Mellisoni

Organizers say: “After an inspiring visit to Italy in 2002, Rob & Donna Mellison were seduced by the vineyards, the food and the wines. They were given and followed some very wise advice from an Italian winemaker: “Make your wine for your own tastes, your own pallet, it will be unique and will represent you. The benefit of making the wine to your own taste is that if no one else likes it, and it doesn’t sell, at least you’ll enjoy drinking it!” Meet the always entertaining winery owners Rob & Donna Mellison, as they take you through an exploratory session of your senses. Visually, Mellisoni sits high on the bluff of the South Shore of Lake Chelan. Their vineyards hug the steep slopes with the steepest grown at 60 degrees. With the vineyards as your backdrop, sit back, relax and soak in the unobstructed views of Lake Chelan – the 3rd deepest lake in the United State. Guests will taste a selection of white and red wines, each with a unique food pairing that showcases the unique qualities of the Mellisoni wines. You’ll taste: o 2007 Syrah, a jammy, earthy, and very aromatic, with balanced fruits and tannins o 2006 Reserve Merlot is rich and layered, very fruit forward, and so silky smooth, you’ll want to keep drinking it all night long; o 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, a young vintage from Mellisoni that is showing very well: o 2012 Estate Gewürztraminer, called Outstanding by Wine Press Northwest – it nails the variety with classic rosewater and grapefruit rind bitterness in the finish: o 2009 Estate Riesling, earning Gold at the San Francisco International Wine Competition and rated Excellent by Wine Press Northwest: o 2011 Estate Pinot Grigio, winning double- gold at the Washington State Wine Competition as well as Platinum in Wine Press Northwest’s Best of the Northwest competition; o 45 Degrees, a stunning blend of 70% Riesling/30% Gewürztraminer that is winning everyone over.

The Blending Room by WineGirl Wines

Organizers say: “Meet Angela Jacobs. Winemaker and owner of The Blending Room. You’ll immediately discover that youth is not always wasted on the young. Angela Jacobs, determined and adventurous never hesitates to climb the barrels, wine thief in hand and test the wine. A previous life as a roller derby girl, you can’t help but be entertained!” Wines paired with pizzas from the wood burning oven!

I haven’t been to Lake Chelan since I was in my mid-20s and hiking the Pacific Crest Trail from the California/Oregon border to the Washington/Canadian border. On that trip, we were on the far end of Lake Chelan and we took a boat to the Campbell Lake resort where my former husband and I picked up our resupply box and had lunch with his grandma Ethel who drove to see us from Spokane. I remember being impressed by the rustic beauty of the region and the deep, clear green blue of the third largest lake in North America. I wonder how it’s changed in all these years–back then it was all apples, and no wine that I can think of! I certainly don’t remember it looking like this press photo they sent me!