Wine Rocks Seattle

The Gibson tonight was a hive pleasantly abuzz with wine lovers and musician-winemakers for this first annual, Wine Rocks Seattle. The showroom glowed with the redwood ambience of hard wood floors and walls covered with the most beautiful guitars you’ve ever laid eyes on. Wine stands standing seductively in every corner like high-class call girls promising intoxicating kisses. Live music played in a rotating cast as the winemaker-musicians took turns playing or watching or pouring us glasses of wine…

The crowd was a mix of wine aficionados, wine writers, wine lovers, musicians, winemakers, and red-cheeked wine drinkers along with photographer Kristen Truax and me. Dancing from foot to foot, we’d narrowly not been able to get into this thing at $35 a ticket and some last minute strings not getting pulled. Kristen’s inside connection at the Gibson saved the day! Once inside, Kristen introduces me to Jenny, the Gibson showroom correspondent who by her graces, got us in to the sold out event. We started tasting immediately!

Distefano Winery courtesy of Bill Herzog makes a fine Syrah but, others were more ecstatic about the Merlot. We were all a fans of his heavy pours and terrific smile! Jamie Brown’s Waters Winery table near the guitar room and was completely surrounded by women. I have a feeling it was less due to the wine and more due to his good looks! I chose the Syrah while Kristen chose the Viognier, “Meyer lemons, green bananas and passion fruit. A note of fragrant white blossoms is also present and typical of this varietal. The suggestion of sweet spice—due to a light-handed use of French oak—is also enticing.” -Waters Winery in Walla Walla Valley. Delicious!!!

Before too long, we wind our way into a back room which, has a pool table covered in chocolate near the brandy maker in the corner. Theo Chocolates’ organic, fair-trade artisan chocolates displays a spread of magnificent chocolate! Kristen and I zeroed in and flitted from one dark complex piece to another and then to lighter milk chocolate. Across from the pool table cum decadent chocolate feast, representing the illustrious Leonetti family was, Rusty Figgins. His look and charismatic demeanor made me think instantly of The Godfather or Italian mafia. Nonetheless, he and his Clos Sainte Rose make fucking exquisite brandy. We mixed it with a little mineral water until it was cloudy and then it came- the royal golden burn, so sweet and hot!! We were spinning around the room in no time! Kristen and I were already laughing hysterically when Jenny introduced us to her friend, a graffiti hat clad Seattle rocker, Thomas Erak. He was here to pick up a new guitar as Gibson is a sponsor of his band, Fall of Troy. He grimaced and laughed as Kristen downed another glass of brandy. “Oh, my god! That hurts me just watching you!”

“Oh, but it’s soooooo good!” Kristen’s smiling face was glowing.

Jenny chimed in, “Thomas just came here to pick up a guitar but, we’re gonna try to get him to stay and drink some wine with us!” Devious smiles all around.

“Now that shouldn’t be too hard, should it?” I was purring already warm from a lack of food and a glass and a half of wine, not to mention the Clos Sainte Rose brandy. Now a trio, we became a camera flashing wheel of fun, tasting the wines, talking to the winemakers, and getting to know each other.

Well-situated between Beecher’s Handmade Cheese and the Salumi gourmet cured meat tables, is Chatter Creek wine and we fall in love with winemaker Gordy Rawson’s rep, Jason Ramos. Smiling big under giant black square glasses we sample his wares as he tells us that Gordy is actually playing guitar for the audience, at the moment.

Kristen’s with another glass of Chatter Creek’s delightful Pinot Gris, while I was having a romance with their Lonesome Spring Ranch, Syrah. Back in the main guitar room sitting on speakers, Thomas played Spanish guitar while I sat next to him, sipping wine.

Kristen and Jenny hold an animated conversation with Gibson employee Kurt Bloch, also founder of first wave punk band, The Fastbacks. Thomas’ friend Jonah enters our merry scene with a big hug for his pal. Jonah and his band Schoolyard Heroes have in-concert portraits hanging down the long wall of the showroom. Wine does Rock Seattle. What a perfect combination of wine and music! Can’t wait for the next one! Did I mention all the proceeds go to the Vera Project?

Written by January Fieldz

Photography by Blush Photo

Washington Winemaker-musicians:

Jamie Brown, Waters Winery (Guitar, Syrah)
• Rob Newsom, Boudreaux Cellars (Guitar, Cab Sauv and Merlot)
• Rusty Figgins, Clos Sainte Rose (Drums, Brandy)
• Doug McCrea, McCrea Cellars (Saxophone, Syrah and Syrocco Blend)
• Bill Herzog, DiStefano Winery (Bass, Syrah)
• Gordy Rawson, Chatter Creek (Bass, Viognet, Grenache)
• Paul Gregutt, Seattle Times Columnist/Author of Washington Wines & Wineries, The Essential Guide (Guitar)