Fidelitas Wines

Team Fidelitas Month: Preview Tastings

Every July we celebrate Team Fidelitas Month to say, Thank you to our Wine Club Members. We always brainstorm new ways to add value to the benefits we offer our members.  Fidelitas Optu and Magna Wine Clubs are invited to join us for a preview of wines slated for release in the second half of 2018.

It’s one of the many benefits we offer our Wine Club Members. Charlie creates each wine with our wine club in mind and this is the perfect event for our Optu and Magna members to taste the wines before they are even released, so they can make an educated decision for their fall allocations. Below is a list of which wines will be available for tasting.

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2015 Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

2015 Fidelitas Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

2017 Red Mountain Optu White Wine

2015 Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Merlot

2015 Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

2015 Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Cabernet Franc

2015 Old Vines Merlot

limited case production, won't be available for tasting

2015 Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Red Wine 

limited case production, won’t be available for tasting

The Preview Tasting event is an invitation only event for our Optu and Magna members who will have the first opportunity to select their club allocation. If you are a current Faithful, Loyal True member and want to upgrade your membership, our Wine Club Team is happy to help with that. Or, if you are a current club member and unable to attend our preview event, not to worry as a member you can pre-order any of the wines above at any point during the year. Contact our Wine Club Team if you have questions, they’d love to hear from you!

Team Fidelitas Month

 

Fidelitas is faithful, loyal, and true to our members.

This July, during Team Fidelitas month, we'd like to say THANK YOU for being true to us.

Give us your feedback!

Current members let us know about your experiences as a Fidelitas Club member. TAKE THE SURVEY.

Are you a Fidelitas fan but not a member yet? TAKE THIS SURVEY to let us know how we're doing and what you'd like to see from us.

All survey respondents will receive a code for special pricing on their next order, and be entered into a drawing for a Team Fidelitas swag bag, including a t-shirt, wine opener, and water bottle. 

Share the love.

Members invite your friends to join the Fidelitas Wine Club to receive a $25 referral credit and have the added bonus of hanging out with your friends at upcoming summer tastings and events.

Get the look.

We have a limited number of 2018 Team Fidelitas t-shirts and water bottles available!

shop swag  |  shop wine

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Not a member yet? 

This July, during Team Fidelitas month, we'd like to extend a special invitation to Join the Club. This month, new members will receive:

extra 5% off day of joining purchase | immediate member benefits | club concierge experience | access to Red Mountain’s top wines | Summer in the City party invite + Preview Tasting invite | complimentary tastings

JOIN NOW or learn more by connecting with our Club Concierge Team:

509.554.9191 | club@fidelitaswines.com

 

Auction of Washington Wines: Win a Full Barrel Winemaking Experience

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Own a Piece of Red Mountain: A Vintner’s Experience

Full Barrel Winemaking Experience with Fidelitas and Quintessence Vineyard

This year’s Auction of Washington Wines’ Industry Honorees, Charlie Hoppes and Marshall Edwards have generously donated a full barrel of red wine from the acclaimed Quintessence Vineyard, but that is only a part of this amazing auction lot!

The winning bidder will become an honorary Vintner at Fidelitas. This unique experience will make their winery, your winery, not just for one year, but for years to come, as you harvest, blend, and bottle your own Red Mountain wine.

You will be invited to begin your journey during Harvest 2018. You and your guests will be involved in selecting grapes from Quintessence and Shaw Vineyards on Red Mountain, seeing them through the sorting process, and starting fermentation in the tanks. As the wines age in barrel, join us for your second trip to experience a hands-on blending trial with Fidelitas Winemaker, Charlie Hoppes. You will be able to taste barrel samples and blend with other varietals from the vineyards as the team comes up with their 2018 vintage wines.

The third and final trip will include bottling of your exclusive wines from your personal barrel. After your day on the bottling line, you will have ownership of 25 cases of wines that you can distribute as you see fit. Enjoy with friends, give to employees as gifts, or cellar to enjoy for years to come.

With each visit, two couples will enjoy hotel accommodations, meals, vineyard tours and library tastings to immerse yourself in the history of the winery and vineyard.

This lot includes:

• One barrel of your own custom created and blended wine (25 cases total!)
• Label design by an award-winning creative agency
• Three separate trips to Red Mountain; for harvest, blending, and bottling of your wine. Each trip will be for two couples and includes accommodations and special Red Mountain experiences.

One barrel contains approximately 300 bottles (25 cases) of wine. All Red Mountain experiences are based on a mutually agreed upon date. Transportation to Red Mountain not included.

Magna Membership Appreciation

Magna, Latin for great, noble, and significant, is the most exclusive level of the Fidelitas Wine Club. One of the biggest perks of this membership is a fun filled weekend including an early morning event followed by a complimentary dinner hosted on Red Mountain overlooking our estate vineyard. It may be hot (around 90 degrees) but that doesn’t keep our members from having fun.

