A robust fall and winter schedule
As in years past, we resumed our schedule of winemaker dinners and tastings in September. The season got off to such a fast start that we are later than normal with writing what will be a robust schedule over the coming months. In fact, we have our events booked out through the spring of 2019! As much as our wine events are a draw for wine consumers, they are just as much a draw for winemakers from around the Western US and in some cases, around the globe. We are fortunate that many winemakers are approaching us to get on our schedule of events, but the ultimate beneficiaries are the wine consumers here in North Idaho, as they get to spend time with some of the brightest lights in our industry.
This week on Thursday the 18th, we will be holding a winemaker dinner at Fleur de Sel with Axel Schug, of Schug Winery in Carneros. The dinner is sold out, but the good news is Axel will be in the shop on Friday, from 4:30 until 6 p.m., for a tasting. Carneros is one of our favorite wine regions in California. It is the strip of land along San Pablo Bay that runs across the base of Sonoma and Napa Counties. It is just about one of the most ideal and idyllic grape growing regions anywhere and Axel will take us through this region by tasting five of his wines.
Just this past week we were tasting through the Italian portfolio of Prestige imports with their area specialist, Bryan Jones. All of the wines we tasted with Bryan were not only great but were amazing values! We decided to schedule an event with Bryan on the spot and slip into the schedule quickly. He will be here at the shop from 4:30-6 p.m. on Thursday the 25th, to taste through these well priced and delicious wines.
On Saturday, Nov. 3, we will hold a release party for our wine club from 3-5 p.m. If you have ever wondered about wine clubs in general or ours specifically, you should stop by. It is a great opportunity to try the wines we selected for our November Wine Club and a chance to meet and chat with other wine consumers who have come to enjoy the club over the many years.
On Thursday, Nov. 15, we will host Jon Harding, a winemaker from Idaho winery Colter’s Creek, for a winemaker dinner at Fleur de Sel. Jon will also join us at the shop on Friday the 16th from 4:30 to 6 p.m. for a tasting of five of the wines from Colter’s Creek. Colter’s Creek has done a great job of not getting out of control with their pricing in an environment when it seems like so many Northwest wineries are getting a bit carried away. They are managing this while still producing some of the best wines to come out of Idaho, so be sure and check out why Idaho is garnering so much attention in the wine world.
On Thursday, Nov. 29, you should consider making the trip to Spokane to the lovely women’s clothing boutique, Jigsaw. Our wine club members receive a discount at Jigsaw and each year for the holidays we hold a Champagne tasting there. It is a great opportunity to taste and purchase some of our best new bubbly selections and get a bit of shopping in too.
On Dec. 13, David Roth, of Trefethen Vineyards of Napa Valley, will join us for a winemaker dinner at Fleur de Sel and then a tasting here at the shop on Friday the 14th from 4:30-6 p.m. Trefethen is the first wine club I joined when I was getting started on my own wine journey. To this day, they are some of our favorites from Napa; classic in style and just flat out delicious wines.
At the beginning of February, we will hold our quarterly wine club release party, then later in February we will be holding a winemaker dinner with a combination of wines from Spring Valley out of Walla Walla and Erath out of the Willamette Valley of Oregon. Then in March, Justin Wylie of VaPiano Winery from Walla Walla will be here.
We have several more winemakers that we are just waiting for firm commitments for the rest of our spring 2019 schedule. You can stop by the shop or watch our website www.thedinnerpartyshop.com for updates. This will be a great set of events throughout the fall and winter and a great time for wine consumers to learn more about the big world of wine there is to explore. We hope to see you at the events!
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George Balling is co-owner with his wife, Mary Lancaster, of the dinner party, a wine and gift shop in Coeur d’Alene by Costco. The dinner party has won the award for best wine shop in North Idaho twice, including for 2018. George is also published in several other publications around the country. After working in wineries in California and judging many wine competitions, he moved to Coeur d’Alene with Mary more than 10 years ago to open the shop. You can also follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/dinnerpartyshop.