Foothills Magazine. November-December 2019

o thills WENATCHEE ◆ LEAVENWORTH ◆ CHELAN ◆ AND ALL OF NORTH CENTRAL WASHINGTON

November-December 2019

TOGETHER AT CHRISTMAS Brad Hawkins shares holiday memories

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EDITOR’S LETTER

A simple kind of life I

t’s not easy being a kid these days in an increasingly complicated world readily accessible by electronics, gaming and social media.

It’s a big contrast from my childhood, when the only electronics in our house consisted of a black-and-white TV and a console stereo that had a turntable, an AM radio and an 8-track player.

Fast forward to today and those things have been replaced with smartphones, computers, streaming content on a myriad of electronic devices and about a million gaming options — all with the potential for exposing kids to content that would make many of us uncomfortable.

That’s why it was refreshing when writer Marlene Farrell and her husband, photographer Kevin Farrell, proposed doing a story on kids taking up chess, backgammon, cribbage and other games that don’t involve screen time. In addition to having fun, kids are learning game skills and strategies. Maybe it’s time for us to dust off our Monopoly, Scrabble or Trivial Pursuit board games this weekend and spend a couple hours of non-screen time with our kids. Checkers anyone?

In this issue, the Farrells also have a Christmas story about alternative gift ideas that will make Mother Nature proud.

There is a lot of inherent waste around the holidays. Following the tips offered in the Farrells’ story can help reduce some of it.

For the second time this year, Don Nelson, editor and publisher of the Methow Valley News, has allowed us to republish a home story that originally appeared in one of his publications. It’s a chance for us to include some content from a special place in our region, plus it allows us to see inside some interesting homes. My thanks to Don for sharing.

Every Foothills issue going back to the very first has included a wine-related story from now-retired Wenatchee World reporter Rick Steigmeyer. It’s getting harder and harder to get Rick to write about area wine because he is enjoying retirement by traveling quite a bit. I’m grateful that he still finds time to squeeze in stories during his travels. In this issue, he writes about Del Rosario Family Vineyards out in Palisades. It’s a great story about how Renato Del Rosario, a former banker from the Napa Valley, ended up making some great wines in remote Douglas County.

My thanks also goes to state Sen. Brad Hawkins for agreeing to be interviewed for this issue, and to his wife, Shawna, as well as their two sons for agreeing to be photographed. I first met the senator before he became an elected official, back when he was referred to as Buell’s boy. He’s definitely carved out his own path. It will be interesting to see where that path takes him in the years ahead.

Happy holidays to you and yours.

Marco Martinez, editor foothills@wenatcheeworld.com

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Contents

10 Holiday memories

Sen. Brad Hawkins chats Christmases past

38 Green Christmas 46 End of the road

Tips for a more planet-friendly holiday

Palisades is home to Del Rosario winery

22 All about the views 32 Beyond digital

Couple find their home, place in the Methow

Kids are playing classic games

58 Science in a glass

Pika Provisions is a cocktail laboratory

62 Wenatchee Wine & Food Festival

Photos from NCW’s premier wine event

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November / December 2019

oothills A BI-MONTHLY LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE ABOUT NORTH CENTRAL WASHINGTON

General Manager, advertising and sales Sean Flaherty (509) 664-7136 flaherty@wenatcheeworld.com

ESCAPE THE HUSTLE & BUSTLE, SPEND THE HOLIDAYS WITH US IN THE METHOW VALLEY.

Managing Editor Russ Hemphill (509) 665-1161 hemphill@wenatcheeworld.com Editor Marco Martinez (509) 664-7149 martinez@wenatcheeworld.com Creative Director Nancy Phillips Proofreader Joanne Saliby

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State Sen.

Brad Hawkins Age: 44 City: East Wenatchee Personal: Married. He and wife Shawna have two sons, Luke and Tyler. His father is former Chelan County Commissioner Buell Hawkins.

Hobbies: Hiking, yoga, adventures and family

SPEED ROUND

Favorite Christmas song: “Hark, The Herald Angels Sing,” the Mariah Carey version. Martina McBride’s “O Holy Night is a close second.”

Photo provided

Sen. Brad Hawkins interviews the 2019 Apple Blossom Festival Royal Court at the State Capitol last spring.

C

hat with Brad Hawkins for a few minutes and it’s obvious that he’s just as comfortable talking about the activities and achievements of his two sons as he is about the current happenings in the state Capitol.

Hawkins has worn his share of hats over the years— state representative, state senator, son, husband, father, school board member among them.

Family man might be the description that best fits the two-term Republican senator from the 12th legislative district. If you run into him around town, he’s often with his family, which includes wife Shawna and their sons, Luke and Tyler.

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Foothills Magazine caught up with Hawkins for an email interview about family life, the holidays and the challenging balance between public service and his private life.

What was Christmas like growing up in the Hawkins home?

Most of the time Christmas was just my family spending time in Wenatchee at our Orchard Street house. My brother and I would pester my parents to let us open gifts early.

