How Memories are Made

I look around, and I can see some pretty atrocious things in the world. But when I look a little closer to home, I see there is still much to be grateful for. I'm not going to get philosophical or try to explain away the intricacies of human suffering. Instead, I want to take a moment to recap one of my favorite events that happens in the Mid-Columbia every year: Red Wine and Chocolate.

Three weeks after the event, I'm reminded of how grateful I am to live in wine country where vineyards line the highways, the climate is perfect for the wine industry's best kept secret, and I have friends who are willing to share in memorable experiences. I went to my first Red Wine and Chocolate event a few years ago, and now it's something I look forward to year after year.

Here's what I have to say about this year's event:

I kicked the weekend off with Sarah at Treveri Cellars, which is known for supplying its sparkling wine to State Dinners. I have to say that while I'm not usually a huge fan of sparking wines, their pairing was definitely the most generous! I wasn't really a fan of the white chocolate covered brie, but the petit four was to die for! I was close to bringing a bottle of the sparkling rose home with me, but then I remembered how much anxiety I get over popping a bottle of bubbly and left with just the tasting. Not all was lost because I still got the chance to spend time in profound conversation with a dear coworker!

If you want to get technical, Longship Cellars was actually my first stop because I had purchase a take home kit to share with my roommate. But then I went a second time with a friend who I've mentored for quite some time. Julia met me at the Longship Cellars tasting room for a lively time, and I was reminded that youth is a gift that doesn't last forever! Kyle and Cassie serve up the most creative wine pairings I've ever seen in the Tri-Cities. From their popcorn and wine pairing around Christmas time to the Girl Scout cookies and wine in the spring, the tastings are never boring! Their Red Wine and Chocolate pairing is no different. "Let's Get Weird" featured 6 wines and 6 "weird" chocolates ranging from a carrot cake chocolate to a potato chip chocolate. But for me, the weirdest thing was realizing that I'm definitely not in my 20s anymore. After the tasting room closed at 8, I was definitely ready to not only go home but to also go to bed! But I realized that for others, the night was just beginning as those around me dispersed to other restaurants or hang out spots. What a wake up call! But still very much worth the trip!

While my Red Wine and Chocolate tradition has grown over the past several years, it has been so nice to go back to where it all started and spend some time with Alex and Megan who I first went with to this event several years ago. We agreed "we're not in our 20s anymore" and rather than just stopping at every vineyard we found from here to Prosser, we mapped out a plan that included some of the best pizza I've had since I was in Italy! Good job, Airfield, for having a food truck along for the ride! Along with a healthy dose of conversation came lots of laughs, mature self-awareness, and inside jokes that I'll just keep in my back pocket until we do this again next year.

Alex, Megan, and I continued our tour at two of our annual staples, Chandler Reach and Tucannon Cellars. The wine was reliably good, and it was special to spend a little more time with these two ladies! Isn't it just fun when you can go a couple of months without seeing people and then just pick right back up from where you started? That's what these two are for me!

I wrapped up this year's adventure with Maddy, at 14 Hands, some of my favorite reds, and a fun plate of chocolate! While I haven't been able to visit as much as I'd like, 14 Hands has definitely been one of my favorite places to visit over the years. I walk in and it feels like home. This time was no different. We got the kind of attention that makes you feel like a good friend, and I was happy to spend time there with one of mine! If Alex and Megan are my OG's of Red Wine and Chocolate, Maddy is definitely not too far behind. Again, many memories have been made with her over the years, not just at this event but at many others.

The point of this post is not to brag about Washington wines or to tempt those of you who gave up wine for Lent. Rather, I want to share that it's important to create these kinds of traditions, make time for friends, and reward yourself even in the middle of the storms of life because sometimes a table with good food, wine, chocolate, and friends is where life really happens.