Carrie and I were beyond excited when we were able to set up an afternoon of wine tasting with Jill Perillo Clark, Director of Central Washington University’s Wine Studies program. Jill joined us on a few of our 2020 virtual wine tasting events, but this was the first time we had met in person. We finally got to share Woodinville wine tastings together!
We met at Purple Cafe for a brief lunch. I enjoyed the Cranberry Chicken Salad and we each had a glass of the Flama D’or Brut Cava. I always enjoy dining at Purple because I love their salads and the wine menu with fabulous glass pour options! If you are also a fan, note your calendars because April is Rosé month and they have an updated menu!
After our light lunch, we headed over to DeLille Cellars to take advantage of my club membership once again. We sat in the gorgeous third-floor wine lounge and sipped on this amazing wine flight. The design aesthetic of this tasting room is one of my favorites, and I am eagerly awaiting the opening of their new Lounge, in the old Red Hook Brewery Forester’s Pub (and former Wheelhouse Restaurant) site.
Here is Jill, sipping on a pour of the 2018 D2, one of my favorite Washington State wines. It was awesome to learn so much more about the wine studies program at Central Washington University. We can’t wait to hang out and go wine tasting again soon with Jill and gleam a bit more Washington wine knowledge from her.
Our second wine tasting stop was at Celaeno Winery. These wines are so delicious, with great age (and lots of Hungarian Oak barrels!) I’m fairly certain that before we left the tasting room, we managed to buy at least one of everything in the lineup. I am opening a bottle of this 2015 Petit Verdot this evening and plan to pair it with something off of the BBQ grill.
Owner/winemaker Brian Countryman spent so much time with us and kept us entertained! He told us wine stories and served up wonderful selections for our wine tasting. I will be going back soon to stock up because I have already enjoyed two of the bottles I purchased. I don’t have to feel guilty about it either since these were 2013 and 2015 vintages!
Richard Duval, Washington State wine photographer, and owner of Duval Images dropped by to take our photos and catch up briefly. It is always a pleasure chatting with Richard, and we look forward to the next time we get to sip wine togerher.
It has been such a long time since we were able to invite many of our friends with us to go wine tasting, and we are really grateful to have our vaccines, and to enjoy warmer months ahead and sunny wine tasting patios all throughout Woodinville wine country! Stay tuned for more adventures in Woodinville Wine, once again!
Cheers! ~ Jen
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