lummi island wine tasting june 3-4 ’22
Hours this weekend: 4-6pm both Friday and Saturday
We continue to monitor Covid numbers around the County. There has been some rise in cases over recent weeks, so caution is still recommended. There is seating on the front deck as well as under the awning for those who wish to stay outside for tasting. Last Saturday we did ask some folks to sit outside to limit crowding upstairs, and it seemed to work well for everyone.
Bread Pickup This Week
Pain Meunier -Aka Miller’s Bread to honor the miller who mills the wheat. Made with pre-fermented dough it contains all portions of the wheat berry: flour, fresh milled whole wheat, cracked wheat and wheat germ. Always a favorite and a great all around bread. It makes the best toast! – $5/loaf
Sonnenblumenbrot – Aka Sunflower Seed Bread, made with a pre-ferment that takes a portion of the flour, water, salt and yeast that ferments overnight before mixing the final dough with bread flour and freshly milled rye, then loaded up with toasted sunflower seeds and some barley malt syrup for sweetness. – $5/loaf
and mmm, pastry this week…
Chocolate Babka Rolls – A sweet pastry dough full of eggs, butter and sugar, rolled and spread with a chocolate filling, rolled up and cut into individual rolls that are placed in baking forms for baking and then brushed with sugar syrup after baking. – 2/$5
To get on the bread order list, click on the “Contact Us” link above and fill out the form. The week’s bread menu is sent to the list each Sunday, for ordering by Tuesday, for pickup on Friday. Simple, right..? If you will be visiting the island and would like to order bread for your visit, at least a week’s notice is recommended for pickup the following Friday.
Wine of the Week: The Wolftrap Syrah Mourvèdre Viognier ’18 South Africa $11
Boekenhoutskloof farm was established in 1776 in the furthest corner of the beautiful Franschhoek Wine Valley of South Africa, about 50 km east of the Cape of Good Hope.
The farm’s name means “ravine of the Boekenhout” (pronounced Book-n-Howed), which is an indigenous Cape Beech tree greatly prized for furniture making. In 1993 the farm and homestead were bought and restored and new vineyards planted for Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Grenache, Semillon and Viognier.
When the farm was founded, the Franschhoek valley was far wilder than it is today. Though the mountains are still alive with indigenous animals, including the majestic leopard, the only evidence that wolves once roamed here is an ancient wolf trap found long ago. This wine was named in homage to the mysteries and legends of days long gone by.
Most of the Syrah in The Wolftrap comes from the Swartland region (photo, left), where it develops its robust character and elegant aromas of violets, ripe plums, and spicy, peppery profile and juicy, fruity character. The Mourvèdre, also from the Swartland, lends a red fruit character and smoky body while a dash of Viognier adds perfume and verve for a rustic Rhône-style blend that seriously over-delivers for its $11 price point.
This Week’s $5 Tasting
Crios de Susana Balbo Torrontes ’20 Argentina $11
Highly perfumed aromas of lemon drop, grapefruit, white flowers, peppermint and white pepper. crisp yet supple and easygoing, with citrus, herbal, and floral flavors on the clean finish.
The Wolftrap Syrah Mourvèdre Viognier ’18 South Africa $11
Aromas of ripe plums, red currants, violets, Italian herbs and exotic spices lead to vibrant flavors of darker berries and spicy plum with hints of orange peel that linger on a juicy finish.
Bodega Garzon Tannat Reserve ’18 Uruguay $15
Opaque deep, dark red; opens with enticing, delicious aromas of very ripe, dark fruit and berries stewed in their own liqueur, with lingering notes of spice, herb, and licorice on the seamless finish.
The Economics of the Heart: Holding the Center
Again and again over the past six years we have found some inspiration in a quote from economist Joan Robinson that succinctly captures the relationships among value, society, and economics:
“Every economic system requires a set of values, a set of rules, and a will in the people to carry them out.”
