Judith Henderson’s Wine & Country Living

After writing about heirloom seed collectors in last week's column, a reader of Wine and Country Living asked for a little more information.

So, I did some research and found a most-educated group of growers and protectors of organic seed in the Northwest region.

Located in Port Townsend, they call themselves the Organic Seed Alliance. The alliance is a group of farmers who grow seed and believe so passionately about the critical organic seed issue in our country. Using their credentials, the group takes the time to educate interested farmers on how to breed seed in organic conditions for future crops through their website: www.organicseedallaince.org.

On the web page, you'll find free publications and downloads as well as information on where to find independent growers of organic non-genetically modifi ed seeds throughout the U.S. and much more.

As I drove back from Hood River, Ore., this weekend, I stopped at L'Ecole No. 41 winery. After the gamut in tasting wines, I purchased my favorite L'Ecole bottle of all time; the scrumptious Chenin Blanc, at just $14 a bottle!

This white wine is the winery's flagship white, nose buried deep in the glass, a roasting of coconut creeps forward. With first sip, a swooshing of juicy pear and amber honey coats the mouth, tongue wrapped in crystallized ginger with a little lemon-zested, simple syrup finish. Perfect with everything from peppered greens, tropical fruits, toasted pecans, smoked fish, clean roasted organic meats, goat cheese and bleu cheeses; you can't go wrong with this wine.

Because you read your wines with such care, winemaker, Mike Sharon and the entire winemaking staff at L'Ecole No 41, you earn 98 points of wine perfection from yours truly, Judith Henderson of Wine and Country Living. Congratulations! 509-525-0940.

Readers, until next week, "Eat Art, Drink Imagination!"

Sweet and Sour Simple Syrup

1-cup white sugar

½-cup lemon juice

½-cup water

In a sauce pan, reduce by half and thickened. Squiggle over fresh cut citrus fruits and wild greens salad. Pair with L' Ecole Chenin Blanc.

Judith's cookbook, Wine and Country Cookbook, now on sale and for distribution: 509-5290-8748