We’d usually succeed by Christmas Eve with each of us opening one. I now find myself trying to do the same thing with my own family.

Must-have Thanksgiving meal dish: In recent years, I go for the dark turkey meat with cranberry sauce, either homemade or canned. It’s funny because as a boy I thought that can-shaped jellied cranberry was gross, but now I can’t get enough of it.

Favorite dessert: Ice cream, either the huge scoops from the Stemilt Store or a Costco Very Berry Sundae Your first car: A 1985 Ford Tempo Favorite winter drink: English Breakfast tea (two bags) with milk, vanilla creamer, honey and lots of Splenda Current book you’re reading: I recently finished The Reckoning by John Grisham. I’ve read every one of his books, but they are beginning to seem way too similar.

STORY BY MARCO MARTINEZ PHOTOS BY JULIE AYNN PHOTOGRAPHY November / December 2019

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What’s the most memorable Christmas gift you received as a kid?

When I was about 10 years old, I clearly remember getting a huge 1980s Rambo-style survival knife, sharp front with a jagged back. A compass unscrewed off the end of the handle and stored inside were match sticks, fishing line and other items.

It was the coolest gift ever, by far! I think my Uncle Rick either bought it for me or somehow convinced my dad to get it. No way would I get this for my 10 year-old, but it was a different era and it was an awesome gift. Somehow, I survived.

Is there a holiday tradition from your childhood that you continue today with your own family?

The basic traditions are the same, but a new one is driving around together each year to look at Christmas lights and decorations. Sometimes we’ll follow a map throughout the Wenatchee Valley, and other times we stay close to our neighborhood.

Shawna does a good job making hot chocolate for everyone. Sometimes we even take our dog, although he doesn’t get any hot chocolate.

How serious do you get about Christmas lights on the Hawkins home? Is there a little Clark Griswold (National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation movie) in you?

The only Clark Griswold in me is possibly the one from the first movie where Clark takes the kids to Wally World in his station wagon. I

Sen. Brad Hawkins’ gingerbread-house making session with his family goes sideways.

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November / December 2019

actually drove the family to Disneyland last year in my Subaru Outback.

Fortunately, our trip was nothing like the Griswold trip. As for Christmas lights, the ones we enjoy are on other people’s houses.

It’s easy to get caught up in the busy holiday season. What approach do you and Shawna take for the holidays?

The holidays can definitely be busy. It’s almost impossible not to get stressed at some point. Like the other times of the year, Shawna and I try hard to keep a good work and life balance. The most important thing to us is spending quality time together as a family. That doesn’t have to mean driving all over town participating in highly-coordinated activities.

Sometimes it just means hanging out together, playing board games or watching a family movie.

Describe the perfect Christmas day in the Hawkins family.

The perfect day would probably be sleeping in a bit, if the kids let us,

and then opening presents. Afterwards, we enjoy breakfast together, including Shawna’s fresh-from-theoven sticky buns, which is a tradition she had growing up. Most of the time, we have at least one other Christmas event with the grandparents and our extended families, but sometimes that occurs on a different day. We usually skip lunch and have an early Christmas dinner. While being together, eating good food, and enjoying gifts is always fun, we also focus on the most special gift of Christmas, the one that God has given our family through the birth of Jesus.

The holiday season seems to bring out the best in most people. Even the bah-humbuggers are usually nicer. Doesn’t it make some sense to move the legislative session to this time of year?

I have actually encouraged my colleagues to look at adjusting the legislative calendar so that the work is not so crammed into just part of the year. Spreading the same work over more days and building in some breaks for public review and com-

ment has always made sense to me. If we did start earlier, we would certainly need to take a couple weeks off for Christmas and New Year’s – much like our schools do – but I definitely think we could start in early December. Most of the final negotiating and budget voting occurs later in the session, so hopefully everyone would still remember their holiday cheer.

And speaking of the Legislature, what’s on your wish list for the upcoming session?

Fortunately, many of my wishes have been realized in past years with regard to sponsored legislation and budget items. My personal wish for the upcoming session includes a continuation of legislation I pursued last session to provide equal tax treatment for hydropower facilities. From a statewide perspective, my big wish is for a continued strong economy.

Most of the revenue the state receives is from sales taxes and business taxes.

If the state economy continues to be strong – as it has in recent years – it will be much easier to keep the budget balanced.

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Photo provided

The Hawkins family poses for a photo at Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

As a state senator, you’re in the public eye wherever you go. Does that ever wear heavy?

No, it doesn’t wear on me. It is an incredible honor to serve in this position, representing the community where I was raised and giving back to those who have given so much to me. I will never take it for granted, but I also don’t let my job define who I am. I don’t think that’s healthy for anyone. Besides being our state senator, I am also a husband, father and much more. If I’m with my kids at an AppleSox game, at Slidewaters in Chelan, or catching the latest Avengers movie, I’m just a dad. I often have good conversations if people ask me questions or need help with anything, but most people aren’t there to talk about legislation.