The observation implies an ongoing dynamic between economics and politics where values are shared to a great enough extent that we all willingly bind ourselves to support the rules. In our country those rules are represented by the Constitution of the United States, as amended over the past 250 years as the nation has evolved.
There have always been divisions, among and within the separate states, financial interests, the personal egos of the political leaders of the time, and the demands of international cooperation or conflict. So far there has only been one Civil War, and it was caused primarily by the irreconcilable views on slavery between the North and the South in 1860.
For the past 30 years in general and the last six years in particular, Republicans have spent much of each day coming up with the latest pejorative term for Democrats. Someone at Fox comes up with the slogan for the day or week, and every announcer on every show repeats it over and over, like a mantra. They speak with practiced and slanderous disdain, carefully worded slogans, and ongoing calls to anger and outrage. Their entire purpose is to attack the underlying values of the nation itself. We have seen all of this before, the practiced and well-trod path to Tyranny.
Next week the long-awaited public broadcasts of the findings of the January 6 Committee will begin. We can expect a major ratcheting up of the Fox echo chamber and most sitting Republican office holders as they try to distract, ridicule, and attack every finding. In a way it will be the beginning of the New Civil War. Like the first Civil War, it will be based on a Great Divide in values.
Democrats stand for protecting the Constitution and preserving the legacy of this country to create and maintain the conditions for each citizen to live freely, happily, and productively. This current crop of Republicans, like their Civil War heroes, seems aimed at making the rich ever richer, the poor ever poorer, and the non-white ever the slave.
lummi island wine tasting may 27-28 ’22
Memorial Day Weekend Schedule
Short post tonight, folks…it’s 8:30 pm Thursday, May 26, and we just got home a few hours ago from our 3-week trailer trip. So this will be brief note to tell you about our special event Friday. (“today,” if you are on our mailing list).
#1. We are happy to be back, and are looking forward to seeing you all!
#2. The Wine Shop will be OPEN as usual for sales and tasting Friday and Saturday from 4-6 pm. Janice will be delivering weekly bread orders, and we will be pouring three particularly good wines (see notes, below), including two from Sineann Winery in Oregon which, while a little pricey, were big hits when we last poured them a couple of years ago.
#3. Friday Special Event: From 4-6 pm we will be hosting a Meet and Greet with State Senate candidate Sharon Shewmach. Sharon has been our District representative to the State Legislature for two terms and is now running for the seat left vacant last winter with the passing of the late Doug Ericksen, who held the seat for many years. Tragically and ironically, Covid denier Ericksen succumbed to the very disease he claimed was a hoax. (…In full disclosure, I endorse Ms. Shewmach partially because by coincidence she currently holds the faculty position at WWU that I held for some years a few decades ago. And although, as Harry Truman noted, “if you laid all the economists in the world end to end, they would still point in different directions,” the world of environmental economics shares some basic common values…)
This Week’s $5 Tasting
Attems Sauvignon Blanc ’19 Italy $17
Green highlights; on the nose, intense aromas of boxwood, Scotch broom, and mint with exotic sensations of guava and pineapple; on the palate graceful and personable with a persistent citrus finish with a cleansing salinity. read more
Sineann Pisa Terrace Pinot Noir ’14 Washington/NewZealand $30
Made in NZ’s Otago region by Sineann winemaker Peter Rosback; full and ripe, with great structure, good natural acidity and subtle, lingering intensity; plum and black cherry flavors are framed by soft tannins and notes of baking spices, dried herbs and fresh earth.
Radman Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon ’15 Washington $40
Fruit sourced from Shaw Vineyards in Red Mountain AVA, wine made at Sineann winery. Deep and dark in color, classic nose of black currant, smooth and lingering palate of pruney black currant, gentle but persistent tannins, and long, smooth finish.
lummi island wine tasting May 6 ’22
May Schedule
We will be CLOSED for wine tasting and sales until Friday, May 26, when we will be hosting a meet and greet (and wine tasting!) from 5-6 with legislative candidates Sharon Shewmake and Alicia Rule.
