Sunday, July 28, 2013

Bell's Brewery v. Enbridge - MI Brewery Lawsuit Against Pipeline Pollution


New Beer Lawsuit Could Spell Trouble For Keystone XL Pipeline (via Clean Technica)
Bell’s Brewery, which bills itself as the oldest and largest brewery in Michigan, has just filed a lawsuit against the company Enbridge and if that name doesn’t ring a bell, think back to July 26, 2010 when an Enbridge pipeline broke and spilled…

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Woodinville Tasting Rooms

As if I needed another reason to escape to Woodinville, I go for the tasting rooms.  I've found that there are many tasteful tasting rooms around Woodinville, some spare, some elaborate; some fun, some sophisticated.  I like the ones with big chairs I can sink into and it's nice to have a few small bites available.  And I really love it when there is a bar I can sit at because it's easier to shoot the breeze with the folks pouring the wine when it isn't too busy.
@jjsattorney Lounge Lizard Native Habitat © Jill Smith 2010
One of the most beautiful and functional tasting rooms in Woodinville in my opinion is the lovely Novelty Hill-Januik tasting room.  Weirdly, it's one of my favorites even though it doesn't have the big chairs to sink into, and it's usually always busy, so not much breeze-shooting going on.  But it helps that Novelty Hill wines are among my favorites in Washington.  The tasting room is an airy, expansive open space with the tasting bar central to the room.  There is no bad view there just like there is no bad wine there.  Tasteful tasting surroundings!  The earth tones, wood, and metal give it a soothing Northwest feel and give it a style all its own that is different from most rooms in Woodinville.  It also has a large outdoor patio that is just what the doctor ordered during our fabulous Northwest summer.  And if I have the luxury to be AWOL from the office in the middle of the week, they have an event every Wednesday in the summer called "Wednesday Wine'd Down" with live music, small bites, and by-the-glass and bottle specials.

But I especially like the fact that Novelty Hill's Stillwater Creek estate vineyard became the first Columbia Valley AVA vineyard to become certified "Salmon Safe" in 2007.  Stillwater Creek, according to Novelty Hill's website, is located on the Royal Slope of the Frenchman Hills area of the Columbia Valley AVA.  Salmon Safe certification for winegrowers focuses on reducing runoff from hillside vineyards and enhancement of native biodiversity on vineyard sites.


Near Steamboat Rock State Park © Jill Smith 2009
Columbia Valley AVA (American Viticultural Area) is the largest AVA in Washington, and the Frenchman Hills are located to the south of a desert habitat management area and form the southern boundary of the Ancient Lakes sub-area within the AVA.  We're lucky to have such an amazing environment and natural resources in Washington, but protecting habitat so the ecosystems can be sustainable is a must so that we don't lose what we have.  More vineyards in Washington should try to become certified Salmon Safe.  It makes the wine taste just a little better to me.

So as a lounge lizard, my habitat consists of comfortable tasting rooms that help me decompress, give me a great view, and give me one great excuse to get out of the office in the summertime during our long days and short nights, and the Novelty Hill-Januik room does not disappoint.
In 2007, Stillwater Creek became the first Columbia Valley vineyard certified “Salmon Safe” for environmental practices that help protect water quality and habitat for wildlife and fish, particularly native Northwest salmon. - See more at: http://www.noveltyhilljanuik.com/wines/vineyards/#sthash.WuJ9tDoS.dpuf
In 2007, Stillwater Creek became the first Columbia Valley vineyard certified “Salmon Safe” for environmental practices that help protect water quality and habitat for wildlife and fish, particularly native Northwest salmon. - See more at: http://www.noveltyhilljanuik.com/wines/vineyards/#sthash.WuJ9tDoS.dpuf
In 2007, Stillwater Creek became the first Columbia Valley vineyard certified “Salmon Safe” for environmental practices that help protect water quality and habitat for wildlife and fish, particularly native Northwest salmon. - See more at: http://www.noveltyhilljanuik.com/wines/vineyards/#sthash.WuJ9tDoS.dpuf

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Ballard, The Nerve Center

My nerve center lies within the vascular web of Ballard, which is probably on its third or fourth reincarnation ever since it was annexed by the City of Seattle in 1907.  Since I keep a rather tight schedule, I often find myself grabbing a late working lunch within walking distance of the nerve center.  There is no shortage of food and beverage joints within walking distance, so I really don't have far to go.  Many of them don't open until 4:00 or 5:00, however, which is a little late even for a late lunch.  But one of my favorites, the very old but wise grande dame of Ballard, Hattie's Hat, is open for lunch.  Hattie's has allegedly been around (apparently in the same location) since 1904, when Ballard was still a separate municipality.  Below is an example of the type of liquor license Hattie's enjoyed. 