Saturday morning our Magna members will be joining 2018 Honorary Vintner, Charlie Hoppes, and Honory Grower, Marshall Edwards while they discuss Red Mountain vineyards and winemaking. It wouldn't be a fun activity without wine involved! Barrel samples will of course, be provided.

Later on in the evening comes the best part! A family style dinner filled with wine, great company, a ton of laughs. Below is the menu for Saturday evening and we are already dreaming about those fritters.

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Passed Appetizers

Truffle Roaster Morel Mushrooms

fried garlic scapes

Merlot Braised Pork Belly

thyme, savory blueberry compote

2017 Red Mountain Semillon

2015 The Canyons Vineyard Red Wine

Dinner

Beet Salad

candied walnuts, arugula, gorgonzola dolce

2016 Optu White

Cast Iron Cap of Ribeye

sauce chasseurs rouges

White Bean "Risotto"

thyme roasted radishses

Roasted Spring Vegetables

2015 Red Mountain Merlot

2015 Optu Red Mountain

2015 Quintessence Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Dessert

Sweet Risotto Fritters

strawberry-rhubarb compote

2013 Klipsun Vineyard Late Harvest Semillon

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But wait, there's more. We've decied to up the ante this year and include some secret wines for our guests to try. Once the wine is gone (will probably take no time!) we will reveal what they were drinking. We can't wait to host our Magna members and are looking forward onother weekend full of memories! Below are some pictures from years past.

 

Happy Father's Day

Looking for some inspiration I decided to scroll through my camera roll to see what I was up to Father’s Day of 2017.  I came across a “photo shoot” I had done for a profile picture on the website and Jess happily pointed out that I was doing the “Wine Boss” pose:

Mine's not nearly as epic, but I'll chalk it up to the black and white filter.

We also recently struck a very similar pose in my "Microfermentations" blog post and the Seattle Times' "Cab King of Red Mountain" writeup:

(our contact info is on the website if you work with a winemaker modeling agency)

These pictures are a reminder of how lucky I am to have a dad and mentor who's laid out the blueprint for me to follow, but at the same time is encouraging me to do it in my own style.  He's an incredible winemaker but has always been a father first to me and my sisters.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Father's Day!

Summer Shipping + 2017 Red Mountain Semillon

During the warm summer months, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, we're taking extra care in protecting the integrity of your wine shipments by sending all orders outside of the Pacific Northwest via UPS 2-Day Air. We have created reduced, flat rate pricing for the safe arrival of of your wine shipments during the summer months. Click here to see shipping costs for your area. 

Shipping is on us! Fidelitas offers complimentary ground shipping for orders being shipped withing the PNW (Washington, Oregon, Idaho) and $50 flat rate 2-day air for order shipped across the U.S. In order for you to receive your wines in a timely manner, Fidelitas ships all orders on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday to ensure you are sipping your favorite Fidelitas wines all week long or just in time for the weekend. 

If you are still concerned about shipping your wines to some of our warmer states, not to worry! Fidelitas' Shipping Manager monitors the weather across the country and will reach out to you if we need to hold your order for any reason due to weather. 

This is the perfect time to take advantage of our summer shipping and stock up on our newley released, favorite Summer Sipper, the 2017 Red Mountain Semillon. "Semillon is still a really unique grape that shows particularly well in Washington. The style is a lot like the Semillons we see from Bordeaux, with citrus and floral tones, and great minerality. This white wine might be one of our best for pairing with Northwest cuisine.” – Charlie Hoppes, Fidelitas Owner + Winemaker

Semillon, a prominent white grape in Bordeaux, is harder to find outside of France, and quite unique in Washington state. Sourced from the cooler Klipsun Vineyard, and aged in neutral French oak, the Semillon lends itself nicely to northwest seafood dishes. The nose gives us aromas of honeysuckle, pear, and subtle baking spice, while the palate is bright and refreshing, showcasing lemon zest, pink grapefruit, and papaya.

Contact us with questions or for ordering assistance: wine@fidelitaswines.com 509.544.9191

Celebrating with Faithful, Loyal, and True

“We are gathered here today, celebrating Jess and Ben, at a winery who’s name not only translates to ‘faithful, loyal, true’, but at a winery who’s owner, and our host tonight, embodies these words.  And I cannot think of a better way to start a marriage.”  Those are words that my uncle spoke during a toast at my wedding.  And while I’ve pondered the meaning of the name ‘Fidelitas’ many, many times, the weight of it really struck me as I was sitting there, surrounded by the most special and important people in my life, marrying my husband.

That was 8 years ago this month, and while I seem to be attending more baby showers than weddings these days, wine is still my favorite gift for newlyweds.  Here are my favorite three ways to share Fidelitas:

A bottle for now and a bottle for later.

