Our fall lineup
Despite the relentless heat, fall is approaching, and along with it we will resume our wonderful and successful partnership with Fleur de Sel in Post Falls on winemaker dinners. And what a lineup it is! Since we first started working with Fleur de Sel on our dinners two years ago, we have hosted some blockbuster evenings. Chef Laurent Zirotti and Patricia Zirotti, his wife and co-owner, do a consistently great job, firmly establishing the restaurant atop the list here in North Idaho. Laurent always does some of his most creative work for our wine dinners, and the service provided by Patricia's wait staff is seamless, professional and efficient. We look forward to some great food and wine from now until the end of the year.
On October 8, we will welcome Buddy Dunn from the powerhouse Napa-based brokerage Wilson Daniels. Located in the heart of wine country, Wilson Daniels imports and distributes some of the biggest of the big names and represents a broad portfolio of Napa Valley's best producers. Their list of wineries is truly impressive. Double Eagle red has been one of the consistent favorites from this great portfolio, a classic Napa Cabernet named after a golf score most of us only dream of. But the "book" from Wilson Daniels does not stop there, as the Routestock wines - Hyde de Villaine, and Schramsberg, to name just a few - are all candidates for our evening with Buddy.
In November, we will return to the Northwest as we host our good friend Marcus Miller, owner and winemaker at Airfield Winery in Prosser. On Nov. 12, Marcus will make a repeat appearance here in North Idaho, as he was one of the first winemakers we hosted for a dinner nearly five years ago. Airfield has been consistently producing great wines in Prosser, both under their Airfield label as well as Lone Birch. Their classic Washington portfolio of Rhone and Bordeaux varietals are beautifully packaged, delicious, and span price points that can fit in any budget.
On Dec. 3, Justin Basel will join us from Foundry Vineyards and Winery. Justin cut his teeth at family-owned Basel Cellars and has really come into his own as a winemaker at Foundry. We look forward to working with the wines that he has crafted in the three years since he joined the winery.
Every Friday following these dinners, we will hold a tasting here at the shop with the winemakers for those of you unable to attend the dinner. We are also still working to have a winemaker here in September, so watch our website for the addition. We will also be hosting our holiday Champagne tasting in December, which we will also add to the site when we have the date nailed down. We look forward to this great assemblage of wine talent and working with Fleur de Sel on more great wine dinners.
Harvest Note: It is impossible to escape the news and the smoke from the wildfires burning around the western U.S. While the grape harvest (which is now in full swing) seems trivial compared to the suffering, loss of life, and property loss around the west, we have received many questions regarding smoke damage to the grape stock. Based on conversations we have had, California is largely in good shape. Smoke damage is spotty and minimal around most of the state, but more concentrated and severe in Lake County. The fires in Washington are largely burning north of the main grape growing areas of the Yakima, Columbia and Walla Walla Valleys. While the damage will be extensive in and around Chelan, the other areas are being spared the brunt of the smoke. Similarly, in Idaho and Oregon the fires are not burning right in the grape growing regions, so damage is spotty.
We will continue to update readers on the harvest and pray for all our friends in wine country that any damage will be minimal and manageable.
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 tabletop decor shop by Costco in Coeur d'Alene. George has also worked as a judge in many wine competitions, and his articles are published around the country. You can learn more about the dinner party at www.thedinnerpartyshop.com. You can get all of these articles and other great wine tips by friending us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/dinnerpartyshop.