My Pavlovian response to the pressure cooker environment of litigation is a short trek down Ballard Ave. to Hattie's.  Anyone who has lived in Seattle or Ballard for more than a minute has probably discovered Hattie's.  For me, the place can do no wrong.  I've been known to have an adult beverage at lunch, making Hattie's the perfect place for a 2:00 lunch to release the steam from the pressure cooker.  The last thing I would call it is a "wine bar" (dive, hole-in-the-wall, diner, lunch counter, yes, but not a wine bar) but as it turns out, they actually have a few very drinkable wines on the beverage list.  But I am particularly impressed that they have Anchor Steam on the list, my favorite beer in the whole world.  As long as Hattie's exists, I will be walking there for lunch.

But sometimes the litigation pressure cooker continues on through the end of the day, in which case I am in no mood to walk very far.  I put my reptile skills to good use in these situations and merely slither a few yards across the street to the BalMar, which doesn't open until 5:00.  But if I'm unable to let off steam until 5:00, it provides the perfect venue and has everything I need at that point - a dark room, smart and conversational bartenders, a lounge atmosphere, small bites, good wine, or any kind of cocktail concoction I can come up with.  They have a great list of their own handmade cocktails, but I like to get creative all by myself, which helps to unshackle me from the straight jacket that is the litigation practice.

I don't know how the downtown Seattle attorneys do it.  Talk about pressure cooker!  Yes, they may have a glorious view from a 30th floor picture window, but it's unlikely any of them see fresh air until they leave for the day.  And they definitely can't walk down the street to Hattie's Hat for lunch or soothe the nerves in the dark interiors of the BalMar at happy hour.  Lucky me.

Ballard liquor license, 1906

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Bastille Day

Here is a quick history on Bastille Day:  

http://bastille-day.com/history/French-Revolution

Summer in the City

Thanks to the weather in Seattle this weekend, this has turned out to be a great weekend to hang around the city.  In fact, this weather has been going on all week, so it's been a great few days to tool around the city and explore new places.  Earlier this week, after dropping off some papers with the court downtown, I stumbled upon Vessel, a nice citizen's lounge near the federal courthouse.  They don't announce wine as their specialty, in fact it's more of a cocktail lounge.  So I was surprised to find that they had a spectacular rose from Washington on their by-the-glass list.

It was from the Purple Star winery from Richland, a winery I never heard of until this week.  I thought it was a Provence rose (I'm picky about my roses): dry, pale, interesting.  Until the bartender showed me the label.  I didn't know what grape they used, but I could tell it wasn't a 100% Sangiovese or Cabernet.  It was more subtle than that, and I was left feeling like it was one of the Provence grapes like Cinsault, Grenache, or Syrah, or some combination.  So I looked it up.  This little Purple Star is 85% Syrah and 15% Cabernet, a combination that gives depth and interest.

If you're out and about the city, go find that Purple Star rose at Vessel.

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Woodinville - My Personal Wine Parlor

Being a high-strung professional, I find Woodinville Wine Country to be a very soothing place to which to escape.  It's an easy drive from the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle and there are many ways you are rewarded while you're there. 

Last weekend when I was in Woodinville, I made a beeline to the Hollywood Hill district because I needed to pick up my second trimester wine shipment at William Church Winery, one of several wineries that offer comfortable tasting rooms in Hollywood Hill.  But as I was slithering around the wine parlors, I took a peek around the corner from William Church and I discovered a tiny bistro hiding out in the shadows in the back corner of the row of wineries.  Le Petit Terroir was there, staring me in the face.  Since I'm incapable of turning away from a challenge, I went in.

 It's a tiny place with only a couple of indoor tables and several outdoor tables, so the indoor tables were full.  But it was hovering around 88º that day, so the outdoor tables in the shade with bountiful umbrellas looked inviting.  The owners came out to greet me and tell me about their place.  This, despite the fact that they were still recovering from a busy lunch and an even busier dinner the night before.  And they were just leaving for the day, so it was quite a nice gesture.  A close encounter with an owner or chef makes any place enjoyable and memorable.  They told me about some of their favorite wine finds and how they focus on Italian wines (despite the French name). 

I especially enjoyed a conversation with Chef Jason after the owners left.  Since it was growing late in the afternoon and most lounge lizards were seeking air conditioning, there were just a few people there.  He took the time to explain the thoughts behind the menu and the fact that they make their own charcuterie right there in that little bistro.  Even the pancetta and prosciutto! 

The conversation progressed on to the topic of wines coming out of Washington state.  As I was biting into a crostini, he disappeared momentarily and returned with two partially filled balloon glasses of Washington red wine.  He handed one to me and said "taste this."  We swirled and tasted a delicious bold, dry red.  I remember liking it quite a bit, but I don't remember if I uttered a verbal response at that point.  My brain was starting to melt like hot brie.  At that point the conversation could have continued on for hours. 

