The month of March is typically fast moving here at Woodinville Wine Blog. Our March calendars include social events such as Taste Washington Wine Month, Seattle Uncorked’s Cabernet Classic, and the Taste Washington grand tasting weekend in Seattle. March brings the first day of Spring and with that comes many spring Woodinville wine releases.
March usually means, for those of us with children, planning Spring Break vacations that are typically much needed escapes to warmer climates after the dreary winter here in the Pacific Northwest. I celebrate my birthday this month (and seemingly 70% of all my friends and family also have birthdays in March and April!). Carrie and I begin to make the rounds to all Woodinville wineries to collect 2019 Rosé wines to host a celebration with in June. For me, March usually races by as we all enjoy the happenings that bring together winery owners, winemakers, wine industry marketers, wine enthusiasts as well as family and friends.
March of 2020, has literally changed everything. It feels like it’s been three months as opposed to three weeks ago that we all pulled up to a red carpet at the Porsche Bellevue dealership before we sipped and noshed and socialized in person with so many industry friends. We have experienced in four weeks time what no one alive today has seen in their collective lifetimes. It can feel a lot overwhelming if you begin to process too much of our new reality at once, without finding a way to connect to others outside of your household.
Immediately (and impressively!) we have been watching and joining Woodinville, Bothell, Maltby and Seattle wineries and restaurants as they have launched themselves fearlessly into new ways of connecting with their customers. Businesses are using live videos, virtual happy hours, and even the conversion of normal business production to make hand sanitizer as a constant effort to connect and serve our community while we all stay at home.
Carrie and I are inspired by the way in which we have seen so many Washington State small businesses reach out and support one another and their employees. Here are a few of the Woodinville companies whose creative ideas have really stood out to us this week.
(photo courtesy of Wildwood Spirits Co.)
Bothell’s Wildwood Spirits Co. made a decision to completely pause their award winning vodka, gin and bourbon making to start producing a 60% alcohol hand sanitizer. This business shift was initiated by owner and head distiller Erik Liedholm for “the sole purpose of fulfilling a critical community need amidst massive local hand sanitizer shortages.”
Last week, Liedholm began providing complimentary bottles of Rensa hand sanitizer (which means Swedish for clean) to customers who made a bottle purchase and anyone who made a minimum $5 donation to Big Table Seattle, a local non-profit that supports hospitality workers in times of crisis such as the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Wildwood states in their press release that after “being contacted by King County Metro and the Seattle Police Department, both of whom were experiencing hand sanitizer supply chain issues, Liedholm significantly ramped up production to meet the need. The first bottles of ORCA Guard, the separately bottled and branded hand sanitizer for King County Metro, were delivered Friday and will be used by employees who provide essential transit services and do not have access to hand washing facilities throughout the day. Bottles for the Seattle Police Department will follow shortly and production for both will continue indefinitely.”
I think this idea is fantastic, and accordingly made a donation to Big Table Seattle. Shortly thereafter I received a bottle of Rensa in the mail. It’s all natural and contains lavender (from Liedholm’s Ballard home garden) and orange oil that’s typically used in the making of Wildwood Spirit Co’s Kur Gin. It meets CDC and WHO hand cleaner requirements, yet did not leave my hands feeling extra dry.
(photo courtesy of Goose Ridge Wines)
Washington State Wine has started the #sipGlocal movement, which is a very interactive and simultaneously uplifting idea that involves bottles of Washington wine and virtual handwritten letters. I had to look it up: Glocal: adjective; of or relating to the interconnection of global and local issues. What a great social media and community connecting idea!
We have been enjoying the SipGlocal movement and the creative ways we see everyone bridging the social distance and keeping people engaged virtually.
Armstrong Family Winery will be Live on Facebook on Sunday March 29, 2020 at 5 pm from their Walla Walla guest cottage. They aim to enjoy “Sunday Supper”, give a quick tour of their guest cottage (click here for info) and toast over The Scotsman Syrah. If you don’t have a bottle of the Scotsman and would like to schedule a virtual tasting for a later date, email Jen . She and Tim will plan a virtual tasting that will talk you through Armstrong wines you’d like to learn more about.
JM Cellars has closed their tasting room for tastings and pick up orders, but they are having fun with Instagram Live tastings as a virtual alternative. Their first virtual tasting was so much fun, they have scheduled another one that will take place April 1st at 5 pm. John will be tasting the 2013 Carménère, the 2015 Carménère and barrel tasting the upcoming 2018 Carménère (releasing soon).
They are offering special non-library pricing on the 2013 and 2015 Carménère for the next week.
(photo courtesy of DeLille Cellars)
DeLille Cellars has launched a giveback initiative that donates 50% of sales from their D2 Heart Label to Seattle Foundation’s COVID-19 Response Fund and Lifewire. Ship 3 or more bottles for a single penny, either to yourself or as a gift to someone working on the front line in your community. Your purchase will include a tasting for two, once DeLille reopens. To order click here.
Woodinville Whiskey has also halted whiskey production in order to produce much needed hand sanitizer they will be donating to the local medical community, government organizations and high-risk individuals.
Mark your calendars on Wednesday April 1st at 3:00 pm to join Woodinville Whiskey’s national brand ambassador, Ariel Jahn for a “Whiskey 101” virtual tasting. Pour a glass and then tune in to learn more about their straight bourbon whiskey, the 100% straight rye whiskey and their port finished bourbon.
These are just a few of the creative ideas we have seen from Woodinville businesses as they cope with COVID-19 and make efforts to keep customers connected and enjoying Washington State Wine. If I have not included your winery or restaurant and you would like to share what you are doing with us, please email me here.
Please support your Woodinville wineries and restaurants by interacting with them on social media channels. Many of us are using stories, live video and Instagram TV (IGTV) to bring you recipes, food and wine pairings and updated release information and it’s a perfect place to interact. Be sure to comment and engage so that we can all continue to stay connected as much as possible during these changing times.
Cheers!
~ Jen
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