Sovereign Cellars Wine Tasting This Weekend

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Sovereign Cellars, our award-winning local winery, is announcing its Fall Wine Tasting, this upcoming weekend. “All of our wines have received gold & double gold awards this year,” says vintner Dennis Gross. “Come visit with friends and enjoy great wine and tasty hor d’oeuvres.”

Sovereign Cellars Wine Tasting
Saturday and Sunday, September 24 and 25
1 PM to 5 PM each day
7408 Manzanita Dr. NW, Olympia 98502

For those of you in the Sovereign Cellars wine club, this would be a great time to pick up your wines.

This is a terrific opportunity to taste and buy some fabulous wines produced right here on the Steamboat Peninsula.

Click here to read some of what we’ve written about Sovereign Cellars. Or click the image above to visit their web site.

Local Winery Sovereign Cellars to Uncork Its Spring Release June 11 and 12

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Once again, local winemaker Dennis Gross has returned from the Seattle Wine Awards with gold and double-gold awards for several of his wines. “Our vintage wines have turned out exceptional,” writes Denny in an invitation he’s sent to his mailing list. “Our big spring release is happening on Saturday and Sunday, June 11th & 12th, from 1 to 5 pm. Come enjoy friends, food and these great wines.”

We’ve written about Sovereign Cellars before. If you haven’t tried his award-winning reds, you really should make plans to visit when Dennis hosts his Spring Release.

Sovereign Cellars Spring Release Wine Tasting
Saturday, June 11 and Sunday, June 12
1 PM to 5 PM
7408 Manzanita Dr. NW, Olympia WA 98502
(Take Steamboat Island Road to 79th, then turn on Manzanita)

Featured this year are

Sovereign Merlot
Finnigan’s Daughter Claret
Sovereign Cabernet
Sovereign Cuvée
Sovereign Syrah

Click here to see the Sovereign Cellars’ web site. For more information, contact Dennis Gross at dwgrosswine@yahoo.com or (360) 866-7991.

 

My New Year’s Resolution – Tree Free Printing

Actually, Tree Free Printing with Non-Toxic Ink.

Let me start at the beginning. When I was a child, my grandmother would send us a letter from time to time. It was one page. She’d start on one side of the page, then flip the sheet of paper over and write on the other side of the page. Then she’d fill in all the margins on that side of the page. Then she would flip the page back over and fill in all the margins on that side of the page.

When the margins were all filled in, the letter was done.

And, there were no blank lines. We all laughed at how eccentric it was. But, I guess, later in life, I too became eccentric because I started doing the same thing for the same reason – to save paper. However, I didn’t write too many letters that way, because my handwriting is illegible to all but a few, sometimes even to myself.

My next foray into my resolution to save paper was to switch from writing notes on legal pads, to writing notes on Jr Legal Pads, since most of my notes fit on that size paper. We now use mostly scratch paper – receipts and paper that’s been printed on one side. We haven’t resorted to printing notes on envelopes we’ve received in the mail, yet.

A lot of what I print are stories I’ve written for my wife. Some year in the future I’ll sell them, but I haven’t gotten there yet. I save paper when I print these, because they’re really condensed. OK, they’re short, very short, sometimes only one page, but they are complete stories. As my wife says, “I can write a novel in one page.”

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Sovereign Cellars holiday wine sale

Sovereign Cellars Offers Holiday Discount for a Limited Time

holiday_wine_specialFor a limited time, local winemaker Dennis Gross, of Sovereign Cellars, is offering a 30% discount on all is Double Gold winning (2014 Seattle Wine Show) reds.

Many of us have tasted these wines, either at Sovereign Cellars or at local restaurants who serve them. These really are some terrific, locally produced wines.

Contact Denny at (360) 866-7991 or dwgrosswine@yahoo.com for more information and to purchase before December 31st.

Read more about Sovereign Cellars in our article from this last June.

Building Earth Farm Announces “An Apple Affair” and Winter CSA Subscriptions


Building Earth Farm and the folks from the old Madrona Grove Summer Fruit Truck are announcing the Return of “An Apple Affair”. After a one-year hiatus, ‘An Apple Affair’ is back!

“For those of you who aren’t familiar with this event,” writes Jeannine Anderson, “‘An Apple Affair’ is a once-a-year opportunity to sample and purchase some of the finest apple varieties in Washington State.” Inspired by Feil Orchard in Wenatchee, An Apple Affair brings together varieties that have been grown for over a century by the Feil family, as well as some varieties grafted by the ever-curious Jack Feil. Feil is an octogenarian who continues to experiment with grafting unique varieties onto old orchard standards. Many of the apples featured will come from this farm, but there are several farms’ hard work represented at the Affair. Each apple variety and farm gets full credit on the table-talkers found next to each sample plate.

