PALATE
The Nature of
N a tural Wines in the Pacific Northwest
BY JAMES MARINELLO
’ ve had the pleasure of enjoying Pacific Northwest wine for over 20 years . Wow , has it really been two decades ? I , like many others in the U . S ., didn ’ t grow up on wine , as we tend to experience more of a beer culture . In my mid-twenties , however , the seminal moment of my wine journey arrived . I met a young woman that was interested in wine . I didn ’ t want to embarrass myself , so I had a
crash course in wine from one of my friends — a nascent sommelier having been to one , maybe two , wine tastings . The young woman of my interest took me on a trip to the Tri-Cities , where we stopped by one of the pillars of the original wine community at the time . As I proceeded to pepper owner / winemaker ( legend ) Robert Griffin with my novice ignorance but childlike enthusiastic questions — my mind dizzied with curiosity .
28 ART CHOWDER MAGAZINE