August 2014 | Summer in the City
Summer in the City was my first event I worked at Fidelitas, and it quickly became my favorite event to host. Each year we explored different parts of Seattle (although Fremont Foundry took the cake a few times), ate yummy food, danced to music, listened to Kathleen sing a tune, and toasted to a summer with friends.
Let’s rewind to that day in August 2014:
I showed up at The Fremont Foundry with balloons in my hand, eager to see how Fidelitas really liked to party. I had just moved back to the west coast and had my first real taste of what it was like to park in Seattle. Spoiler alert – not great. I met some Red Mountain team members (now they are just frequent visitors), had my first bite of Eric’s famous tacos, and chatted with members under the twinkle lights. I knew right away I was going to fit in just fine. But what really made that night special wasn’t just the tacos and twinkle lights, it was the wine. Charlie’s handcrafted amazing vino.
2001 Meritage
2013 Klipsun Vineyard Semillon
2011 Columbia Valley Malbec
2012 4040 Red Wine
2010 Champoux Vineyard Merlot
2011 Boushey Red Wine
2011 Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
2010 Champoux Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
2010 Ciel du Cheval Cabernet Sauvignon
2013 Klipsun Vineyard Late Harvest Semillon
This year has brought us some challenges and as someone who plans most of the events, I find myself going down memory lane longing for the day when we can come together again.
We may not be together for a summer night in the city on August 9th like we had thought, but I hope you’ll open something special and think back to your first with Fidelitas. For me, I’ll be popping open a 2010 Champoux Vineyard Merlot.
Cheers!
Summer in the City 2015 | Palisade | Magnolia
Summer in the City 2017 | Fremont Foundry | Fremont
Summer in the City 2018 | Fremont Foundry | Fremont
Summer in the City 2019 | Block 41 | Belltown
Jul 29, 2020 at 9:00 AM
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We Love Red Mountain
There are too many reasons to love Red Mountain. Not only is it our home, but it’s a place that offers a wide variety of complex flavors for all palates, beautiful sunsets, and passionate wine loving people who could spend their days sharing Red Mountain stories. Did I mention beautiful sunsets?
In the month of February, we release a set of wines that encompass everything which makes this little AVA so special. Sipping on these wines you taste those complex flavors, see those beautiful sunsets, and remember the amazing Red Mountain stories you heard in the tasting room.
Our members are currently customizing their allocations with this set of new releases. My recommendation? Snag them all! You have enough variety in this line-up to please all of those around you.
2017 Red Mountain Malbec
released in January – available to all!
2017 Red Mountain Merlot
releasing in February
2017 Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
releasing in February
2017 Optu Red Mountain
releasing in February
Current members, log-in here to customize your upcoming allocation. Not a member yet? Consider joining by following this link! There is still enough to go around.
Jan 29, 2020 at 9:00 AM
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Cheers to 2019
Is it just me, or did 2019 come and go as fast as a glass of Optu White on a hot day?
As this year comes to an end I can’t help but reflect on all of the things that happened. From bad weather trying to come between us and your wine shipments, to Charlie gaining a new employee in the cellar, you can say we pretty much saw it all in 2019. Why don’t we all sit back, sip on some Red Mountain Cabernet (slowly) and reminisce together.
Snowmageddon
This year started off on let’s say…a very chilly foot. Washington saw some record snowfall while all our friends throughout the country were buried under ice. Florida was sounding really nice wasn’t it? We had to push back the shipping dates on not one, but two club shipments. You could say that Michelle and I were dreaming of easier days. A big THANK YOU to all our members who have their wines shipped. We appreciated you hanging in there with us!
Diners, Drive-In’s, and Charlie?
We can’t forget the time that Charlie appeared on Diners, Drive-In’s, and Dives! As Will put it, if you never watched the episode you need to reevaluate how you spend your free time. Charlie can be seen chowing down on some delicious Porters BBQ in the episode titled “Southern to South American.” Do yourselves a favor and find a way to stream it.
That time Will ran our Woodinville location
One of the bigger things to happen within Fidelitas this year was Will’s transition from Woodinville Tasting Room Manager to Winemaker in Training. He joined his dad in the cellar and quickly learned that days off don’t exist during harvest. Charlie got a real kick out of that! I know our west side members miss seeing him during their visits but take comfort in knowing that he is thriving and has the worlds cutest puppy who is basically Instagram famous (@griffeygoodboy).
We brought on some new faces
Who can take a guess at how many new team members we have at Fidelitas?