HOWEVER, weekly bread pickup from Island Bakery will continue under the awning in front of the wine shop each Friday through the month from 4-5:30 pm.
Bread Pickup This Week
Levain w/ Dried Cherries and Pecans – a levain is made the night before final mixing of the dough using a sourdough starter. This allows the fermentation process to start and the gluten to start developing. The final dough is made with the levain, bread flour and fresh milled whole wheat and then loaded up with dried cherries and toasted pecans. A nice rustic loaf that goes well with meats and cheese – – $5/loaf
Pan de Cioccolate – A delicious chocolate artisan bread that isn’t an enriched sweet pastry dough with lots of eggs, butter and sugar. Rather this bread is a rich chocolate bread made with a levain, bread flour and fresh milled rye flour, honey for sweetness, vanilla and plenty of dark chocolate. Makes fabulous toast, even better french toast – $5/loaf
and pastry this week…
Pain aux Raisin Made with the same laminated dough as croissants. The dough is rolled out, spread with pastry cream and sprinkled with a mix of golden raisins and dried cranberries that have been soaked in sugar syrup. Rolled up and sliced before baking. These are my favorites! As always, quantities are limited, be sure to get your order in early – 2/$5
To get on the bread order list, click on the “Contact Us” link above and fill out the form. The week’s bread menu is sent to the list each Sunday, for ordering by Tuesday, for pickup on Friday. Simple, right..? If you will be visiting the island and would like to order bread for your visit, at least a week’s notice is recommended for pickup the following Friday.
Sorry…Closed for Tasting till May 27 😕
The Economics of the Heart: Hubris and Oral High Ground
The Big News of the moment is the leak from the Supreme Court that a decision may have already been made to overturn Roe v. Wade, the 50 yr-old Court decision that assured every woman’s right to decide for herself whether to carry an unplanned pregnancy to term.
The nonstop news and resultant punditry has been filling the airwaves since yesterday (5/4) and speculation abounds about the implications. So far we find ourselves resonating strongly with the perspective offered yesterday by WaPo opinion writer Jennifer Rubin, and highly recommend it:
Let’s throw out the term ‘Culture Wars.’ This is Religious Tyranny.
Rubin reminds us that to have any credibility, any “Originalist” interpretation of the Constitution must be faithful to the Founder’s clearly stated intention that government be free from the dogma of any and all religious superstitions.
We are also persuaded by Vice President Harris’ presentation to Emily’s List 30th anniversary:
“Anyone in our country may face a future where the government can interfere with their personal decisions…Not just women…Anyone…If the Court overturns Roe v. Wade it will be a direct assault on the fundamental right of self-determination to which all Americans are entitled…anyone in our country might face a future where the government can interfere with their personal decisions.”
There are a couple of powerful takeaways from these emerging perspectives.
First is the head-scratching Hubris of the so-called “Originalist” interpretation of the Constitution, by which a tiny clique of carefully screened Catholic Justices assert Divine Insight into the Founders’ real intentions, i.e., a nation enslaved to the whims of one particular subgroup of religious zealots. Sure, what could possibly go wrong with that?
Second…and more important…for 50 years Roe has been the law of the land that individuals, communities, businesses, and governments at all levels have reasonably accepted as settled law. As we can see, most of the Red States have draconian punishments that will spring into place within days if Roe is overturned. Many individual lives will be thrown into chaos as the most basic assumptions about our freedoms are suddenly challenged, and the kind of country we thought we were living in is Crushed like an Egg by totalitarians with neither humility nor honor.
lummi island wine tasting april 29 ’22
May Schedule
We will be OPEN for wine tasting and sales this Friday and Saturday from 4-6 pm. Anyone with boosted vaccine status is welcome!
NOTE: We will be CLOSED during Ferry drydock, reopening May 27-28 for Memorial Day weekend. We regret any inconvenience.
