Fidelitas Wines

Keeping it Simple

During my workout this morning, the class instructor announced that she had some (a bottle) of champagne the night before. While I admired her for being so honest with us, it also made me realize that the indulgences of the holidays really do get to all of us (even those who teach fitness classes for a living rather than peddling wine, like me).

I love food. I love looking at pictures of it, dreaming about making the most complex of dishes, planning the menus, pairing the wines, and even going to the grocery store. While the food magazines and websites will tell us that this is the time of year to pull out all the stops, it’s not.  They are wrong.

This is the time of year to slow it down. Pick simple, comforting, and beautiful dishes that are easy to execute, because we all know that at the same time we are wrapping gifts, wrangling sugar/gift crazed children, and zipping between holiday parties.

Here is a round up of things that caught my eye to make between now and 2016:

Simple appetizers with limited ingredients

Renee Erickson’s Sauteed Dates (via Food 52, even though Renee’s a hometown here) 

Baked Camembert with Pepper Jelly: just throw a little wheel in a cast iron, bake it, add some hot pepper jam (this one is amazing) on it towards the end and serve with baguette…so easy!

Roasted Chickpeas

my picks for appetizer wines: Klipsun Optu White and Ciel du Cheval Red Wine

 

Entrees that can be made in advance but are still impressive at the table

Smitten Kitchen’s Baked Orzo with Eggplant

Ina Garten’s Steak with Bernaise (amazing with Quintessence Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon)

Harissa Stew for something hearty yet not so rich

my picks for impressive dinner time wines: Fidelitas Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon and Optu Red Mountain

 

Finally, I cannot bake to save my life by these Ambrosia Macaroons are soooo easy (my 2-year old pretty much made them), were fan favorites at the Holiday Party, and are exceptional with Late Harvest Semillon.

Cheers!

 

 

Holiday Shopping Party 2015

 

I think we can all agree that 2015 went in the blink of an eye. But, there is a positive to the year coming to an end and that’s the Holiday Shopping Party!

The time of year when our twinkle lights get strung in the tasting room and everyone is in the holiday spirit is always one of my favorites here. The only way to celebrate is by having a festive gathering with catered food, Christmas cookies (prepared by your wonderful Fidelitas staff), door prizes, and gift wrapping. Although we did make delicious meatballs last year, we thought this year we would take it up on a notch and use the fabulous Bis On Main as our caterer. And here is what they had to share with us…

 

Lamb Crostini with White Bean Puree

Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms

Arancini (Risotto Balls) with Marinara Sauce

Duck Confit on a Potato Crisp Topped with an Amarena Cherry

 

Then we move to the Cookie Bar…

 

Peppermint Brownie Cookies

Ginger Molasses Cookies

Lemon Meltaway’s

Shortbread Cookies

Scotcheroos

Ambrosia Macaroons

 

Just 361 more days until our Holiday Shopping Party 2016 edition! We hope those who weren’t able to attend this year are able to experience all of the fun next holiday season.

Happy Holiday’s from Team Fidelitas!

3 Reasons to Keep a Case of Wine in your Car

‘Tis the Season of last minute gift grabbing: heading to someone’s house, a party, or an appointment, and wanting to give something better than a regift from last year.  Keep a case of easy drinkers and pretty tissue handy all season long so you never show up empty handed.*

1 – Hostess Gifts

Perhaps the most obvious, but for a reason!  People work hard to throw a party at their home and always appreciate the acknowledgement of a gift.  And – if you call it a hostess gift instead of a bar contribution, they feel like they get to keep that special bottle to themselves.

2 – Family Gatherings…

…are always better with a little wine.  Don’t trust Uncle Jack to have enough supply to keep everyone going through the course of a family get together.  Bring a bottle of your own to make sure there is enough for the duration!

3 – Everyone ‘else’ on your List

I was getting my hair done 2 weeks before Christmas last year and someone popped in to give my stylist a bottle of wine.  There I was, a winery employee, and totally empty handed.  A nice bottle can go a long way for the people with whom you have a great relationship, but maybe didn’t make the major mall shopping list.

