Leavenworth: Go for the wine and the wine lists

One of the drawbacks of owning a retail wine shop is that it makes it tough to get away and explore wine country, even the nearby ones. Not that we don't get to try new wines - we do, virtually every week. The experience of getting out to wine country and trying wine in tasting rooms and at wineries, though, is different. For us, it is more relaxed, less business-like, and we get the added bonus of speaking to wine professionals in their element, and learn about what they do and what trends are driving our industry at the producer level.

Just after the new year, which is a quiet time in the retail world, we went to Leavenworth, Wash., for a couple of days to rest and relax, do a bit of hiking, and check out some new tasting rooms and wineries. The trip is well worth it for any wine consumer. You can be there in less than four hours; the setting is stunning, tucked back in a canyon at the base of the Cascades, and the wine and food scene is vibrant. It is a perfect two-day getaway. We were impressed by both the wine tasting rooms and also some very good local restaurants that had impressive wine lists.

First, for wineries. For the first time, we were able to visit with the folks from Boudreaux Cellars. The winery facility is actually located in Leavenworth, in the Icicle Canyon area. Unfortunately, we were not able to visit the winery due to the treacherous icy conditions leading to the winery; however, their tasting room downtown was great, with knowledgeable staff and cozy surroundings.

We were a little familiar with the wines as they are distributed, but we were unprepared for what a spectacular line-up they have. WOW! All the wines were great, exhibiting restraint, vibrant fruit, complexity, depth and elegance. We were so impressed that we talked to them on the spot about coming to Coeur d'Alene for a weekend, and owner Rob Newsome will be here in mid-February for a winemaker dinner and tasting.

One of the other tasting room highlights was Kestrel. We know the Kestrel wines well, having had selections in the wine club and also having the winemaker, Flint Nelson, up for a dinner in the last year. The tasting room staff was so friendly and charming, though, that it is a must visit on your list when you go to Leavenworth.

Similarly, the staff at Willow Crest was so warm and welcoming that you should make it a point to stop there. We have long been fans of the Willow Crest Pinot Gris, but found more whites we were thrilled with and did not know that they produced. These three and many other tasting rooms are located in a few block span of Front Street right downtown, so it makes for a great day to visit your favorites while walking between them.

On the restaurant front, we loved Visconti's. This large two-story restaurant is clearly an establishment and crowd favorite, and has been for some time. The Italian food was great and well-balanced, not simply interpreting Italian to mean "more garlic." The voluminous wine list was wonderful and loaded with Italian treasures that are not always easy to find. Not surprisingly, they are a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence winner. Just as impressive, though, was an attentive staff that did not flinch at all when asked about more obscure Italian varietals like Arneis and Aglianico; we found both on their list that were delicious and paired well with our menu selections.

We also ate at a local hangout, Pavz. Small, located right on Front Street, with an eclectic menu and wine list to match. They had a great selection of dry rose and white wine that paired perfectly with our lunch. As we looked at the full list, they also had a broad selection of local reds that intrigued us. The food, while simple, was perfectly prepared and delicious, and the service was timely and friendly.

On our last night we ate at South, a lively, bustling restaurant that features food from south of the border including Argentinean, Mexican, and Columbian. The food was very good and again, a wine list sourced from local wineries with some South American wines as well, most poured by the glass, with wonderful pairings.

We are fortunate to have many great appellations to visit that are near all of us wine consumers in North Idaho. The choices abound, and Leavenworth is one that should definitely be added to the list.

If there is a topic you would like to read about or if you have 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 is the wine editor for Coeur d'Alene magazine (www.cdamagazine.com). You can learn more about the dinner party at www.thedinnerpartyshop.com. You can get all of these articles, as well as other great wine tips, by friending us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/#!/dinnerpartyshop