winegirlblogs

I miss roller derby. I miss the creativity, the entrepreneurial, grassroots, DIY spirit. I miss the positive energy, the support, the exercise. I miss the girls, my best friends, my derby wives and team. And yes, I miss taking girls out. I miss that perfect hit that sends Valtron 3000 out of bounds. I miss everything… everything but the knee injuries.

So, all I have now is My Derby Wife Merlot and the amazing wine guests who stroll in and recount their personal experiences with derby. This week, in walked a colleague of the best co-cappie I ever had Carmen Getsome. It was such a delight to chat with him, meet his friends, and see how spirited he was about the sport. As a sports therapist he’s been helping the injured girls on Grave Danger heal and strengthen from their injuries. I wish he didn’t have to see that side of derby, but that’s a huge part of it.

Thanks for stopping in and I hope you have an amazing time at Carmen’s wedding. I wish with all of my heart that I could be there.

Cheers,
Killer aka WineGirl

PS to Lacey: Congratulations you two! I am so sorry I couldn’t be there to see you guys united! I love you both and to a long life of happiness and competitive video game playing.

When it comes to friends, WineGirl is luckier than all this week. Our special featured WineGirl of the Week is a selfless, long-time friend of Jonathan and Angela, who came to help get the decor in top shape for our most recent Grand Opening and Release Party! Brittany is by far one of the most genuine people I know working into the whee hours stuffing wine bottles with little lights for our new over-the-bar track lighting.

Thanks Brit the finished project is amazing and we couldn’t do it without your help!

Cheers,

WineGirl

A man named Ron came into The Blending Room last week. I thought I recognized him from somewhere. An older gentleman, bald on top, but a very well manicured white beard on the bottom. He looked as if perhaps he had forgotten his top hat home. He was very kind, but direct almost a little gruff. I knew I was in good hands when he began delving into his wine background. Turns out he retired only to find himself Chief Taster at Columbia Winery for over eight years.

Columbia Winery was the first winery I ever visited. I was 16, maybe I just turned 16. My boyfriend and I were celebrating my birthday on the Spirit of Washington Dinner Train. It was the mystery edition tour, a real Who Done It? where everyone’s a suspect and we all have to untangle the planted actors from the guests to solve the murder. Turns out the stuffed Husky dog I received as a surprise birthday gift was the culprit. Go figure.

Anyway, we arrived at Columbia Winery in Woodinville after what seemed like hours traveling time from Renton. Guess the commute’s still the same, even in a car. I’m not sure if I actually tasted wine that night, seeing as I was a paranoid goody two shoes and didn’t want to get caught drinking under-age. Maybe I sipped off my boyfriend’s glass, as he was after all of age. We purchased two bottles of wine. One was drunk at some point, and the other I have carried with me throughout nearly half my life. It’s a 1994 Columbia Valley Merlot. Not sure if the late Master of Wine David Lake made it or not. When I find the bottle I’ll add it to this post.

Well, throughout the next decade and a half I have found several reasons to visit Columbia Winery. One, I purchased a wine barrel from them in 2003 for my Sonoma County ΦΗΡΑ Cabernet Merlot. And, I went tasting with some friends where I purchased a 2000 Pinot Gris, that I still have too. It’s the label of the month for June along with the 1997 Yakima Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from the Otis Vineyard. If you look closely you can see the scratch marks from years of storage on my fancy Ikea wine rack. I’ll probably never open either. They’re part of my story. Probably better that way, seeing as white wines do not age well, and well reds, well… I believe on either of those occasions I may have run into Ron behind the Columbia Winery bar. It felt great to be on the other side of the bar from Ron. It allowed me to see how far I’ve come in the WineGirl Wines endeavor.

You know, what better way to go down in history than with your own wine label.

As I was researching my Wine in China? post, I came across a Karl Marx label on a Chinese sparkling wine. So, naturally I decided it would have to be the next label of the month.

Karl Marx Sparkling

Karl Marx Sparkling

Further researched confirmed another label on a German red wine:

This search also turned up an intriguing set of wine labels with equally controversial images (depending on which side you take) upon them. How about the Hitler label or the Carter label or the Che label?

Controversial Collection

Hitler Wine

Carter, Che, Churchill Collection

So, I’m no history buff. It was my least favorite class growing up. Maybe it was because I learned my history in a Texas classroom and had to unlearn it from A People’s History of the United States. I really lack in understanding of Communism, Marxism, Sentimentalism and all other -isms that would allow me to make a properly witty post on the meaning of a sparkling wine celebrating Karl Marx or a series of Der Führer with ex-President Carter involved. So instead of starting with my instincts Wikipedia: Karl Marx, I decided I’d find other labels of parallel ironic-ism.

My first attempt: Bob Marley

Found it!

Next: President Obama

First search return:

Then I come across an Obama wine, but is it real or is it Photoshop? Who knows these days.

How ’bout Tiger Woods? Not yet, but there’s:

Who’s next?

Cheers,
WineGirl

Wow! Wow is all I can really say. This huge event knocked us off our feet, literally.

Last weekend March 5th, 6th, and 7th, WineGirl Wines represented themselves in the Wine Garden of the NW Women’s Show! This event turned the Qwest Field Event Center into a mad house of pink and women’s gear!

Over 28,000 people poured into this event tasting new treats, learning of new objects like the bra barrette, sniffing olfactory pleasures from the House of Matriarch, not to mention free admission to the wine garden where 30 wineries poured their passion in to 3 oz plastic cups. Holy Cow!

Smiling servers:

1) Who everyone was there for: Washington State Fire Fighters. All proceeds from wine sales and sale of the 2010 Fire Fighter Calendar went to WSCFF Burn Foundation.

2) When I wish I had a camera in my brain: Professional convention go-er/Steam Punk chick had a long chat with me, all the while I tried NOT to stare at her two sets of yellowed vampire fangs, yes on purpose. Crazy!

3) New lessons were learned: Please forgive me, Professor Stearns for not listening in your marketing class during the demographics session. Apparently: “95% women, 25-65+, 85% work outside the home, 90% live within a 50 mile radius of Seattle” does not encompass your typical wine appreciator.

4) New friends were made:

• Christi from House of Matriarch stopped by. What a doll and inspiration! She was reading my tasting notes for My Derby Wife Merlot “…full tannin structure and cherry blossom bouquet… when she almost spits the wine out! What? I ask. She laughs and explains that cherry blossom is not a reproducible scent! How funny, and she would know as a professional nose!
• Kathy Charlton of Olympic Cellars. A true kindred spirit and role model. She was a veteran of the NW Women’s Show and had brought along her fun wines from the Working Girl series.
• And of course, fellow Lake Chelan winery owner of Hard Row to How had to stop by to check out the competition. Don Phelps is such a genuine man. I am so lucky to have his passion for wine in my own backyard. But I couldn’t help but giggle when he told me about the pasties he was going to bring back to his tasting room!

5) Newest Team Wino Member:

6) What almost made me cry: When the Matriarch returned at the end of the LONG event and gave me a sample of her Ultimate Bath pillow. I just wanted to draw the hot water right there and slip right in with the stunning bath pillow caressing my tired skin. Thank you!