*Note: in no way am I suggesting that these wines should be consumed in your car, which is illegal.  If you think you might be tempted, keep the corkscrew at home.  Also, be careful about the weather!  Wines left outside overnight when the temps drop could freeze, and that is really sad.

It’s Time to Drink the Fancy Stuff

We’re just a few days away from Thanksgiving and I’ve officially been dreaming about mashed potatoes for the last three weeks. I’ll pack up my bags and leave my home in Seattle and travel over the questionably snowy mountain pass to get home to my family in Tri-Cities where we spend the majority of the weekend eating, drinking, watching football and enjoying days off from work. The good stuff!

As I am packing my bags I’m also packing up the wine for the weekend. My initial response is to hold back my most treasured bottles for an occasion where I can selfishly drink them myself… but what’s the point? Isn’t the point of the holiday to celebrate and be thankful for everyone around you? Why are you saving that bottle of 2009 Red Mountain Red anyway? My guess is your answer is the same as mine “to drink on a special occasion.” This Thanksgiving try bringing one or two of your fancy bottles of wine and use them as a tool to bring your family and friends together to enjoy the good things in life. I bet you it will spark up some stories you've never heard about your father in laws time living in France or the first time your mom snuck wine out of her parent’s liquor cabinet.

Most importantly, enjoy one another and enjoy that special bottle you’ve been saving for an occasion just like this.

Happy Thanksgiving! 

 

Top Picks for Thanksgiving

My husband just sent me a picture from the grocery store that already had a bunch of Christmas decorations on display.  He was truly sad that “the grocery store skipped Thanksgiving!” and also confused as to why someone would want a planter in the shape of Santa’s boot.  I can’t blame him on both accounts.

In all honesty, I don’t mind getting a little ahead on Christmas and gifts and whatnot (I’ll be honest…I just sent out a gentle gift pack blast to our email list…but waited until after Halloween!).  It’s always been a personal goal to have my shopping done before Thanksgiving, with an extra case of wine on hand for last minute gifts.  That way, I can just enjoy the weeks that follow.

However, I am not okay with skipping Thanksgiving all together.  It is truly one of my favorite holidays.  Good food, beautiful décor, and my best friends and family all in one place.  I keep hearing people talk about serving cheap wine at Thanksgiving so one’s obnoxious uncle doesn’t get into it.  However, I don’t worry about that in my house, and would like to drink good wine that pairs well with great food on this day of feasting.

This year, my picks for Thanksgiving are 2014 Klipsun Vineyard Optu White (quite possibly my favorite vintage of Optu White), along with 2012 Red Mountain Merlot and 2012 Champoux Vineyard Magna Red Wine.  The Optu White is to serve with appetizers – a simple cheese board and a gorgeous crudité platter.

Both of the reds are perfect for Thanksgiving.  They have bright acidity (good because they’ll help cut through all of those rich foods on the table), soft tannins (good because they won’t overwhelm any of the dishes), and are down right elegant wines to drink.  We’ll serve these wines with the dinner itself to match all of those rich and earthy toned foods common to the Thanksgiving table.  If you have people that want to drink white wine with dinner, I guarantee that Optu White is rich enough to stand up to the dinner and is going to be an awesome pairing with the turkey.

While we’re at it, I think I’ll throw in a bottle of the Late Harvest Semillon.  This is a special occasion…a great time to open a special bottle!  This wine is one of my favorites for any fruit based desserts, but is going to be great with that pumpkin pie as well.

Cheers!  No matter what your own agenda is during these final weeks of 2015, I hope you find the time to celebrate one holiday at a time with the ones you love.

When I grow up (or don't have a 2 year old to tear the house apart), I am going to create beautiful scenes like this for Thanksgiving.

Celebrate Fall with Ciel du Cheval

I think it is safe to say that fall is one of the most enjoyable times of the year at Fidelitas. Harvest is over, the leaves are changing colors in the vineyard and we have our upcoming fall club release. Personally, I have been counting the months until November when we have our annual Ciel du Cheval Vineyard release. However, this year is extra special because Fidelitas is adding 3 new vintages to the release. And so now, a brief description of the upcoming Ciel du Cheval wines to be released in November.