This one is super easy.  Grab a cute, reusable tote (I love my BUILT bag) and add a bottle of Red Mountain Malbec, which can be enjoyed this summer with BBQ, and a bottle of Quintessence Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, which could be opened on the lucky couple’s 5 or 10-year anniversary.

Large formats.

This is kind of similar, in that you’re encouraging people to hang on to the wine to open for a special anniversary down the road.  Even better, grab a couple big bottles and have friends and family sign well wishes right on the bottle with a metallic sharpie.  My brother and sister-in-law did a 750ml, 1.5L, and 3L, (for one year, five years, and ten years) used this as their guest book, and then have opened the bottles with friends in the years since. (pro note: contact us for current availability on large formats. we may be able to find something amazing!)

Club memberships.

A Wine Club Gift Membership is a great way to give a gift that will last a while.  We can give you a gift certificate to include with your card now, and then will send bottles to the couple throughout their first year of marriage.  If they live locally, they can come out to the winery to pick up or join us at our upcoming events!

 

Let our Club Concierge team help you put together a wedding gift that celebrates faithful, loyal, and true, and a happy wedding season to you all!

Micro-Fermentations: a Labor of Love

With the release of the single vineyard Quintessence Cabernet early last month (the first single vineyard Cab of the year to make it to the tasting bar), a common discussion in the tasting room has been how many different "micro-fermentations" we do here at Fidelitas.

By this I mean both:

a) the methods: different oak vessels, metal vessels, different types of yeast, etc... and 

and

b) the numbers:  we have lots of unique tiny lots of different varietals and vineyard sites from all over Red Mountain which we crush, ferment, age separately + even within some lots of the same fruit, "Estate Cabernet" for example, we'll separate the same fruit into what I like to call micro-fermentations which only result in about a single barrel of finished juice (1 barrel = approximately 25 cases).

I specifically remember tasting the 2016 Estate Cab during last Christmas break, of which we have about 14 barrels - those 14 barrels are first broken down by the 2 different clones we use for our Estate Cab: 7 barrels of Clone 6, and 7 barrels of Clone 2.  Within the 2 groups of clones, each barrel was fermented on its own in a different vessel, meaning we'll have 14 different "wines" which will need to be taken care of separately for the entirety of its 2 years of aging until it's finally blended together at the end with the other Estate Cabs!!  Wouldn't it be so much easier to just throw all of the Estate Cab in one big stainless steel tank and call it good?  It would certainly make for shorter days during harvest.

However, our winemaking team has found that the micro-fermentation method is well worth the effort: it adds a great deal more complexity of flavors and texture and gives us a more intimate hands-on approach with our fermentations.  I liken it to a craftsmen spending time meticulously working on the individual pieces before putting the masterpiece together.

Another thing I'm reminded of when having discussions like this is how easy us second generations winemakers have it.  Winemaking is all about experimenting and learning from your results - trial-and-error.  However, unlike a chef who can make a new dish, try it, throw it out and immediately start over; winemakers only get to make wine once a year.  The learning window is around 2-3 years until you have finished wine or even 5+ years depending on how much bottle time.  Or even a decade if you're experimenting with planting differnet clones of Cabernet and how those result in a finished wine!!  Lucky for guys like me, I have winemakers like my dad who have been doing this trial-and-error, and continuous gathering of data and experiences for multiple harvests who can pass their knowledge along.  And for this I am truly grateful.

- Will Hoppes

 

Kicking off Summer Entertaining + BBQ's

Is anyone else in shock that June is just around the corner? Even though time is going (too) fast, this means that entertaining, BBQ’s, and nice weather have arrived. Can’t really complain about that! No matter the party, we know one item that should always be present. Whether you want to bring a bottle as a gift for the host, or pair with those ribs and salads, Fidelitas has you covered. Below are some of my current favorites for those summer festivities!

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2017 Red Mountain Semillon – future release

Releases June 6, contact us to pre-order! If you're looking for that perfect wine to pair with salads, this is your bottle! 

2015 The Canyons Vineyard Red Wine

A delicious blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Merlot. My top pick for BBQ's and 4th of July! This is a fun addition to sip with anything off the grill.

2015 Red Mountain Malbec

You can't not have a Malbec at the party! Bring this phantom bottle to your gathering and I promise, people will be pouring themselves a glass to drink with ribs.

2015 Quintessence Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

This 94 point wine is a perfect gift for the host that will certianly impress. Convince them to open this bottle and pair with steak!

2015 Red Mountain Merlot

I tasted this wine last week and I was definitely impressed. Perfectly smooth, elegant, and some of the best fruits were noticeable. Let's face it, Merlot goes with everything!

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Happy summer!