Apples specific for baking, drying, preserving, storing and eating out of hand are featured at this local food fair. If you are someone who thinks you wouldn’t know the difference between the sweets, tarts, juicy and old-fashioneds, there is a community apple potluck table where local residents prepare their favorite varieties in traditional and new recipes. Everyone is encouraged to taste for them selves why one type is suggested over another. Bring your own favorite recipe to share, or just come and sip coffee, tea or local cider while learning about the apples.

Apple inventory will be limited and you should bring a box or other container to carry some apples home with you. The Building Earth Farm will provide paper bags and pens for labeling so you don’t forget the names of your newfound favorites.

An Apple Affair
Sunday, October 19
12 noon to 4 PM
Rignal Hall
8131 Urquhart Rd NW, Olympia, WA 98502

For more detailed information visit www.farmandfruitstand.com or email Jeannine at madronagrove@farmandfruitstand.com.

“Join us for An Apple Affair to taste old favorites, discover new ones, meet the neighbors and remind your self why autumn isn’t so bad after all.”

The Building Earth Farm is also announcing it’s 2014 – 2015 Winter Box Subscription.
According to Jeannine, “We will offer the highest quality, locally sourced, mostly organic, winter fruits and vegetables, along with a selection of specialty items such as cheese, eggs, baked goods and nuts.”
The winter box features produce such as winter squash, carrots, onions, potatoes and the like from local farms, including ours, and Washington-grown fruit such as apples and pears. “As long as the chickens cooperate, we’ll supply our own eggs and add other wonderful items to fill in the box from the Pacific Northwest such as cheese and nuts and baked goods from The Bread Peddler (classic French baked goods) and 8 Arms Bakery (traditional and gluten-free available), both in Olympia.  We will get citrus assistance from our friends in sunny California.” That’s right, this box of food is relatively local but we aren’t afraid to source lovely avocados, dates, tangelos and other tropicals to beat the rainy day blues.
Building Earth Farm’s Winter Food Box Subscription
Pick Up Time and Location:  10:00 – 12:00 at the Farm, 9140 Steamboat Island Rd. NW.
Pick Up Dates:  November 22, 2014, December 20, 2014, January 17, 2015, February 21, 2015, March 21, 2015.
How Much: $625 – Full Shares only (but you can share with friends and family).
Deposit Amount: $325.00 due by October 19th. $300 Balance due by January 17, 2015.
How many does this feed?  Just about anyone can use a monthly infusion of wonderful food that is designed to last. Apples, pears, nuts, roots, garlic, etc. can last at least several weeks. According to Jeannine, “We have busy, single folks as well as larger families who devour this box every month.”
“We only have space for 16 boxes so let us know as soon as possible if you are interested.” Contact Jen at buildingearthfarm@farmandfruitstand.com.
Happy Fall from the crew at Building Earth Farm!

Sovereign Cellars is Our Award Winning Local Winery

The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon was a winner at last year’s Seattle Wine Awards. This year, four Sovereign wines received this “Best of the Best” award.

You might already know Washington ranks second in the United States in the production of wine, behind only California. There are over 80 grape varieties grown in Washington State by more than 350 grape growers. And there are more than 800 wineries producing more than 40 varietals in our state. But did you know we have an award winning winery right here, on the Steamboat Peninsula?

“Greetings from Sovereign Cellars,” writes winemaker Dennis “Denny” Gross. “It’s spring and our new 2011 wines are coming out.”

“We have four very nice award winning wines this season. All received Double Gold Awards at the Seattle Wine Awards recently.”

These wines came away with the Double Gold (“Best of the Best”) award:

2011 Sovereign Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon
2011 Sovereign Cellars Finnigan’s Daughter Claret
2011 Sovereign Cellars Cuvée
2011 Sovereign Cellars Syrah

The winery is located at 7408 Manzanita Drive, off Steamboat Island Road, and is available weekdays and weekends for small private tastings, by appointment. Call 866-7991 for details.

Sovereign Cellars is planning several large wine tasting events this spring and summer. Watch this web site and the GriffinNeighbors Facebook Page as more information becomes available.

From the Sovereign Cellars web site we learned that winemaker Denny Gross is a former chemistry teacher who has made wine and beer as a hobby for 30 years. “He makes wines that he likes to drink, Heavy Dark, Powerful Reds with a lot of character.”

Sovereign wines are sold at the Bayview Market and Haggen and are available at Budd Bay Café, Dock Street Bistro, and Water Street Café.

“Come and see us anytime,” says Dennis Gross.

The wine tasting room is available weekdays and weekends by appointment at 866-7991.

Sovereign Cellars is one of the many local businesses listed online in our Business Directory. Visit our directory whenever you are shopping for goods and services.