The first vintage we ever released from Ciel du Cheval was the Cabernet Sauvignon in 2006 and it continues to be a crowd favorite with the 2012 vintage. Fidelitas has sourced from some of the oldest vines in the Red Mountain AVA, planted by Jim Holmes in 1982, for this varietal Cabernet Sauvignon.  The aromas are elegant, showcasing, black cherry, blackberry, and cassis, complimented by fig and sweet tobacco tones.  Black fruit notes are found on the palate as well with hints of dark chocolate and toasted oak, all set into very soft and well-rounded tannins that provide a lingering finish. Drink now through 2025.

A Fidelitas fan favorite, our Cabernet Franc is sourced from the expertly cared for vines of Ciel du Cheval Vineyard.  Varietal classic aromas of blueberry and dried tobacco appear on the nose, supported by Bing cherry, raspberry, and tea leaves on the palate.  There is an herbaceous quality, with hints of sage, found within the soft tannins and supple finish. Drink now through 2023.

A new vintage to the Fidelitas line up is the 2012 Ciel du Cheval Merlot. Ciel du Cheval Vineyard provides all of the fruit for this special, limited, vineyard designated merlot.  Aromas of raspberry and plum jump from the glass, along with hints of nutmeg and spice.  These are found on the palate as well, supported by black cherry, dark chocolate, clove and coffee tones.  The tannins are round and plush for a juicy finish.  Drink now through 2022.

Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Red Wine appears as another new addition to the Fidelitas line up in the 2012 vintage. A right bank style blend, this vineyard designated red wine is predominately Merlot. The aromas are plentiful, showcasing strawberry, raspberry jam, and a hint of cedar. The palate gives us the addition of darker fruit tones, dark cherry and red currant tones, with a dried herbs and allspice. This wine is bright and expressive with fine tannins for a lingering finish. Drink now through 2024.

Varietal Petit Verdot makes its debut in the 2012 vintage of Fidelitas wines.  A grape common to Bordeaux blends, it seldom stands alone, but Ciel du Cheval Vineyard gives us just the right balance for this wine.  The nose offers classic notes of very dense, dark fruit, cola and vanilla bean.  The aromatic palate gives us black cherry tones, mixed with dried tobacco, kirsch, raspberry, and strawberry, set amongst chewy tannins.  Drink now through 2022.

What better time to visit the tasting room and share Fidelitas with your family and friends, just in time for the holidays…we all know wine makes the best gift!

Friday Tastings in Woodinville

If you haven’t heard of our new Friday Tastings then be sure to keep reading! We started this event in September as a way to bring out our members (and non members!) now that everyone is getting back into their normal routines. It’s an intimate Friday evening filled with an in-depth tasting, cheese, and charcuterie. Oh, and the lovely Kathleen of course. Each month we have a special feature with room for only 10 guests; these have been booking up fast so make sure to put it on your calendar. It’s a great way to enjoy your evening before dinner reservations at The Purple Café. If you are interested please contact me via email skye@fidelitaswines.com

PS. If you're a fan of Ciel du Cheval Vineyards...you don't want to miss out on tastings in October.

Fall on Red Mountain

Harvest is coming to a close and new wines are being released, the signs of fall are visible around every turn.

It is a crisp October morning and the leaves in the vineyards on Red Mountain have begun to change colors for the season and what a beautiful sight it is.

The view from Antinori Road

Ciel du Cheval Vineyard

The Fidelitas Estate Vineyard

Harvest 2015 In Photos

We're all pretty busy around here with harvest and release but wanted to share some pictures with you!

Update: Red Mountain AVA

Fidelitas has completed picking both Semillon & Sauvignon Blanc from Klipsun. In addition, all Merlot from all sites in the AVA is in the door with some completely through tank fermentation & heading to barrel. We have started picking some Cabernet Sauvignon from Quintessence Vineyard and expect to continue picking both Cab Sauvignon & Malbec next week. Quality looks great so far despite it being the warmest vintage on record.