December 28th, 2012
Ring in the New Year with some wonderful wine & appetizers.
Below are a few of Airfield’s recommendations:
2011 PINOT GRIS
Pairing: Spring Rolls, Shrimp Cocktail, a Fresh Fruit Tray, and Gouda Cheese.
2011 VIOGNIER
Pairing: Hummus Spread, Chicken Satay, & Asian Lettuce Wraps.
2011 GEWRÜZTRAMINER
Pairing: Assorted Cheeses, a Fresh Fruit Tray, & Potstickers.
2011 LIGHTNING
Pairing: Smoked Salmon, Crab Cakes, Fish Tacos, and Sautéed Scallops.
2011 RESERVE CHARDONNAY
Pairing: Fried Calamari, Mini Quiches, Baked Brie, Cheese Fondue, and Roasted Red Pepper and Pesto Spreads.
2010 BOMBSHELL RED
Pairing: Barbecued Chicken Wings, Beef Sliders, Smoked Sausage, & Smoked Gouda or Sharp Cheddar.
2009 MERLOT
Pairing: Tenderloin Crostinis, Veal Rolls, Potato Skins, & Stuffed Mushrooms.
2010 MUSTANG
Pairing: Bacon Wrapped Venison or Blue Cheese on Caramelized Onion Flatbread.
2010 SPITFIRE
Pairing: Bruschetta, Italian Meatballs, Mini Pizzas, or an Antipasto Plate of Cured Meats, Mediterranean Olives, Roasted Peppers, Marinated Vegetables, Mixed Nuts, & Assorted Cheeses.
2009 LATE HARVEST GEWÜRZTRAMINER
Pairing: Mixed Berries, Cheesecake, Custard, Crème Brûlée, Shortbread, & Roquefort, Gorgonzola, or Blue Cheese.
Posted in Chef's Corner
August 8th, 2012
We are now officially in veraison! Monday morning when our crews were putting the Extenday® out, they discovered that verasion was upon us. These photos were taken by John Niemeyer, our ranch foreman. Veraison is the period of the beginning of berry ripening. The berries become soft and take on the colors characteristic of their specific varieties. These pictures are of Tempranillo, it is usually the first varietal to show signs of veraison
Posted in Airport Ranch, Tempranillo, Vineyards
April 22nd, 2012
The 2012 vintage kicked off with bud break in mid-April, which was about 10 days later than normal. However, with the warm weather that we’ve experienced lately, the vintage is gaining momentum. The La Niña appears to be fading and we are anticipating the summer months will be warmer & drier than the previous two vintages.
Below are a few photos that we took as we strolled through the vineyard during bud break.
- Mike Miller, Owner & Grape Grower
Posted in Uncategorized
March 13th, 2012
Wine Press Northwest wrote a nice article about local Sangiovese wines including Airfield Estates 2008 Sangiovese described below:
“Lush strawberry jam, black cherry, chocolate-covered raspberry and cinnamon aromas don’t mislead on the flavor profile. The structure shows lots of extraction, richness and barrel influence as the tannins muscle through the acidity. Hints of crushed leaf should add to its ability to pair with a bowl of minestrone or osso bucco.”
Check out the full article: Sangioveses stand up well against Italy’s best | HeraldNet.com – Northwest Wines.
Posted in Uncategorized
February 13th, 2012
As the new year starts, we look forward to a new and fantastic year ahead. The long protracted fall allowed for our young vines to harden to the extreme temperatures of Winter. This will allow us to establish those vines to our trellises this Summer, and we should be able to reap the rewards of this establishment in 2013. When Winter finally arrived, temperatures did not approach thresholds that would result in significant bud injury, thus the vines are primed for a full crop. As you might remember, last year was not so kind to us, so we’re quite excited about this prospect. In addition, the entire Yakima AVA is dependant on the Yakima River and its tributaries for water supply. Thus far, the Snow pack for the Cascades has been at normal to above normal levels so the water supply looks to be solid for the new vintage.
