lummi island wine tasting august 12 ’16

(note: some photos will enlarge when clicked)

Friday Breads (email us to get on the preorder mailing list! )

dscn1202 (Modified)Sonnenblumenbrot – aka Sunflower Seed Bread. This bread is made primarily with bread flour, but also includes a healthy amount of fresh coarsely ground rye for flavor and texture. A little malt syrup for sweetness then loaded with toasted sunflower seeds. A great all around bread – $5/loaf.

Breton Bread – A mix of hearty whole grains including both buckwheat and rye, in addition to the bread flour. The salt is the sel gris from Brittany which brings some mineral flavor to the bread. A bit of malt powder for sweetness rounds out the flavor profile. Great with meats and cheeses or fresh garden tomatoes – $5/loaf.

Bagels – Always popular! Made with a bit of preferment sponge, mixed, shaped and refrigerated overnight before being boiled and baked in the traditional manner. This results in a delicious chewy bagel. Four bagels per bag, one each sesame seeds, poppy seeds, mixed sesame-poppy, and plain. – 4/$5

This weekend

20140724-123524.jpgWe are away this weekend, in Sonoma practicing Grandparenting. As nearly as I can tell, this job apparently has No Accountability whatsoever, except that you are supposed to do Only the Fun Stuff, and pass off everything Difficult to the Parents. Well, so far so good on that score!

However, it is Logical for our Regulars to be Concerned that you will be Left in the Cold by our Absence. Never fear, however, the Wine Shop will be Open as Usual, thanks to volunteers Janice H and Sue A, who have (Hooray!) Stepped Up to Serve you in our absence!

Therefore, be advised the Wine Shop will be open as usual this weekend, both Friday and Saturday, usual hours. We understand that all of you adapted splendidly during our absence last winter, so we are confident all w be well this weekend as well. We tip our hats in gratitude to your hosts, and invite all of you to show up in support of their efforts!

Baby 1.0

IMG_20160811_103101152_cropA zillion years ago (early sixties) there was a TV show (“Ben Casey”) that began with a little set of symbols drawn one by one on a chalkboard while a male voice intoned its name:  ♂  ♀ ✳ † ∞… : “Man…Woman…Birth…Death…Infinity…”  see video.

So here we are in Sonoma this week visiting with 10 week old Seriozha, and of course being totally fascinated by his moment to moment process of Coming Online. I am reminded of a recording of a long lecture given many years ago by Moshe Feldenkrais, whose work I studied and practiced for many years, in which he repeatedly asked, “What is the purpose of a Nervous System?” He would then proceed to offer a number of answers and one by one refute them. Although it took him a long time to get to it, his final point was in effect, “The purpose of a Nervous System is to make Order out of Chaos.” 

This week, watching Seriozha exploring his World moment by moment, yesterday waving his arms seemingly at random, then later touching and grasping something but not able to repeat it, and today, more often able to reach out and touch with some will, we can see him programming his nervous system, as we all had to do, to make Order from the tumult of sensations we have been experiencing since Birth, building our individual, interdependent Worlds.

Vinho Verde 101

As our dear Portuguese-fluent friend  Myra taught us years ago, the correct way to pronounce “vinho verde” is “veeng-yo vaird.” We should also note that when she says it, she moves her head and hands in space, painting the words in the air like a Samba. So you know this has to be, you know, Something Special. Which is true.

This little region of Portugal has been making this wine for some 2000 years. It’s in the blood, it’s in the landscape, it’s in the long cultural history of the region. There are some 19,000 individual “vineyards” spread over 51,ooo acres. A quick calculation reveals that on average, that’s about 2.6 acres per vineyard. But many of those are even much smaller family vineyards grown on stone walls, fences, and pergolas on whatever land is available.

Like our own Pacific Northwest in some respects, the Vinho Verde region gets a lot of rain from the North Atlantic. Grape varietals permitted in vinho verde include Alvarinho, Avesso, Azal, Arinto, Loureiro, and Trajadura, which all grow well in the area. Given the climate, however, these are not wines to be enjoyed young. They are typically bottled within three to six months after harvest, and are best drunk within a year of two of harvest.

More info on vinho verde

Chocolate Refill

dscn1118 (Modified)Yes, yes, some of you have noticed that in the last month or two our Chocolate corner has been looking pretty desolate. Therefore all of you Chocolate Lovers  will be please to know that we have restocked with our favorites from  Theo Chocolate in Seattle.  Their chocolate is made “from bean to bar” from mostly Fair Trade cacao beans and combined with other quality ingredients like sea salt, ginger, dried fig, coffee bean, coconut, and spices to produce delectable, addictive, and satisfying taste sensations.

Chocolate fan…? Come on by and try some samples!

 

This week’s wine tasting

Quinta de Aveleda vinho verde  ’09    Portugal       $10
Loureiro, Trajadura and Alvarinho  blend;  fresh and lively aromas of lime, pink grapefruit, peach and dusty mineral scents. Fresh and fizzy, with vibrant, assertive, sharply defined citrus fruit flavors.

Mas des Bressades Rosé Cuvée ’15   France  $14
Spicy aromas and flavors of ripe red berries, orange, and pungent flowers; Nicely concentrated and supple, gaining weight with air, picking up bitter cherry and melon notes and a lingering red fruit liqueur quality.

Campo Viejo Tempranillo ’13     Spain       $11
Aromas of ripe red fruit followed by gentle sweet notes of vanilla and spices. Perfumed, soft and fresh with a lingering finish of red fruit, vanilla and cocoa. A perennial go-to value here at AWG.

Portteus Bistro Red ’13    Washington    $10
54% Merlot and 46% Cabernet Franc. A food friendly wine with delicate yet elegant mouthfeel. Notes of blackberry, pomegranate, cocoa, honey and licorice, with a creamy finish.

La Quercia Montepulciano Riserva ’12 Italy $18
100% organic montepulciano from low-yield vines; rich, port-like nose of candied cherries that carry through on the expressive, rich, earthy palate; nice balance of fruit and acidity.

 

Wine Tasting

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