Bread Pickup This Week
Four Seed Buttermilk – This bread includes all the elements of whole wheat, but does so separately by adding cracked wheat and bran in to the bread flour instead of milling whole wheat berries. It also has buttermilk and oil which will make for a tender bread as well as adding a little tang. Finally it is finished with with a bit of honey and sunflower pumpkin and sesame seeds and some toasted millet – $5/loaf
Fig Anise – One of the more popular breads in the rotation. Made with a sponge that is fermented overnight, then the final dough is mixed with bread flour and fresh milled whole wheat. Honey, dried figs and anise bring in all the flavors of the mediterranean. – $5/loaf
and pastry this week…
Black Sesame & Candied Lemon Brioche: A delicious brioche dough full of eggs, butter and sugar. Filled with fresh lemon zest and candied lemon and as if that wasn’t enough, topped with a black sesame streusel before baking. Ooh la la, what’s not to like. I can only make a limited number so be sure to get your order in early. – 2/$5
To get on the bread order list, click on the “Contact Us” link above and fill out the form. The week’s bread menu is sent to the list each Sunday, for ordering by Tuesday, for pickup on Friday. Simple, right..? If you will be visiting the island and would like to order bread for your visit, at least a week’s notice is recommended for pickup the following Friday.
This Week’s $5 Tasting
Sea Sun Chardonnay ’20 California $19
Bright nose of mango, butterscotch, apple, and pineapple; round and creamy texture, with notes of lemon curd and a spicy, toasty quality, with hints of cinnamon and lemon curd.
Maryhill Winemaker’s Red ’19 Washington $13
Ripe black fruit notes and a hint of fresh flowers are well backed by leather and cedar wood. Maple bar and black fruit of currant and blackberry appear on entry, with a mid-palate of rich tannins and a smooth finish.
Marchetti Villa Bonomi Conero Riserva ’17 Italy $27
100% Sangiovese from Montepulciano, aged 16 mos. in barriques and 12 mos. in bottle; shows intense floral bouquet, intense, nuanced flavors; ripe, pleasing tannins, and satisfying finish.
The Economics of the Heart: Economics and Engineering
Back a few careers ago I would occasionally be in a conversation with a student about choosing a major. Traditionally such a conversation invariably got tied to “What kind of work do you want to do?” But my feeling was always more like, “What kind of people do you admire and want to be like?” Go hang out with some biologists, or engineers, or artists, or whatever. What do they talk about? What do they care about? What do they value? What do you value?
Every discipline has its own world view, highlighting and exploring certain kinds of relationships among things and people, ignoring or discounting others. If we could crawl inside someone else’s head, as in the strange film “Being John Malkovich, we would experience a completely different world, with its own language, vocabulary, points of view, procedures, rules, and nuances.
By training I learned to think like an engineer and like an economist. And at the moment, as a new member of LIFAC (Lummi Island Ferry Advisory Committee), I am seeing some tension between these two ways of thinking in our ferry design and acquisition process. Engineers think about things like materials, energy requirements, redundancy, reliability, maintenance, power, longevity, efficiency. Economists think about things like value, satisfaction, costs, benefits, scale, tradeoffs, and yes, efficiency.
So efficiency is a common thread. In engineering it is getting the most work from a BTU of energy. In economics it is getting the greatest net benefit from each unit of a resource. At present we are at about Year 4 in planning for a replacement ferry for our 60 yr-old Whatcom Chief. The engineers have from the beginning steered us toward a 34-car vessel to replace our old 16-car vessel that regularly crams on up to 20 cars. This is how engineers think: “two backups for every alternate system.” There is some merit to that approach.
On one of the many “other hands,” we now live in a completely different world than humans have ever experienced. Because of climate change, all we know about the future is that it has no precedent in our history; it will NOT be like the past; and our prospects for even basic survival will keep getting worse faster and faster every day until we get our collective energy use back to pre-industrial levels.
My inner engineer and inner economist have been conferring about this for a few years now. At present the data are saying there are a lot of economic arguments for why a smaller vessel (22-26 cars) would yield the greatest net benefits.
You can read one of them here.
2072 Granger Way