There are other variables that we need to navigate to complete the season. We are hoping to say goodbye to the La Niña. Its presence has resulted in historically two of the coolest growing seasons on record. Warmer Summer temperature will supply the heat units necessary to bring our grapes to full maturity much earlier this year. This will lessen our exposure to fall frost, reduce disease pressure throughout the Spring & Summer, and give us a better opportunity to produce the highest quality fruit.
Last season was incredibly challenging. We had to deal with additional pressures brought on by high disease indexes. This required intensifying our regimes and we found ourselves working longer hours than we had ever experienced. We decided that our operation required another tractor in order to deal with this pressure. We rented a Kabota, thinking that we would use it for a short period of time, then return it to the dealership after our needs had been satisfied. What we discovered was it used about 70% of the fuel our other John Deere tractors were using, doing the same job at the same speed. This did not seem to require to much thought, we changed the contract to a purchase and ended up trading an older unit in for a second Kabota. Fuel consumption is a huge component of our budget, and we could see that we could make the payments on fuel savings. At the same time, we are also reducing our environmental footprint.
We continuously strive to achieve the desirable outcome by applying softer chemicals, using less fuel, and putting into practice a myriad of other “sustainable practices†in efforts to reduce our footprint and provide a safer environment for our crew. We are only here for a short time. Our farms and our vineyards will outlive us. We need to be responsible as growers to ensure their survival. Farmers are true stewards, spending millions of dollars annually to improve their farms. Next time you meet a farmer, give him or her a hug.
Posted in Airport Ranch, Farm
December 27th, 2011
Ring in the New Year with some wonderful wine & appetizers.
Below are a few of Airfield’s recommendations:
2010 FLYGIRL WHITE
Pairing: Spring Rolls, Shrimp Cocktail, a Fresh Fruit Tray, and Gouda Cheese.
2010 VIOGNIER
Pairing: Hummus Spread, Chicken Satay, & Asian Lettuce Wraps.
2010 LIGHTNING
Pairing: Smoked Salmon, Crab Cakes, Fish Tacos, and Sautéed Scallops.
2010 RESERVE CHARDONNAY
Pairing: Fried Calamari, Mini Quiches, Baked Brie, Cheese Fondue, and Roasted Red Pepper and Pesto Spreads.
2010 BOMBSHELL RED
Pairing: Barbecued Chicken Wings, Beef Sliders, Smoked Sausage, & Smoked Gouda or Sharp Cheddar.
2008 MERLOT
Pairing: Tenderloin Crostinis, Veal Rolls, Potato Skins, & Stuffed Mushrooms.
2009 MUSTANG
Pairing: Bacon Wrapped Venison or Blue Cheese on Caramelized Onion Flatbread.
2009 SPITFIRE
Pairing: Bruschetta, Italian Meatballs, Mini Pizzas, or an Antipasto Plate of Cured Meats, Mediterranean Olives, Roasted Peppers, Marinated Vegetables, Mixed Nuts, & Assorted Cheeses.
2009 LATE HARVEST GEWÃœRZTRAMINER
Pairing: Mixed Berries, Cheesecake, Custard, Crème Brûlée, Shortbread, & Roquefort, Gorgonzola, or Blue Cheese.
Posted in Chef's Corner
December 2nd, 2011
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The Gift that Keeps Giving All Year Long!
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Posted in Uncategorized
December 2nd, 2011
‘Tis the season for fine wine & food! Below are traditional holiday foods with Airfield Estates wine recommendations:
Prime Rib: Cabernet Sauvignon
Filet Mignon: Aviator
Lamb Roast: Mustang
Brisket: Reserve Syrah
Ham: Reserve Chardonnay, Merlot, & Tempranillo
Pork: Lightning, Counoise & Dolcetto
Turkey: Viognier, Pinot Noir, & Grenache
Italian Feast: Spitfire, Sangiovese, & Barbara
Mexican Cuisine: Flygirl White, Bombshell Red, & Malbec
Posted in Uncategorized
November 17th, 2011
With a variety of foods served at Thanksgiving, the ideal Thanksgiving wine should be able to pair well with a wide range of flavors. It shouldn’t be too delicate or too overpowering for the food. Below are some terrific choices that the staff at Airfield Estates recommends. Most importantly, drink what you like! Cheers!
