Wow! Cascade Valley Wine Country

Wine Bloggers CVWCWe just got back from an amazing 3-day trip to Cascade Valley Wine Country, where we met some fantastic people, tasted some standout wines and ate too much delicious food. 

The next time you plan a weekend getaway, we highly recommend this destination.

Our special thanks and applause go to Cascade Valley Wine Country and its director, Jean Ashby; Chelan and Douglas County Ports; Nancy Smith of the Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce; Mike Steel of the Wenatchee Chamber of Commerce; our Leavenworth guide, Ed Rutledge of Eagle Creek; and the many winemakers, winery and restaurant owners, and others who made our trip so memorable. (Truth be told, we visited 17 wineries and tasted additional wines at a speed blogging/tweeting event.)

Because my travels are continuing, I cannot immediately blog in-depth about our great adventures. So for now, here are highlights of my 100 tweets and photos that I posted live during the wonderful weekend. Enjoy!

  • On a bus with @nectarwine @winepeeps @writeforwine @winebeerwa @wawinereport @winefoot @catie @decanterbntr 
  • At Stemilt Creek Winery – planted first grapes since ’99, but other fruit for 100 years. #cvwc … Tasting 06 Stemilt Hill Red 
  • 07 Cab Sauv @fieldinghills is so big it makes me crave steak. Talk about the Wow factor! It was #39 in Top 100 wines of world, Wine Enthusiast!
  • At last I tasted the award-winning Cab Franc @fieldinghillswinery. As I was told would happen, I am in heaven. Rich smooth complex.#cvwc
  • At Martin-Scott in Wenatchee #cvwc – beautiful location- nice Pinot Grigio, 2007 Malbec & a lovely Petit Sirah http://twitpic.com/2pfg3q
  •  At @stlaurent winery #cvwc. So beautiful. http://twitpic.com/2pg6hh
  • Yes weddings are booked here @stlaurent winery #cvwc http://twitpic.com/2pg6hh
  • 1st course @stlaurent was excellent shrimp & mango springroll from Ravenous Catering paired w/ riesling w/ notes of mango #cvwc both delish
  • First look at Lake Chelan at Nefarious #cvwc http://twitpic.com/2pos98
  • Tasting @Nefarious 2009 Viognier – the wine they take home at night. Creamy with pear flavors.#cvwc
  • 2009 Consequence @nefariouswines is perfect for a warm day on the deck.55% Sauv Blanc 40% Aligote 5% Viognier.#cvwc
  • At Tsillan Cellars ih Lake Chelan, Bob Jankelson, Mike Steel and @WinePeeps http://twitpic.com/2ppcsg #cvwc
  • Next up at Tsillan is Bellisima Rossa, a well-rounded Bordeaux blend with Cab Sauv, Cab Franc and Merlot. #cvwc
  • Pinot Gris grapes at Tsillan Cellars. http://twitpic.com/2ppy61
  • Now at Karma, where a nice flight awaits us. Http://twitpic.com/2ppyma
  • Lake Chelan is most definitely a place I will visit again – so beautiful, lush and a great experience. #cvwc
  • Pond at Karma Vineyards – so pretty! http://twitpic.com/2pq64m
  • Josh and Catie at @vindulac.#cvwc http://twitpic.com/2pqg2u
  • I wasn’t a big Riesling fan until now @vindulac and its 2007 Lehm Dry Riesling. Mmmm. #cvwc
  • 2009 Red Cafe Rose @vindulac is a refreshing blend of Cab Franc and Sangiovese, perfect as the sun shines now in Lake Chelan. #cvwc
  • Happy to say that @vindulac 2007 Cab Franc lives up to the buzz, and the awards. Rich, mocha, chocolate -great way to end this visit. #cvwc
  • Thank you Chelan and Douglas County Ports for this lovely experience for wine bloggers visiting Cascade Valley Wine Country #cvwc
  • Musicians entertaining @bensonvineyards in Lake Chelan http://twitpic.com/2prsp1 Gorgeous! #cvwc
  • 2008 Sangiovese @bensonvineyards would pair well with Dave’s spaghetti with meat sauce # cvwc
  • I’ve got Rhythm! 2007 Rhythm @bensonvineyards, that is. Classy blend of syrah, merlot, cab franc & a touch of Sangiovese & cab sauv #cvwc
  • Just arrived at Chateau Faire le Pont – such a beautiful location for live wine blogging #cvwc http://twitpic.com/2pta5g
  • Chateau Faire le Pont, our host winery #cvwc, poured free-run 2006 Milbrandt Syrah – Jammy, peppery, and hitting all the right notes
  • Next up, Craig @crayelle, switches us back to whites, and it’s 2008 dry Riesling with the motto “balance, character & longevity” #cvwc
  • Wedge Mountain’s Charlie McKee has been making wine since 1955; tasting 2006 Charlie’s Stash Cab Sauvignon from Red Mountain #cvwc
  • Baroness Cellars is pouring 2008 Nebbiolo aka the noble woman – young but very enjoyable & approachable – just released today! #cvwc
  • Bergdorf Cellars poured hot, spicy Gluhwein – so different – served warm; a lovely winter drink … think après ski heaven! #cvwc
  • Two faves from @hardrow – Cab Franc and Pinot Noir – thanks Judy and Don.#cvwc
  • Mountain goats in Leavenworth #cvwc http://twitpic.com/2q1rro
  • Bob Johnson, the original owner of Enzian restaurant in Leavenworth blowing his horn http://twitpic.com/2q20mj
  • Silver Vineyards in Leavenworth where today’s tasting begins #cvwc http://twitpic.com/2q1yqn
  • This is it – the group of wine bloggers in Cascade Valley Wine Country this weekend. #cvwc http://twitpic.com/2q2dhc
  • Just arrived @winetidbits learning about Alan Yanagimachi wine making background #CVWC #WAwine 60% sales is apple wine. (via @winebeerWA)
  • We are at the beautiful @icicleridge in Leavenworth #cvwc http://twitpic.com/2q2qyh
  • Louis Wagner, patriarch @icicleridge, and his 1928 Chevvie pickup! http://twitpic.com/2q2uezhttp://twitpic.com/2q2uez
  • Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon @icicleridge has a nice mouthfeel and notes of cherries- winner of a silver Seattle wine award. #cvwc
  • Eagle Creek winemaker/owner Ed Rutledge hand-carved & painted these 2 beauties at his Leavenworth winery. #cvwc http://twitpic.com/2q3x2f
  • Wine bloggers run wild at Eagle Creek Winery in Leavenworth #cvwc http://twitpic.com/2q407d
  • Visconti’s restaurant continues to be a must-stop place on any trip to north central WA #CVWC
  • Almost home after amazing weekend in Cascade Valley Wine Country #cvwc. Thanks to the Ports, Chambers, our great hosts Mike, Nancy, Ed & Jean.

Thanks again, Cascade Valley Wine Country! And cheers!

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About Margot

Margot has been writing about wine since 1997 at KOIN-TV in Portland, Oregon; ten years later, she created this blog. Write for Wine focuses on the fine wines of Washington state, with additional posts about Oregon, B.C., California, ANZ, France, Italy, Spain and more. A former national journalist in Canada and the U.S., Margot has been a Washington wine enthusiast since moving to Seattle in 1999. Her motto: “It’s wine o’clock somewhere.”