Many of my friends want to get me a hat that says, “Make Merlot Great Again,” because of my emphatic dedication to the noble grape. As cheeky as that is, I would genuinely wear it because I have been a huge fan of Merlot for my entire career.
I am old enough to have known, worked with and certainly benefited from the Founding Fathers of our Washington State Wine industry. Standing on their shoulders I could see firsthand the contributions and amazing achievements they have made for us.
I have had a few great food and wine experiences. Epiphanies that will linger on in my memory for the rest of my life. None will exceed the pairing I had in Japan. Sometimes it can be the…