2010 Unoaked Chardonnay
White wines pair wonderfully with Thanksgiving. If you are looking for something crisp and refreshing, Airfield’s Unoaked Chardonnay is a good choice. Although it is light bodied, it is supple and creamy enough to pair wonderfully with mashed potatoes! Yum!
$15 BUY ONLINE
2010 Viognier
For an ever-so-slightly oaked white, try our 2010 Viognier. With a zesty crisp entry, round mid-palate, and lingering nuances of stone fruit and honeysuckle, this wine will nicely complement turkey and sides such as cranberry sauce, yams, and salad.
$15 BUY ONLINE
2009 Lightning
5% Viognier, 25% Roussanne, & 10% Marsanne. Aged for 10 months in oak barrels, this Rhone style white blend is crafted to light up the senses. Tantalizing flavors of peach, citrus, and honey engage the palate while the wine’s natural acidity strikes a balance with its creamy, round, full-bodied mouthfeel. This wine is very versatile and will pair wonderfully with turkey and hearty side dishes.
$18 BUY ONLINE
2010 Reserve Chardonnay
Aged for eleven months in oak barrels, this medium-bodied wine showcases an elegant rounded mouthfeel, fresh acidity, and flavors of citrus, lemon, and cream. Well-balanced, this food-friendly wine pairs with ham, turkey, butternut squash soup, garlic mashed potatoes, & sautéed vegetables.
$20 BUY ONLINE
2010 Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is often considered one of the best wines to pair with Thanksgiving. With limited production of 2 barrels, this Pinot Noir showcases layers of raspberry, rose petal, sweat oak, spices, and black tea with a soft lingering finish. With a medium body and soft tannins, this red will pair wonderfully with turkey. It’s fresh acidity will also help cut through rich dishes.
$32 BUY ONLINE
2010 Counoise
This Counoise reveals an enticing bouquet of spice, mulberry, and nuances of oak. With integrated flavors, this medium-bodied wine has smooth tannins and a palate pleasing finish. Pair this Counoise with poultry, slow-cooked meats, and hard cheeses.
$30 BUY ONLINE
2010 Grenache
This medium-bodied, multi-dimensional wine exhibits layers of cranberry, raspberry, and spice. Smooth tannins and an exceptional depth of flavor carry through to the finish. Limited Release. 25 Cases Produced.
$35 BUY ONLINE
2010 Tempranillo
Flavors of boysenberry, cherry, and a hint of vanilla combine with soft tannins and lead to a smooth finish. This wine is traditionally paired with Spanish style dishes. It is a good match for a flavorful herb rubbed turkey, glazed ham, spicy foods, and medium hard to hard cheeses.
$25 BUY ONLINE
2008 Merlot
Complex & concentrated with flavors of dark berry & plum. Low yielding vines & extended barrel aging have brought forth supple tannins & a full-bodied mouthfeel, creating a balance that can hold its own against hearty meats, yet pairs perfectly with pasta, stuffing, & gravy covered turkey.
$25 BUY ONLINE
2009 Mustang
61% Syrah, 25% Grenache, 7% Cinsault, 5% Mourvèdre, & 2% Counoise. This Rhone style red blend lends complexity to both the nose and the palate. Concentrated flavors of cherry emerge with underlying hints of white pepper and toasted oak. Yielding velvety tannins and a smooth, well-balanced finish, this wine pairs impeccably with grilled meats, spice rubbed turkey, wild game, robust cheeses, wild mushroom stuffing, and rich flavored pastas.
$25 BUY ONLINE
2010 Runway Late Harvest Riesling
The Riesling grapes were picked on November 8th, 2010. This late harvest concentrated sugar levels to produce a pleasing bouquet of candied white peach & sweetened grapefruit with delectable flavors of apricot. Enjoy with crème brulée, apple cobbler, cranberry tart, and classic pumpkin pie.
$15 BUY ONLINE
Posted in Uncategorized
October 26th, 2011
Thank you to everyone who attended our Fall Festivities! Below are photos the run, stomp, & dinner. Feel free to email us your photos and we’ll add them to our wall. Simply click on the photos below to view the enlarged version:
Posted in Uncategorized
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