Team Fidelitas has gained some amazing and awesome faces. New Tasting Room Managers were hired this spring (shout out to Josh, Allie, and Bryce!) and with all the high foot traffic came some much needed help. If you’re a regular in Woodinville or on Red Mountain you’ll be able to point them out! Make sure to say hi. They love to chat all things wine!
Events, events, and more events!
Preview Tastings, Feast of St Fidelis, Winemaker dinners, Summer in the City at Block 41, Harvest Party and Pick6 all made their returns in 2019. What can we say? We like to party with you. I wonder what’s in store for next year?
Vintage of the decade
Check out Charlie's blog posts Vintage of the Decade or Harvest 2019 if you haven't read them already! Hint: one comes with an adorable picture of Will wearing a questionable outfit. To get the low down, take a peek at a blog post by Will titled Reflecting on Fidelitas' 20th Harvest. He has some great insights including what pairs well with Top Ramen (sleep deprivation much?). To sum it up, 2019 was one for the books. According to Charlie “It might be a bit premature to declare 2019 the vintage of the decade but it does show tremendous potential.”
Who just got excited?
And lastly, because of our stellar members in the Wine Club, we are closing down yet again for the holiday season. Turns out you really like the wine! Another year where we can proudly say we sold all of the wine we produced. We take this moment to thank our members for coming through our doors and always leaving as family with a bottle or two to bring home. We hope whenever you open that bottle it reminds you of the good times and conversations.
We’ll see you in 2020!
Dec 18, 2019 at 9:00 AM
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Harvest Update - Will Edition
We heard from Will!
Ever since he left Woodinville to start his winemaking journey with Charlie, he has been quite the busy man. But he was able to climb out of the tanks to give us an update on how harvest is going and let's just say, this vintage will be one for the books!
From Will
- I'm writing this right before I start my split shift so I'll make it quick; harvest has picked up so half the crew at the winery is working 6am-4pm, crushing fruit, measuring fermentations and inoculating, + doing the morning pumpovers, punchdowns, and roll of the roller barrels while the second half of the team works 10am-8pm pressing fermentations into barrel and finishing with the pumpovers. Mitch, Chaz, and I usually meet right at 10am to taste through everything and decide what's going to get pressed that afternoon or next morning.
- The biggest thing we've noticed is how "bright" the wines are from this harvest - great acidity, light on the palate, without any overripe fruit characteristics. We've seen a gradual cool end of the summer which has allowed us to pick things at a nice even pace without worrying about everything getting ripe all at once. Sometimes we get pretty warm mid-September but the forecast is mid-high 70's with
- We're about 40% done with all the Fidelitas picks which is hard to believe but we still have lots and lots of cab coming in which tends to be the most work with all the different fermentation vessels that we use for those,
- Right now we have 33 red, 12 white, 2 rose active fermentations at Wine Boss
- The most exciting news yet is the 3 Estate Vineyard lots we have going, Merlot, Malbec, and Clone 169 Cab. Can't wait to try those after they getting closer to being dry. We've processed quite a bit of Quintessence fruit already so we'll have a good benchmark to compare those too.
- Fun fact: Malbec looks horrible when it gets crushed, the insides are lime green, everything falls apart, and the juice is like a beige/pale color. Then overnight magic happens and the juice is a dark purple color and tastes like wildberry jam.
Thanks for the update, Will! Now...get back to pumpovers!
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Sep 18, 2019 at 1:19 PM
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Dinner in the Vines
Aug 22, 2019 at 12:30 PM
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Summer in the City | August 14, 2019
What better way to say thank you for being a member than by throwing the best bash of the year?
Summer in the City is where we host our members, their friends, and their families. We’ve chosen a new venue this year called Block 41. A hip, rustic space that offers an outdoor patio right in the heart of Seattle.
Walk up the stairs to be greeted with some white wine, then find your way to one of the many red wine pouring stations. Once you’re done with the tasting head over to the famous (and incredibly delicious) taco truck, grab a plate, purchase a glass of wine, and take a seat to hangout and listen to live music. This really is the best way to spend a Wednesday evening!
You can find more details here on our website. Tickets are still available and we would love to see you there!
Jul 24, 2019 at 10:25 AM
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Party on the Patio
What are your plans for Memorial Day Weekend?
Every year Fidelitas hosts BBQ + Band on everyone's favorite patio. Did you know it's supposed to be in the 80's at our home on Red Mountain this weekend? What better way to celebrate the sunshine than by enjoying some delicious BBQ by Outlaw Catering, and listening to some soulful jams by Black Dolly? Pair that with some of our 2016 The Canyons Vineyard Red Wine and your weekend really can't be beat. An insider tip...we may be featuring a special wine that isn't being released until June. Any guesses what it is? Hint: we only produced 190 cases and it's our favorite summer sipper!