I finished up my rosé and plat du fromage.  But before I left, Chef Jason invited me into the kitchen to witness the charcuterie "cave."  He told me he made all the charcuterie himself and I have to say, I was impressed.  Making truly delicious cured meats takes finesse and patience, and it was clear that Chef Jason was passionate about the craft.

I was starting to succumb to the 88º heat (in the Puget Sound area, this is a sweltering heat wave that causes great anxiety among the population and gives people delusions of Death Valley).  So my slithering came to an end.  Not enough hours in the day.

Footnote: I just discovered Woodinville Zip, and while it doesn't apply to me, it is definitely something I would take advantage of if I was in one of the local zip codes.  Woodinville Zip offers some behind-the-scene opportunities to people who live in the neighborhoods around Woodinville.  It's like being a member of numerous wine clubs all at once.


Wednesday, July 3, 2013

French wine on 4th of July eve?

Hey, NSA, I'm a traitor.  Guess what I'm drinking on this fine Sunny Seattle Afternoon of July 3, 2013?  A French Cote de Provence rosé - the 2012 Miradou.  A dry, affordable, delicious summery wine.  Label says it's bottled in Sorgues, France.  Sorgues is just a stone's throw south of the legendary Chateauneuf du Pape area and just a stone's throw north of Avignon.  I found this little gem at Savour in Ballard.

The flaw in my traitorous theory is that French wine most likely played a large role in the founding of our nation and the American revolution.  Thomas Jefferson was a lush for Bordeaux, and how many times did Benjamin Franklin solicit the help of the French leading up to 1776?  I think everyone lost count.  But you can't say French wine didn't have something to do with Franklin's influence on the French and vice versa.  So, thank you French rosé, for making my 4th of July so pleasurable!

Final thought: We're all in this together.  Pick your poison.

Monday, July 1, 2013

Back In The Saddle

It has been some time since I wrote anything on this blog.  In fact, I haven't written anything for about three years.  Ugh.  I blame it on Congress.  What else are they good for?  Seriously, it's John Boehner's fault.  But in reality, it is due to the rigors of my litigation practice that has sucked up all my time for far too long.  My clients thank me for it.  But the courts have these silly things called deadlines and due dates, and I am nothing if not punctual.  I'm not 100% Type A, I'm more of a Type A/Type B hybrid, but I am good at meeting deadlines.  Since I last wrote, Washington passed a new law privatizing its liquor stores and restructuring the industry.  So there are lots of new wine and liquor stores around Seattle and all around of our neck of Cascadia.  Many things have changed in a short three years.

But enough about me.  What wines have you been drinking lately?  Great.  Back to me.  I have to talk about my latest wine favorites.  And about the last few times I slithered around Woodinville.  If you are what you eat, I am a grape.  Which one?  Probably a grenache, I don't know.

I'm a big fan of Sparkman Cellars, no mystery to anyone who knows me.  My five-year-old niece even knows.  We were drawing the other day and I drew a wine glass and inked in the sketch with a dark purple crayon. Then I asked her what I drew.  She said "Sparkman wine."  True story.

I have been a "Ring of Fire" member of the Sparkman wine club since its inception and I did not know that they made a Pinot Noir.  There aren't many Pinot Noirs that seem to come out of Washington wineries, so I was surprised.  Hot weather dominating the news, I was sniffing out lighter, summery wines, and I didn't really have red wine on my mind, even though I gravitate towards the reds.  Lately I've been entranced by rosés.  But when I tasted the Sparkman pinot, I was taken aback.  It was a nice, light, airy red that goes well with 88º weather in Puget Sound.  I just don't want a heavy red in the summer when my mollusk nature prefers shade in the mind-squelching heat of the global warming sun.  I felt like I could drink their pinot with a Kansas City barbeque brisket, with oysters and mussels and manila clams, and with barbeque salmon.  I don't know.  It was like a cross between a nice delicate pinot noir and some kind of rich, Provence-style rosé.  And this is not just the heat exhaustion talking.  I took home a few bottles.  I'm now riveted on the concept of Washington pinots.  I'll be digging into this more in later posts.

So, rosés.  I'm kind of a Provence purist when it comes to rosés.  But what about Washington rosés?  Gilbert Cellars and Waters Winery are two of my favorites.  If you see these on a menu this summer, these are definitely worth ordering if you like the dry Provence-style rosé.

I have a Court of Appeals deadline tonight, so I'm going to switch over to my legal analysis personality now.  More about rosé as soon as I can take off the lawyer hat.