Red Wine, Chocolate, and our Little Community

I loved the "Weird" pairing at Longship Cellars!

All week I had been crossing my fingers and saying my Hail Marys that the weather would clear up enough for one of my favorite events for the year: Yakima Valley Red Wine and Chocolate. Many of the big wineries in the area come out to play during Presidents' Day weekend with delectable red wine and chocolate pairings. Since the first time I attended in 2017, I've made sure to mark the occasion on my calendar. This year was no different, and while the wineries offered a second weekend in March to make up for the bad weather, I was still aching to get to tasting rooms this month.

Fortunately, the weather held up, and the girls and I were able to get out for some much needed fellowship and fun times. There were several highlights, and although I had some bad experiences at some of the locations in the past, this year was all positive. Maybe everyone was in a good spirits because they were finally able to get out after being snowed in for a over a week. Whatever it was, I was grateful. Here are some of my highlights:

1. Longship Cellars - After seeing their "Let's Get Weird" pairing on social media, I was so excited to come out to Longship Cellars. People who follow this blog regularly may remember that I spent my "New Year's Eve" at Longship Cellars when they did their popcorn and wine pairing, and it was so good that I've been looking forward to coming back! I love that Longship is local (only a five minute drive from where I live), and their staff is just as sweet as can be! Cassie and the crew are always friendly and they take interest in their customers. You're never just a number at Longship Cellars, and you just feel so special when you walk in the door and are greeted like family. Speaking of family, I loved unexpectedly running into my Tri-Cities family here! While I had scheduled Longship with a couple of girlfriends, it was so special to see another couple who I know and love with their family! All of us ended up sharing a table and we had a lovely time catching up and joking over fun pairings. The Churro chocolate and Ginger Man Syrah were spicy and sassy, but my favorite was the bacon chocolate paired with the cabernet sauvignon! I can't wait to make another trip here!

2. Layered Cake Artistry - Okay, okay, I know this isn't a winery, but since the event is called Red Wine and CHOCOLATE, I feel like it's fair to give a shout out to the best chocolate I sampled this weekend. My good friend has been raving for MONTHS about how the sweets from Layered Cake are "life changing" and "the best things she's ever had." Now, I'm not usually one to subscribe to something just because someone else suggests it, but when I heard that Layered Cake would be at one of the wineries this weekend, I knew I had to put them on the agenda. I am so glad that I did because just like my friends said, the desserts ARE "life changing!" If you are looking for luxuriously made desserts that are as tasty as they are beautiful, Layered Cake is for you! A chocolate covered strawberry isn't just a chocolate covered strawberry. For owners Concetta and Elena, the chocolate covered strawberry is an edible piece of art. Their chocolate shards were a favorite because the pistachios added such an unexpected and lovely touch! There wasn't anything in their selection that I didn't like, and the bonus is that after you eat their treats, you feel like you've had a high-end treat, but you aren't left in a sugar coma. I can't wait for them to have another pop-up! I will be there!

3. 14 Hands - And it wouldn't be Red Wine and Chocolate without a visit to 14 Hands. I may be a little bit biased since I am a wine club member there, but 14 Hands always provides me with an enjoyable experience. Whether it's the beautiful atmosphere or the staff that makes you feel at home, I always feel like 14 Hands is a place where I can go to relax and unwind over a good glass of red (or white) wine. 14 Hands is always consistent and reliable, like a good friend who knows you inside and out. I brought a friend here for their small bites and release party for the latest wine shipment. The live music from Dakota Brown added to the festive atmosphere, and the appetizers were the perfect way to fuel up for the afternoon. There was a crowd, but my friend and I were able to find a quiet place to catch up and have some good conversation. While tasting rooms can get crowded during this big weekends, it was nice to have some space where I could comfort my introvert and recharge for a bit.

As I reflect back on this weekend, I think back not to the wine and chocolate but to the fellowship and community. Whether it was the way that Longship didn't mind that my friends brought their toddler in with her or the way that 14 Hands tends to you as soon as you walk into the door, events like this make me appreciate the small businesses around Eastern Washington. From being greeted at the door by my favorite wine dog, Tyson, at Tucannon Cellars or being pushed up the hill when I got stuck in the snow at Chandler Reach, I realized that one of the reasons why I love the Tri-Cities so much is because the people around here take care of each other. I say over and over again that I have some of the best friends a girl could ask for, and I really think that we are, in part, a product of our environment. I have heard many times that the Tri-Cities is a great place to raise a family, and adding on to that, it's also a great place to make amazing friends who lift one another up.

It's no surprise that a lot of the small businesses around here took a hit because of the weather. Since the roads went unplowed for several days, it was hard for people to make it to their favorite family owned businesses, but even so, many of the owners of said businesses were open, ready to feed their customers, even if their bottom lines took a hit. When my friends and I went to The Kabob House, another favorite local business, after our Red Wine and Chocolate festivities, I was happy to see that the place was hopping. One of the employees stopped by our table to chat with us. She mentioned that one day last week, they only had 3 customers. But they weren't discouraged, and they kept up the work of making gyros and grilling kabobs throughout the week. Their resilience is so much like the other small businesses in our area - they do it because they're passionate about what they do, and I have to believe they do it because they care about their customers. That's an ideal I can subscribe to all day long, rain, snow or shine.

Seriously, Layered Cake Artistry...so delicious!