Add a Little Extra Sparkle to your Valentine's Day

Treveri Cellars in Yakima opened just three months ago and is concentrating on sparkling wines, with four varietals currently in release. So next time you're in Yakima, stop by Treveri Cellars' Sparkle Tasting Room, open Monday through Saturday, noon until 6:00 p.m.

With such an exciting addition to the Washington wine scene, we had to take some time to ask passionate Winemaker/Owner Juergen Grieb a few questions:

What brought you from your hometown of Trier, Germany, to Yakima, Washington?

In 1983 there was a big German winery called Langguth that was looking for a winemaker in Mattawa, Washington, so I got the job and then they transferred me over here. I worked there for about four years and met my wife there, then we moved to Ellensburg, where I had my own winery for about four years. Yakima is centrally located, my wife grew up here, and my son went to school here. I’m also still currently employed at Coventry Vale Winery so it’s just been a central place for us to settle. When we opened up Treveri, we just knew we wanted to do it in Yakima.

You have degrees in both winemaking and sparkling winemaking. What are some differences between making sparkling wines and other wines?

With sparkling wines, especially the ones we make with the French method, Methode Champenoise, you have to have the knowledge. All of our sparkling wines are bottle fermented, which means they’re all natural – no added Carbon Dioxide. You make your base wine first and then you ferment the wine in the bottle, so the wine goes through two fermentations. This adds an additional three to four months to the process, when they must be laying down flat and temperature controlled, around 60-65 degrees.

You are also the winemaker for Coventry Vale Vineyards where you make both reds and whites. Why did you choose to focus on sparkling wines for your own winery?

Because I’ve always loved making sparkling wine and I want to produce the best sparkling wine in Washington, if not the entire United States. It’s a lot more labor intensive, takes a lot of patience, a lot of love. Making sparkling wine has just been a passion for me. Even at my winery in Ellensburg, I made sparkling wine. I’ve been making it since 1983.

I’m guessing that sparkling reds might be new to many Americans. What would you say to them?

Surprisingly, we have a lot of people coming in to the tasting room signing up for the red sparkling. There are a lot of red wine drinkers that we want to cater to as well as white wine drinkers. We decided to make both a drier, more brut red and a sweeter red. The brut red can go with steak and beef dishes – it’s all Syrah-based, a softer, fruitier type of sparkling wine. The reserve is going to be a little sweeter and would go well with chicken or Asian food. All sparkling wines are served cold – that’s one big difference between red and red sparkling. The sparkling wines, especially in the U.S., are still very unknown, but people need to try them.

Do you have a favorite sparkling wine and food pairing suggestion for Valentine’s Day celebrations?

I would pick the Riesling or the Pinot Gris. If you like a sweeter wine, I would go with the Riesling or the Gewürztraminer. If you like a drier wine, try the Pinot Gris or the Brut. We just won a Silver Medal for it in the San Francisco wine competition and a bronze for the Gewürztraminer.

Congratulations! Any final thoughts on owning your own winery?

You’re not doing it for the money obviously. It’s more about passion. I’ve been doing it for 30 years now and it’s what I want to do. I grew up with it. For me, it’s a passion.

Facts & Tidbits

Did you know?

Tourism is Up in Washington State

• Travel spending totaled $15.2 billion last year, up 7.4 percent from 2009, an increase of
  3.3 percent when adjusted for inflation
  

• International visitors accounted for 11 percent of visitor spending around the state in 2010
  

• Hotel room rates, on average, remained unchanged, even as demand for rooms rose 7 percent
  

• Travel spending generated nearly $1 billion in local and state taxes in 2010

Source: The Seattle Times, January 18, 2011

Living Wine Country

Along the Wine Road

For Valentine's Day, try this recipe paired with one of Treveri Cellars' new sparklers. Bright with lemon and fresh herbs, a side of coleslaw and a great loaf of bread are all you need to make this a fun yet romantic dinner.

Washington Wine Country Collection

Mark Your Calendar

Please submit upcoming events to events@winecountrywashington.org.

February Events

12/12-2/13 - Rattlesnake Hills is for Lovers - This weekend, wine country is the perfect romantic getaway for lovers. We invite you to experience the true flavor of wine country, right in your own backyard, with a visit our beautiful estate wineries. Taste rich, flavorful wines, ports and dessert varietals, and savor wonderful foods along the way. Most of the wineries in the Rattlesnake Hills are owner-operated, whether they’ve been established for two years or twenty, and there’s always a good opportunity to speak directly with the winemakers about their hand-crafted wines. Unlike many other wine regions in the state, the wineries in the Rattlesnake Hills are almost exclusively estate wineries, which means their tasting rooms are located in the vineyards. It’s a perfect paradise for lovers! Most of the wineries are open 10 am – 5 pm with some staying open until 6 pm. The event is free however some tasting rooms do charge a small fee. Visit www.rattlesnakehills.com.

