DRINK

A long time ago, in a shop far far away… …a discovery was made that made a lot of fine folks raise their eyebrows in skepticism and nervous wonder. This was no ordinary shop mind you. Normally the realm of wine snobs and geeks, where $1,000 bottles glistened in the soft glow of candles next to inexpensive wines so obscure that the locals thought the owner was more than just a little off.

On one particular day leaning towards the Thanksgiving week, in the window were cases of Pasek Cellars Cranberry Wine stacked 12 high with a neon green sign that just said “WOW = $10.”

I was not prepared to like this stuff. In fact when the distributor brought it round I didn’t taste it there in the shop. After all I am aware of peoples’ feelings and not altogether an insensitive ogre. I took the sample bottle home to open, sniff and spill down the drain. I opened, I poured, I sniffed, and just to be fair I actually tasted. That was it – my undoing. I found that not only did it pass muster by presenting a nicely balanced profile between the concept of a well-made wine and a “different” fruit, but that it was clean and dry … and delicious! I thought I must be either going mad or rapidly coming down with something incurable.

Neither was the case! Gene Pasek, of Pasek Cellars in Skagit Valley had produced something that I had not experienced before – an excellent non-grape fruit wine that was perfect for an upcoming holiday. I started to quietly laugh to myself knowing full well what was expected of me, my shop and that my recommendations would be forever called into question should I back this stuff.

After all, the great grape-based wines that pair wonderfully with the classic Thanksgiving meal – perfumed and earthy pinot noir and buttery chardonnay, maybe a richer riesling, were what I’d always recommended and put into people’s hands. These are beautiful pairings that work across the spectrum of the flavors and textures of a full-blown turkey dinner with stuffing, gravy, yams, potatoes, peas, and yes – cranberry sauce. To turn my back on the classics was sacrilege. I forged on and am happy to say I turned a bunch of wine snobs into cranberry wine lovers – if only for one day.

Pasek Cellars is kind of that classic accidental hero. Gene and Kathy Pasek are classic wine making hobbyists turned pro. In 1995 they opened their winery in the Skagit Valley hoping to recoup some of their time and make a few bucks selling to the tourist flow that comes through their area – especially during the tulip season. Today they produce just more than 14,000 cases of different wines including cranberry, passion fruit, guava, blackberry, pineapple and more. They also produce grape wines which they source from the elegant grapes from Minick Vineyards in the Yakima Valley, ranging from cabernet sauvignon, syrah, chardonnay, a late-harvest viognier and a wonderful muscat canelli which they make in an off-dry style.

Today, Pasek Cellars Cranberry Wine is still around $10 and is still my favorite Thanksgiving pairing. Serve it chilled like a sauvignon blanc and watch your guests’ faces light up. Oh – you’ll want more than one – once people taste this surrounded by family and friends and the holiday table is awash with love and laughter … if you only have one of these no one will talk with you the rest of the night!

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday and don’t forget to give thanks to the humble cranberry!