MEET THE WINEMAKER SERIES - 6:30 - 9:30pm
Join us as we welcome the Pacific Northwest’s premier winemakers to be guest sommeliers for a series of unforgettable evenings. Have an intimate dinner for two or invite six of your friends. Make your usual reservation for dinner in our main dinning room. No special arrangements necessary. The winemaker will be roaming the dining room offering their wines and insights into their world of winemaking. Reservations for these nights are HIGHLY recommended.

FRIDAY JANUARY 23RD: Tim Sorenson from Fall Line Winery
Make sure you are able to tell your friends you knew Tim when... His wines already have a loyal following, and are in very limited production. Fall Line Winery is an artisanal producer of elegantly-styled wines. Specializing in blends of Bordeaux varietals, Fall Line crafts its wines with fruit from some of the most prized vineyard sites in Washington State.

FEBRUARTY 20TH: Trey Busch from Sleight of Hand Cellars
A tiny “garagiste” winery located in the rolling hills of Walla Walla, dedicated to producing extraordinary wines of place. Their wines are the results of intense practices in the vineyard including microscopic yields and, of course, hand harvesting. Minimal intervention in the winery allows the wines to express Walla Walla’s unique Terroir. We think that you will agree, that these are “Simply Magical Wines”!

APRIL 10TH: Ben Smith from Cadence Winery
Cadence is dedicated to showcasing the finest vineyard sites in Washington State. We will be showcasing the inaugural releases from Tim’s estate vineyard Cara Mia! Ben believes blending creates a balanced wine of greater character than the individual components. His wines express the power, intensity or elegance of his vineyards.

APRIL 24TH: Mike Etzel from Beaux Freres Vineyards and Winery
Mike crafts world-class Pinot Noir from small, well-balanced yields and ripe, healthy fruit that represents the essence of their vineyards. Beaux Freres is world renowned for super low yields, minimal intervention in the winery, indigenous yeast, and oak ageing. These non-manipulative, uncompromising methods allow Beaux Frères to develop significant perfume, weight, and texture in the bottle. Truly some of the best Pinot Noir on the planet.

MAY 16TH: Jamie Brown from Waters Winery
At Waters their winemaking approach is influenced by a preference for distinct, “old world” wines that express the “time and place” of their origin. They are inspired by wine’s influence on various cultures throughout history, and the experiences around great food and relationships. They are intentional about making wines that carry on these traditions.

JUNE 12TH: Bijal Shah from Woodhouse Family Cellars
Woodhouse is simply one of the best wineries in the state. Whether it is Tempranillo, Chenin Blanc, or Cabernet Bijal’s wines are a testament to the variety and quality of what is possible in Washington State. Join El Gaucho as Bijal pours some of our favorite wines in the world.

AUGUST 21ST: Mark McNeilly from Mark Ryan Winery
Handcrafted, wines that represent the vineyard from which they came, varietal character and unique style. From the vineyards to the winery, Mark has an uncompromising commitment to quality and a passion to produce the best wines possible.

SEPTEMBER 18TH: Tom Heges from Hedges Family Estate
One of the first to realize the amazing terroir of a little hill called Red Mountain. The Hedges have concentrated their efforts on Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and the concept of terroir since their first vintage in 1987. Come taste trough a verticle of “Hedges Three Vineyards” vintages, and discover what role vintage plays in the concept of terrior.

For more information or to make your reservation, please call (206) 728-1337 or visit the Front Desk.

UPCOMING WINE DINNERS

FEBRUARY 4TH: Paul Draper of Ridge Vineyards - Paul Draper, CEO/Winemaker
6:30 pm | $150.00 plus tax and gratuity
Paul Draper grew up on an eighty-acre farm in the Chicago suburb of Barrington. After attending the Choate School and receiving a degree in philosophy from Stanford University, he lived for two years in northern Italy. Later he attended the University of Paris and traveled extensively in France, gaining practical experience in traditional winemaking. In the mid-sixties, with a close friend, he set up a small winery in the coast range of Chile and produced several vintages of cabernet sauvignon. He joined Ridge Vineyards in 1969, and presently resides atop Monte Bello Ridge with his wife Maureen and daughter Caitlin. He is known for his crafting of fine cabernets and chardonnays from the Monte Bello estate vineyards, and as a pioneer in the production of long-lived, complex zinfandels.

APRIL 23RD: Mike Etzel of Beaux Freres Winery (Time and price to follow)
Since the first vintage in 1991, the Beaux Frères philosophy remains the same; to produce a world-class Pinot Noir from small, well-balanced yields and ripe, healthy fruit that represents the essence of our vineyard. In pursuit of these goals, the Beaux Frères Vineyard is planted with tightly spaced vines, and yields are kept to some of the lowest in our industry. The grapes are harvested when physiologically (rather than analytically) ripe. Our winemaking philosophy is one of minimal intervention with clean fermentations utilizing indigenous yeast. The wines are stored in French oak for 10 to 12 months adjusting the percentage of new oak to compliment the wine the vintage has given us. Beaux Frères is never racked until it is removed from barrel for bottling, which occurs without fining or filtration. These non-manipulative, uncompromising methods guarantee a wine that is the most natural and authentic vineyard expression possible. Previous vintages demonstrate that these methods also allow our Beaux Frères to develop significant perfume, weight, and texture in the bottle.

LEGENDARY SWIRL - Tuesday March 10, 2009
We invite you to spend a truly memorable night at El Gaucho. Enjoy exceptional cuisine prepared by Executive Chef Tristan Holst paired with an exciting selection of highly acclaimed wine, highlighting the best Washington State has to offer. In honor of Washington wine month many of Washington’s best producers and winemakers are here pouring their wines for a lucky 100 guests. Space is extremely limited. See the front desk about adding your name to our mailing list to get the latest updates and the first chance to purchase tickets to our most popular event of the year. Wineries include: DeLille, Alexandria Nicole, Cadence,
Cote Bonneville, Spring Valley, Balboa, Northstar, Chateau ste. Michelle, Va Piano, Fall Line, Col Solare, Pepperbridge, Sleight of Hand, Syzygy, Amavi, and more.

For more information or to make your reservation, please call (206) 728-1337 or visit the Front Desk.