Weekend Trip to Red Mountain

Whether crossing the country, the mountains, or planning a stay-cation right in your home town here’s your no thought required itinerary for the perfect weekend on Red Mountain!

FRIDAY

Arrive and check into The Lodge at Columbia Point. Use code "CORK" for a special rate. Check in begins at 4pm. Check out their daily happy hour featuring Washington wineries from 5-6:30pm.  

Head to dinner at Fiction Restaurant at Bookwalter. You can often catch live music on the patio!

If you’re feeling up for a night cap stop in at Tap + Barrel to pick and choose what you want to sip on from their WineEmotion. They have an amazing selection of wines from Washington, Oregon, California, and beyond. Plus beer, cider, and food available too! 

Otherwise, head back to the hotel and get a good night sleep in those comfy beds…you’ll be getting an early start on wine tasting!

SATURDAY

Enjoy the sunrise while drinking coffee on your hotel room balcony and be sure to fill up at the complimentary breakfast bar. Don't skimp on the carbs, you've got a full day of wine tasting on the slopes of Red Mountain!   

11:00am start your day with a tour and tasting at Col Solare. Col Solare is a partnership between two influential wine producers who are recognized leaders in their respective regions: Tuscany's Marchesi Antinori and Washington State's Chateau Ste. Michelle. They are my favorite place to start because they give a great lay of the land during their tour and have a view overlooking Red Mountain vineyards.

12:15pm Come see us at Fidelitas! Grab a spot on the patio and relax while taking in the Fidelitas Estate Vineyard. If you let us know ahead of time we can even plan to have a cheese plate ready for you upon arrival. Feel free to do a self-guided tour through the Fidelitas Estate Vineyard (just be courteous of the vines) and don’t forget to check out the magnificent Library!

1:30pm Visit Red Mountain originals at Kiona. The William’s family planted the first vines on Red Mountain in 1975 and their family run winery has one of the best stories around, not to mention great wines from their Estate. My personal favorite is their Old Block Cabernet Sauvignon!

2:45pm Just down the road you will hit Frichette. Owners Greg and Shae are living their dream on Red Mountain and their energy is contagious. Pair that with a great glass of wine and you are set!

4:00pm Cross on over to Anelare. Here is truly one of my favorite experiences in the area! Anelare sits just outside of the AVA borders but has a divine view looking back at Red Mountain. Anelare sources grapes from some of our favorite vineyards including Ciel du Cheval and Boushey and makes an outstanding Syrah. Order up a flatbread and enjoy the view of Red Mountain!

5:15pm Find your way back to Sunset Road to go to Cooper for one last stop. He’s one of the only wineries open until 6pm and will be sure to have a handful of Estate grown wines open for you to taste and a fun and memorable experience.

After all this tasting you are definitely ready for dinner! Head back to the hotel, freshen up, and walk next door for some great eats. Don't forget to take your wine out of the car where it will get hot! 

7:30pm Dinner at Budd’s Broiler. Budd's is a premier steakhouse owned by Anthony’s restaurants. Their patio sits alongside the Columbia River and is perfect for catching the sunset. I always order the ‘Steak Oscar’ which is Wagyu top sirloin grilled to your liking and crowned with Dungeness crab, asparagus and bearnaise. I should also mention Budd’s wine list is one of the best in the area! Go ahead, order a glass of bubbles with your appetizers. That’s what Charlie would do!

Walk off your meal with a stroll on the pathway at Columbia Point. This serenity is just what the doctor ordered.

SUNDAY

Take advantage of those hotel room black out curtains and…SLEEP IN! Not into catching extra Z's? Run or walk the path along the Columbia River. 

Walk over to Anthony’s for Brunch from 9am-2pm on Sundays. Upon arrival you will be seated with a complimentary fresh fruit plate, warm blueberry coffee cake (to die for), and a glass of bubbles or a mimosa. And that’s all before picking out what you’ll have for breakfast! I recently had the Northwest Dungeness Crab Cake Bowl and was in heaven.

By this point you’ll probably be ready to hit the road. At least you’ll have wine as a memento and reminder of your weekend away on Red Mountain. Cheers!

There's tons more to do in Tri-Cities and surrounding wine regions. For more reccomendations email me! 

PRO-TIP: It is always best to book tasting reservations ahead of time. Appointments can be made by visiting a wineries website or giving them a call. You will most certainly get the most bang for your buck if you let wineries know you are headed their way so that they can prepare ahead of time for your visit. I usually plan for about an hour at each winery, or longer if they have a great patio to relax on or if you plan on doing a food and wine pairing. It’s always best to ask the winery how long you should plan for. The wineries listed in this post are no more than 5 minutes drive apart from each other.

Note this is not an inclusive list of all Red Mountain wineries. If you have time, do stop and visit more of our neighbors on Red Mountain! We are blessed to be among so many great wineries.