2/12-2/13 - Red Wine & Chocolate in the Lake Chelan Wine Valley - During back-to-back weekends in February, the boutique wineries of the Lake Chelan Wine Growers Association will host their annual winter celebration, Red Wine & Chocolate. The Red Wine & Chocolate event offers two weekends of romance with local wines paired with delicious chocolate - a great escape for couples looking to celebrate with their Valentine. To view a complete list of wineries, wine releases, tasting room hours and special event activities planned at each winery, please visit www.lakechelanwinevalley.com.

2/19-2/20 - Red Wine & Chocolate in the Yakima Valley - The natural affinity between dark chocolate and red wine is no secret. The Red Wine and Chocolate event weekend in the Yakima Valley provides a distinctive and elegant offering of fine chocolate and fine wine. Visit the more than 50 wineries in the Yakima Valley Wine country during this Presidents' Day weekend. Each winery pairs sumptuous chocolate desserts with their very own remarkable red wines. Visit www.wineyakimavalley.org.

2/12 - Love in the Hills at McKinley Springs - Celebrate Valentine’s Day with us! Sample newly released wines paired with appetizers prepared by Chef Big John Caudill. Visit www.mckinleysprings.com.

2/12- Maryhill Winemaker Dinner - The Maryhill Winemaker Dinner includes seven delicious courses, ranging from lobster and New York strip steak to a dark chocolate raspberry torte. Each course is paired with an appropriate Maryhill wine for the perfect dining experience. Tickets are $199 all inclusive per couple and the event takes place at Meriwether's American Grill at the Red Lion Hotel in Lewiston on February 12, 2011. Tickets should be purchased by February 10. Visit www.maryhillwinery.com.

2/12 - Valentine's Day Party at Cougar Crest Winery - We will have the Roads Less Travelled playing along with free roses and chocolates for the ladies. The women also get free wine tasting; for all others, it is $5, refundable with the purchase of a bottle. Visit www.cougarcrestwinery.com.

2/12 - Valentine's Dinner at Northstar - Let Northstar help you romance your Valentine this year. Join us for a gourmet 5-course dinner, each course pair with a luscious Northstar wine.
Visit www.northstarwinery.com.

2/14 - Saint Laurent Estate Winery Sweetheart Dinner - Join Saint Laurent Estate Winery and the Ivy Wild Inn for a delicious dinner and wines. Choose your two favorite Saint Laurent Wines to pair with Chef Kito's culinary masterpieces. To see the menu and purchase tickets go to the Saint Laurent website. Cost: $70 per person. Visit www.saintlaurent.net.

2/19- 2nd Annual Boushey Bash on Red Mountain - Join the Fidelitas Team as we once again welcome the Boushey family to Red Mountain. Dick will be pouring the newest vintage of Fidelitas Boushey Vineyard Red Wine while Luanne whips up her famous handmade truffles. Their daughter, Kalen (our newest team member) will be on hand to pour her favorite Fidelitas wines as well. $10 admission, Fidelitas Wine Club Members are complimentary. Visit www.fidelitaswines.com.

2/19- President's Day Weekend Open House at Maryhill Winery - Come celebrate President's Day Weekend with live music, case specials, and chocolate! Kit Garoutte will be performing live from 1-5pm as guests have the opportunity to taste new wines, enjoy food by Ziggy's Grill (available for purchase), and purchase cases for special promotional prices. Admission is free. Visit www.maryhillwinery.com.

2/20 - Onyx Vertical Tasting at Terra Blanca - Take advantage of this rare glimpse into the world of our signature Bordeaux-style blend, Onyx. Discover the nuances and differences that develop from season to season and experience the elegance that develops as our intense Red Mountain wines age. Sunday, February 20th from 1:00pm to 3:00pm. Tickets are $20. Visit www.terrablanca.com.

View a complete wine country calendar at www.winecountrywashington.org/eventCalendar.aspx.

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Founded in 2003, Washington Wine Country is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting wine-related tourism and economic vitality by fostering collaborative regional partnerships throughout the celebrated wine growing region of Eastern Washington, where 99 percent of Washington State’s wine grapes are grown. The region includes the Yakima Valley, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley, Red Mountain and the newer appellations of the Columbia Gorge, Horse Heaven Hills, Rattlesnake Hills, Wahluke Slope, Snipes Mountain, and Lake Chelan. For more information on Washington Wine Country, please visit www.winecountrywashington.org.