A fall full of wine events

Fall is our favorite time of year, and it is not just the crisp days, wonderful colors and football that we enjoy so much but also the great events in the wine industry. While the 2011 harvest has been less than joyful in wine country, the cool growing season and early rains have resulted in lengthening harvest and crush. We have heard from many of our customers who have recently traveled to California and the wine growing regions of Washington and Idaho that there is still a lot of fruit hanging, so if you have never seen "the crush" or if you have and liked it there is still time to strike out to the vineyards, and witness this annual ritual firsthand.

Closer to home the calendar is full of events and releases to keep all entertained heading into the holiday season. The list of participants in the Winter Wine Rodeo continues to expand as local restaurant Fire will now be dishing up some of their yummy bites. The list of vendors too is growing daily offering more chances to shop while you sip. The event will be held from 3-7 p.m. Nov. 19, with the special VIP session, "Behind the Chutes: How to judge wine like a wine rodeo judge" starting at 2 p.m. Information on the whole event including tickets are available by calling us at (208) 765-5653 or by contacting the fairgrounds. The VIP event is limited to 40 attendees, the main event is open and tickets have been selling quickly.

If you are looking for a more focused and intimate event the Gamache brothers Bob and Roger, who's Malbec "won the belt buckle" at last summer's wine rodeo competition will be in town for events the weekend of Nov. 11-12. The award winning Malbec will be featured both at a winemaker dinner on the 11th at Scratch in Coeur d'Alene on Sherman and a tasting here at the shop on the 12th. Between both events you will have the opportunity to taste 10 different varietals from Bob and Roger. While the tasting on the 12th is free the winemaker dinner is $55/person including tip. Reservations for both can be made at (208) 765-5653.

The fun does not stop with the Rodeo though. Join us here at the shop starting at 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, to sample five different champagnes and sparkling wines designed to help you find the perfect bubbly for your holiday celebrations.

The big event leading into Christmas is a weekend of events with famed Walla Walla winery Spring Valley and winemaker Serge LaVille. We are the only event with Spring Valley this year to be honored with Serge's participation. The winemaker dinner will be held Friday, Dec. 16, at Scratch, and the tasting will be held from 1-4 p.m. here at the dinner party on Saturday, Dec. 17, and again the shop tasting is complimentary. Together the two events will feature many of these delicious limited production wines that will be perfect to celebrate the special holidays.

Fall is not only great for wine events though as it is also one of the two big release times for wineries that offer some of their limited production and therefore hard to find wines. Joseph Phelps recently released their 2008 Insignia which together with the 2007 vintage has been hailed as the best back to back vintages ever from this storied producer. The wine will make a spectacular gift for your favorite wine enthusiast.

Another anticipated release each year is the Cabernet Franc from Pride Mountain Vineyards, the winery that sits on the county line between Napa and Sonoma. Considered by many to be the best Cabernet Franc made in the country and one of the top productions worldwide, it is made in tiny quantities and the 2009 is again flat out delicious.

One of our favorite international producers, Domaine Tempier located in Provence, just released their red wines which we now have in the shop. Both are from the 2009 vintage and are very good including the entry level Mourvedre-based red blend and the 100 percent Mourvedre from the La Tourtine Vineyard.

Finally, we just received the newest vintage of the Mongrana super Tuscan blend from our favorite Italian producer Querciabella. The 2009 blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet and Merlot is again great and while it has gone up slightly in price it still represents one of the most compelling values coming out of Europe at $23, which is why we have had the wine on the shelf since the day we opened.

Whether you want to attend events and try before you buy, find the perfect gift bottle for your favorite wine lover, or take advantage of the new releases that show up every year at this time, fall is the best time of year to take advantage of the plentiful offerings.

If there is a topic you would like to read about or questions on wine you can email George@thedinnerpartyshop.com or make suggestions by contacting the Healthy Community section at the Coeur d'Alene Press.

George Balling is co-owner with his wife Mary Lancaster of the dinner party - a wine and table top decor shop in Coeur d'Alene by Costco. George is also the managing judge of The North Idaho Wine Rodeo and writes frequently for the online version of Coeur d'Alene Magazine at www.cdamagazine.com. His articles can also be found on the blog at www.thedinnerpartyshop.com.