Bottle Shock

Bottle shock is what can happen to wine during shipping. After a bumpy journey, it will need time to calm down. It's also the name of a nifty Indie film now showing (hopefully) in a theater near you. It stars Bill Pullman and the always awesome Alan Rickman in a true story about how CA wines won top prizes in a contest in Paris back in 1976. You'll recognize a lot of other people in this film. It's a delight.

Friday and Saturday nights, Andrew's Pizza and Skylight Theater had an opening event. Five bucks got you five one ounce tastes or one glass of a local wine, plus the movie. I love this place. You sit in a cozy theater, either in a theater seat or on a couch (or a floor pillow if you want), and watch a film while eating excellent pizza and quaffing a microbrew draft or a glass of local wine.

Last night, I was pouring for Wind River Cellars, so we had to rush back from our Portland adventure (another story coming soon). I hadn't eaten all day, save for a baggie of almonds and a half cup of cottage cheese for breakfast. Arriving just before the crowds, I had just enough time to slam down a piece of mushroom pizza (thanks Chris) so I wouldn't pass out breathing the fumes of Chardonnay, Merlot and Syrah. Cathedral Ridge and Wy'East were there, too. It was a fun evening. An hour of tasting, then on to the film.

It's playing all week, so to my friends in the area, GO SEE IT!

If it comes down to a time crunch and you have to choose between the previously noted 'Obsession', and this, it's hands down worth the bridge toll to go over to Hood River.

And watch out for the brown Chardonnay....