (trusted brand) and tested (if you like their Cabernet, you'd probably like their Merlot)."

On discovery and enlightenment: "Life is too short to drink bad wine. There's just so many choices out there."

On pairing: "Complement is always good, contrast is also great, but never conflict tastes."

Last words... I had to ask Al what his favorite bottle is. He couldn't resist saying lightheartedly...

"An empty one"