We asked local makers what they will be pouring.
Clearwater Canyon Cellars, Lewiston, since 2004
Coco and Karl Umiker will bring two wines made entirely from grapes grown in the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley. The 2009 Renaissance Red is a blend of Syrah, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc. Grapes came from the Umiker and Ellis vineyards in Lewiston and the Arnett Vineyard in Clarkston. It’s well balanced with hints of strawberry and toffee and silky smooth tannins.
The 2009 Umiker Vineyard Cabernet Franc was grown, produced, and bottled by the Umiker’s. It has hints of sandlewood and mocha with velvety tannins.
Merry Cellars, Pullman, since 2004
Patrick R. Merry will present his 2009 Merlot Stillwater Creek Vineyard. Columbia Valley’s Stillwater Creek Vineyard is known for producing wines with deep fruit flavors and refined tannins. “Rich flavors are deftly balanced against a backdrop of toasty oak and sweet tobacco.”
The 2009 Crimson, a New World interpretation of a Bordeaux-style blend, is “smoky and masculine. Mild herbal notes of eucalyptus and green tea complement spirited tannins and an ultra-smooth finish.”
Camas Prairie Winery, Moscow, since 1989
Jeremy and Heidi Ritter will present a 2007 Lemberger, a dry red that is a lighter, fruitier alternative to Pinot Noir with lively blackberry, raspberry and cherry qualities. The sweet and tart 2009 Wild Plum Wine is made entirely of yellow plums from the Kendrick-Juliaetta area. Their best-seller, the 2011 Idaho Huckleberry Honey Mead, is a dessert wine “designed to be like fresh fruit in a glass,” and is crafted from whole Northwest huckleberries and Idaho Honey.
Colter’s Creek Winery, Juliaetta, since 2007
Melissa Sanborn and Mike Pearson make their wines from grapes grown at their 15-acre vineyard on the Potlatch River and grapes grown in the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley. They will present a 2009 Chardonnay, a 2010 Riesling, fruit-forward, crisp and slightly sweet; and their 2009 Koos-koos-kia Red, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc well-balanced and earthy with a mineral finish.
BEERS
Paradise Creek Brewery, Pullman, since 2010
Tom Handy will present the brewery’s three best selling beers. Dirty Blonde is an easy to drink blonde ale with a slight amount of sweetness “but bold enough in flavor to let you know it is a craft beer.” Over the Hop IPA is for the Northwest hop lover from the first aroma to the lingering bitterness afterward, “that reinforces the fact that you drink IPA’s for the hops.” Postal Porter is an opaque dark robust porter that puts the roasty chocolate and coffee flavors from the dark malts forward while complementing their acidity with a generous amount of Yakima hops.
MJ Barleyhoppers, Lewiston, since 1991
Bill Jollymore will showcase one of MJ Barleyhopper’s newest beers, the Lazy Day Lager, released March 29. “This beer is our first Lager made with Willamette hops, cold filtered with a wonderful golden color.” Also being served, the Barleyhopper Brown where chocolate malt lends a dark brown color and a bit of a hop; Rattlesnake Red, a ruby red Scottish-style ale with medium hop bitterness. It takes more than 7 pounds of hops to make the Idaho Panhandle Ale, “an IPA that makes you feel like you made it to hop heaven.”
If you go
What: 22nd annual Confluence Grape & Grain When: 6-9 p.m. Friday Where: Lewis-Clark State College Center for Arts & History, 415 Main St., Lewiston Admission: $25 Of Note: Along with wine and beer tasting there will be a silent auction. Proceeds benefit the arts center and the LCSC Business Student Organization.
