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Will Mercer
April 9 – I’ll be talking to Will Mercer, proprietor of Mercer Family Estates in Prosser. This is the Washington State winery of the year for 2016. The family has been producing fine examples of Columbia Valley wine since Don & Linda Mercer become the founding wine grape growers in the Horse Heaven Hills. The Cabernet Sauvignon they planted in Block 1 would later become the highly acclaimed Champoux Vineyard. The first commercial release was in 2002, a Cabernet and Merlot. In 2011 Don and Linda Mercer received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers.
Brothers Rob and Will Mercer along with many other family members and winemaker Jessica Munnell are continuing and expanding the quality bench mark set by Don and Linda. Check out the 3 tiers of Mercer wine:
If you missed it LIVE… Click here to listen or download this show!
David “Merf” Merfeld
April 16 – LIVE from North Star winery with winemaker David Merfeld “Dr. of Merlot.” We’ll tell you all about the winery, vineyards, products produced and do a little blending, something Merf is a Master of.
The region has been recognized as one of the world’s most exciting and acclaimed regions for Merlot. Washington lies at the same latitude as the Bordeaux region in France, yet has the additional benefit of a longer growing season and cooler nighttime temperatures. These characteristics aid in the even ripening of grapes and the locking in of acidity, resulting in full-bodied yet balanced Merlots. Northstar’s first vintage was in 1994 and the state-of-the-art winery was built in 2002.
In its earliest years, Northstar was guided by celebrated California
winemaker Jed Steele, who worked extensively with our current winemaker,
David “Merf” Merfeld, head Winemaker since 2005. Now leading the way, and
with access to the top 2% of Columbia and Walla Walla Valley’s finest
Merlot grapes, Merf is creating wines of great distinction and acclaim.
Amelia traces the delicious thread of Jewish cuisine from its ancient roots to today’s focus on seasonality and sustainability. Guided by the Jewish lunar calendar, she divides the book into six micro-seasons that highlight the deep connection of Jewish traditions to the year’s natural cycles. Amelia draws on her own rich food history to bring you a warmly personal cookbook filled with soul-satisfying spins on beloved classics and bold new dishes. From her Iraqi grandmother’s kitchri—red lentils melted into rice with garlic slow-cooked to sweetness—to four-ingredient Golden Borscht with Buttermilk and Fresh Ginger and vibrant Blood Orange and Olive Oil Polenta Upside-Down Cake, Amelia’s game-changing approach is sure to win over a new generation of cooks. You’ll find naturally vegan dishes, Middle Eastern fare, and new ways to use Old-World ingredients—buckwheat, home-cured herring, andgribenes—in fresh, modern meals.
100% Carmenere aged in American oak barrels. Dark and deep purple with luscious fruit flavors. Dark plums and blackcurrant, dark chocolate with hints of coffee and toasted American oak. Notes of dark plums and spice, generously framed by toasty American oak with a soft and well structured mouth feel. Pair with game meat, garnished with sweet and-sour sauces and berries.
88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cab Franc. This wine features eucalyptus, fresh summer berries, cassis and cookie crumb nose, cinnamon palate with big, velvety mouth, great length with molten chocolate, round medium tannins.
54% Malbec, 42% Syrah, 4% Petit Verdot. Full of juicy blackberry and a touch of pepper. Smooth and long with a little tobacco, cinnamon stick and a hint of raspberry cream at the end. An easy drinking wine to complement any meal.
When at a dinner party, ever wonder… which water glass is mine? how to handle an awkward situation? is my bread and butter plate the one on the left or right? Do you want more confidence with… entertaining? your table manners? setting the table correctly? your responsibility as both a host and guest? Which Fork Do I Use? Confident and Comfortable Dining is a rich source of information, designed to guide both the novice and seasoned host in creating memorable dining experiences, and to alleviate the nervousness that comes with entertaining. You’ll love the in-depth table setting information and beautifully illustrated graphics for preparing the table for all occasions – from a simple breakfast to a six-course formal affair. Be amazed and amused by party ideas and fun historical dining tidbits that you can use to entertain your guests. Includes hundreds of illustrations depicting a vast array of serving utensils (perhaps some of which you never knew existed), glassware, barware, dinnerware and serveware, correct dining etiquette, and more! 
