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2012 Greetings from the Hultquists (a link from our main page)
STORY ABOUT WHITE HERON CELLARS & MARIPOSA VINEYARD
In March, John started in the spring 2012
driving an hour to a beautiful location of White Heron Cellars
(Winery and vineyard), north of the West Bar area of the
Columbia River overlooking Trinidad, WA, the location of
Crescent Bar River Front Community. He spent about three
weeks going over to assist as a volunteer with wine grapevine
pruning in the Mariposa Vineyard. His route took him
down the old Vantage Highway and he kept reporting back about
seeing Elk on the lands downhill from the wind turbines.
I mentioned that to our friend, Celia Winingham, who had taken
this picture of the herd there in April and shared with us.
John didn't take any photos of the pruning process, but at least I have a few close-up grape plant and scenic photos from our 2006 class field trip visit and from a visit later this summer 2012 to an event we always attend in White Heron's summer program of jazz music and food in a beautiful setting (at a small amphitheater) overlooking the Columbia River Gorge. There are several events and you can get on the mailing list to learn about them. Write to
"Cameron Fries" <info@whiteheronwine.com> and ask to be included. Cameron is the owner, viticulturalist, wine grape grower, and winemaker. I'll put a picture of him from our tour below next to the grape leaf. He is the man in white talking to our class in front of the straw-bale built winery.
2006 View from the winery across the
vineyard toward Columbia River; the next two were taken in
2012 looking in the same direction. The one on the far
right is across a zoomed shot of ripples
from the ancient glacial (Lake Missoula) floods over the
West Bar landscape along the Columbia River (accessed via
the Moses Coulee)--the source of much of the soil in the
vineyard. The Sagebrush Mariposa is in the lily
family and found in dry areas. Mariposa is Spanish
for butterfly. They are on the hillside of the
vineyard, but not found where any cattle graze. We
have them in the sage brushy steppe part of our home; they
generally bloom here around the 4th of July. Below,
next to the grapevine photos, is a Sagebrush Mariposa from
our yard on the Naneum Fan taken July, 2002.
Above is from a PowerPoint I showed to classes in preparation
for field trips in subsequent years after 2006. 
Grapevines and grape clusters in the Mariposa Vineyard Sagebrush Mariposa at Hultquists
Above are selections of the 6-course dinner, the cook, and the sunset for our first field trip.
These photos were taken during our last offering of Geog 475: Wine, A Geographical Appreciation in summer of 2008.
I became ill in 2009, and we had to cancel the class, already filled. It was a popular offering every summer since 1998.
SEPTEMBER 7, 2012
Each
year Nancy's birthday (9/1) precedes a trip to White Heron
Cellars winery's celebration, Chefs' Extravaganza, in
conjunction with Columbia Basin's Farmer's Day
activities, This year was no different. The
entertainment was, Mugsy's Groove, a jazz group.
Several cooks (up to three) come and use local
agricultural products from Grant County to make their
interesting concoctions for the menu. It is cooked
right there on hot plates and grills, served buffet
style for as much as you wish to eat. Wine is
extra, but the entrance fee gets you food and
entertainment in a wonderful setting. We highly
recommend it. If someone wishes to go with us next
year, I'm the designated driver because the heart
medication I'm on only allows 4 ounces of wine with food once a
week.
Below are 4 plates of a sampling of the food available. There was a lot more I missed getting pictures of; however, below, left to right, from John's and my plate:
(1) Grant County Farmed Trout, grilled tomato, bean/veggie mixture;
(2) plum, watermelon with balsamic vinegar & mint, feta cheese with a corn dish;
(3) blue cheese mini pizza, honeydew melon w/peppermint, and a different corn offering; and,
(4) blueberry compote on deep fried corn muffin sprinkled with powdered sugar, melon, and grilled tomatoes with cheese and Panko bread crumbs.
Below are 4 plates of a sampling of the food available. There was a lot more I missed getting pictures of; however, below, left to right, from John's and my plate:
(1) Grant County Farmed Trout, grilled tomato, bean/veggie mixture;
(2) plum, watermelon with balsamic vinegar & mint, feta cheese with a corn dish;
(3) blue cheese mini pizza, honeydew melon w/peppermint, and a different corn offering; and,
(4) blueberry compote on deep fried corn muffin sprinkled with powdered sugar, melon, and grilled tomatoes with cheese and Panko bread crumbs.
All
photographs were taken by John or Nancy Hultquist, except the
one mentioned otherwise.
The Geography in a Bottle wine glass image has our title, but we captured the image from an
advertisement in the Wine Enthusiast magazine.
Comments to nancyh@ellensburg.com (only e-mail account which John also reads) or nancyb.hultquist@gmail.com or cedaridge@gmail.com
Cedaridge is our "Brittany" name.
Return to the main web page of our 2012 Greetings newsletter, with this link:
http://www.ellensburg.com/nancyh/2012Greetings.html
The Geography in a Bottle wine glass image has our title, but we captured the image from an
advertisement in the Wine Enthusiast magazine.
Comments to nancyh@ellensburg.com (only e-mail account which John also reads) or nancyb.hultquist@gmail.com or cedaridge@gmail.com
Cedaridge is our "Brittany" name.
Return to the main web page of our 2012 Greetings newsletter, with this link:
http://www.ellensburg.com/nancyh/2012Greetings.html