We hope to see our members and their friends this Sunday, May 26th. We'll have a glass waiting!
May 22, 2019 at 9:00 AM
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More Releases Still to Come...
As we near the end of club season, some might be wondering how they are going to wait until September for a whole new set of releases. Don’t worry, Fidelitas will always have you covered (except for that one time we ran out of wine). To pair perfectly with your summer BBQ’s, family reunions, and parties galore we have two wines that you'll need to add to your collection.
2018 Red Mountain Semillon
coming in June
2016 The Canyons Vineyard Malbec
coming in July and only 96 cases produced
But before we add those two new additions to the tasting lineup, there are a couple of wines you might want to snag now before they sell out.
2017 Red Mountain Optu White
only 55 cases remain
2016 The Canyons Vineyard Red Wine
only 95 cases remain
members only, contact me to order
All four of these wines together create the perfect bundle. Does someone want a 100% Semillon, or something with a little more acidity like the Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon blend? Do you have a big Malbec lover at the party, or someone who likes a blend but still enjoys what Malbec has to offer? Be sure to get on our mailing list if you’re not already so you can stay up to date on our newest releases.
Apr 18, 2019 at 1:10 PM
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Taste Washington this Spring
We’re in the midst of Taste Washington Wine Month which is the kick-off to all things happening in our industry! With spring around the corner, there are so many ways you can come out and support Washington wine and all it has to offer. I hope you’re ready to start planning, because we have a lot in the books.
March
Taste Washington: 28-31st
Travelling to the vineyards a little difficult for you this time of year? Purchase your tickets and enjoy all the wineries that will come to Seattle! For some insider tips, check out a previous blog post of ours.
April
Fidelitas Club Release Weekends: 13-14th + 20th
We are celebrating the release of our highly anticipated wines from Quintessence Vineyard on Red Mountain. Get more information on how to join our Wine Club and receive these member exclusive wines!
Yakima Valley Spring Barrel Weekend: 20-21st + 26-28th
Purchase your tickets and join the crowds who are getting out in the sunshine to enjoy all the wines Yakima Valley has to offer.
Fidelitas Winemaker Dinner at The Lodge: 28th
A lovely intimate dinner put on by The Lodge at Columbia Point in Richland! Be sure to contact them for more details.
May
Feast of St. Fidelis: 3rd
Our annual club appreciation party on Red Mountain! Enjoy delicious wines, and the famous tacos from That Guy Catering. Members, an invitation will be sent in April with tickets and more information!
Walla Walla Release Weekend: 3-5th
Be one of the first to try newly released wines that can only be tasted at the wineries. A beautiful time of year to enjoy the vineyards in Walla Walla.
Fidelitas Roadshow in Portland: 18th
After our first trip visiting our neighbors to the south, we just had to keep coming back! Come visit us for our 4th annual Portland Roadshow. Be sure to signup for our newsletter so you receive the invitation coming out in April. Open to all!
Do you live on the west side of the Mountains? Check out the Woodinville Wine Country here for a list of all the upcoming events starting in May.
With the sun finally shining, come out and support your local wineries! We'd love a visit.
Mar 13, 2019 at 1:00 PM
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Last Call!
As many of you may have heard, Fidelitas is closing its doors for the holidays beginning December 18th and will re-open on January 2nd. The reason being? Well, it seems that our members really, really, really loved the 2015 vintage reds. And now we are SOLD OUT! Did anyone see that coming? I know how much you would love to come in and chat it up with Will in Woodinville, or Chelsea on Red Mountain. But, it’s just not as fun when they don’t have wine to pour you. This is also a great time for the Fidelitas team to sit back and celebrate a wonderful 2018 with their families.
We have some exciting things to come in January including the brand new 2016 Red Mountain Malbec. Everyone’s favorite black label! An invitation was also just sent out to our Optu and Magna members inviting them to the Preview Tasting which is being hosted on Sunday, January 13th both in Woodinville and on Red Mountain. If you haven’t already, make sure to reserve your two tickets online! This will be your only opportunity to taste these highly allocated wines prior to selecting allocations.
Just a few days remaining to come in and snag those last-minute bottles for the holidays. Come in and visit us so we can cheers to exciting things to come in 2019!
Dec 13, 2018 at 1:05 PM
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