03/04/2021
March Wine Club
This month, in honor of Washington Wine Month, we feature Brendan Simpers’ 2016 Willow Wine Cellars Merlot/Cabernet Franc, from Boushey Vineyards in Yakima Valley.
Brendan started in the wine world working in hospitality for a winery in Virginia. After college, he moved to Napa to continue to work and gain hands-on experience, while also studying viticulture & enology. After he met his wife Tarnna there, they decided to move to her home town of Hood River for a change of scenery. Fate stepped in, though, and they soon had the chance to take over a friend’s backyard hobby vineyard, from which they made their first wine, a rosé.
The next few years brought slow and steady expansion of production as they also grew their family with the birth of two children, and Tarnna finished her Masters of Education. They were lucky to be able to produce their first few vintages at Syncline’s facility and have finally found a space of their own on Underwood Mountain for production and tasting.
During my last visit with Brendan, I was impressed with everything I tasted, noting how balanced and nuanced his wines are. Having the chance to bring something to the club that has aged perfectly in barrel and bottle is exciting for us!
https://www.willowwinecellars.com/
When we asked Brendan for some of his favorites for ideas to pair with his selection, he expressed how much he loves Albariño. So this month we will bring to you the story of Albariño through generations of family winemaking that culminated with Santiago & Rosa Ruiz, who are considered to be the father (and daughter) of Albariño.
In 1978, when Santiago was 70, and newly retired, he took up winemaking full time--his family made wine for themselves from their own grapes for generations, and were among the first bodegas to bottle for sale starting in 1860. He felt that with more precision in the production, Albariño could become one of Spain’s most important grapes. Until that point, it was consumed exclusively locally, so he began his mission to introduce it to the best restaurants in Spain, cold-calling, door to door to spread the word. Shortly after, his youngest daughter Rosa became convinced that she would follow in her father’s footsteps. She already worked in the vineyards and winery. The wine we present to the club was the result of her vision. She thought that their oldest vines should be separated for bottling rather than going into their main blend. Today, of course, the world knows the wonders of Albariño and plantings have popped up everywhere, including in Oregon, Washington and California!
The wine club features two wines a month $65—
One from a local winemaker paired with a wine they love to drink.
https://momandpopwineshop.com/wine-club
Every month there is also a special selection from a featured artisan.
This month, club members will receive a new, local, fermented hot sauce, called “Green Cobra,” which strikes the perfect balance between spice & tangy green flavors!
Follow along on Instagram at for special one off small batch hot sauces and locals only deals.
The wines come with printed materials & winemaker portraits by local musician/artist Emily Warden, who will also be making some musical recommendations for you to explore! http://www.emilywarden.com/
Also included is a signed picture postcard from another musician/picture-taker, Corrina Repp, corrinarepp.bandcamp.com
Each month, we will chat with our featured local winemaker on Instagram live, where we hope to answer your questions and learn more about their backstories, wines and future plans.
This club is suited to people who are interested in tasting all styles of wine & in supporting artisans. You can expect to taste sparkling, white, rosé, orange & red wines throughout the year!
You can sign up for a recurring monthly subscription or opt for a single month--a nice option if you want to give a gift or just check it out before committing to an annual subscription. There will be a limited number of subscriptions available, but we’ll do our best to accommodate everyone who is interested!
Photos of Santiago Ruiz inspecting his wine & Rosa Ruiz in the family's vines trellised on granite pillars.