What’s the biggest challenge — public life or private life — for Brad Hawkins?

I think the biggest challenge for me, as it probably is for most people, is finding a healthy work and life bal14

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November / December 2019

ance. The state senator position has high demands. Olympia is far away and our legislative district is very large, so there’s plenty of travel. The public has year-round expectations as well, so there is no time off. Family life can be very busy also, especially as our kids get older and more involved with music, sports and friends. Keeping a healthy balance and finding a way to honor both my family and constituents has been my focus.

Your dad was an elected Chelan County Commissioner and you’re a multi-term state legislator. Would you recommend to your boys that they seek public office?

I always tell the boys to “be you” and, as parents, Shawna and I try to model kindness, hard work and responsibility. I learned about public service from my dad and it’s a big part of who I am, but there are many good ways to serve others besides public office. We want our boys to do what their hearts lead them to do and to be their own best selves. We are excited to see what

they choose to pursue.

What makes Sen. Brad Hawkins happy?

Professionally, I enjoy bringing people together around an issue or goal, engaging in good discussions and working collectively toward a positive outcome. The most rewarding moments are when diverse groups can work together, think strategically, and achieve an outcome that they once thought wasn’t possible. Sharing these moments with our local officials and community members is very special.

What makes Brad Hawkins, husband and father, happy?

Spending time as a family is my favorite thing to do. Whether it’s hanging out around the house, enjoying hikes, eating pizza, watching movies or taking a road trip, I’m happiest when our family is together. As our boys get older, sometimes it’s more difficult to find things that we all enjoy so when we find those things, it’s so fun for me. F

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WHEN IT COMES TO WINE PAIRING, LET YOUR CREATIVE JUICES FLOW • BY Karen Larsen When thinking about wine and food pairing options, start with a wine you love.

That is the advice of Horan Estates owner and winemaker Dennis Dobbs “If the wine’s spectacular, the food will always be amazing,” Dobbs said.

Dobbs said that it is much easier to adjust the menu to complement the wine than vise versa. He encourages those who are new to developing wine and food pairings to give the art a try.

After starting with a wine that you love, the characters to consider are a wine’s acidity, tannin content, alcohol level and sweetness.

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Experiment with combinations, and don’t take yourself too seriously.

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Perfectly Placed Chechaquo Ranch home is designed to take full advantage of its spectacular setting Editor’s note: A version of this story first published in Methow Home 2019, a special publication of Methow Valley News.

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G

ary and Monica Galeucia have traveled the world extensively, and lived in some exotic places, including Switzerland and Brazil. But it was the Methow Valley that fully captured their hearts as the perfect spot to build a vacation and eventual retirement home.

HOME & GARDEN STORY BY DON NELSON PHOTOS PROVIDED BY PATTERSON COMPANY

World travelers Gary and Monica Galeucia settled on the Methow Valley to build their vacation and eventual retirement home.

“We had looked at a lot of places and nothing really did it for us,” said Gary, a Boston native whose career with DuPont took him to several overseas posts. “On our first trip here, we decided this was it.”

That was in 2009, when the Galeucias brought their son Chris to Wash-

ington to attend Gonzaga University.

They had read about the Methow Valley and decided to check it out. They stayed at Sun Mountain Lodge and “it all happened pretty fast … we immediately fell in love with the area,” Gary said.

“It was one the most beautiful

places we’ve ever seen,” said Monica, a Spokane native who also lived in Germany for a time while growing up.

The Galeucias were also drawn to the multitude of recreational activities the valley offers. And they were impressed by how friendly and genuine its residents are, Gary said.

November / December 2019

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23

The exterior siding of the Galeucias’ home is reclaimed wood with a natural finish.

The Galeucias started driving around the valley on that first trip, checking out potential home sites.

They quickly settled on a Chechaquo Ranch parcel near Mazama, facing the meadow and backed up to the precipitous Goat Wall.

They also took notice of other houses while driving around the valley, and saw several they liked.

“Almost without exception, Jeff built them,” Gary said.

A design legacy The home’s concrete floors have radiant heat.

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November / December 2019

That would be Jeff Patterson. He and wife, Molly — who also own Glover Street Market in Twisp — have been designing and building homes around the Methow for many years.

“Originally Jeff and Molly were

The kitchen’s massive island is an informal eating area.

going to do the design, but they were busy so they put us in touch with Brice,” Gary said. That would be Brice Butler, whom the Pattersons had worked with before.

Most of the home’s design was completed by Butler, starting about half-a-dozen years ago. But he died in 2017 after the onset of a sudden, untreatable illness, before he could see the home completed, and Molly Patterson took over the finishing touches.

“We tried to honor his [Butler’s] work and design,” she said.

Butler’s design reflects what the Galeucias envisioned. “We wanted it to be an open space, close to the meadow,” Monica said. The Galeucias call the home Bel Campo, Italian for “beautiful field.” Gary added, “we

The home has an open design with vaulted ceilings to maximize views.

November / December 2019

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25

The dining area is part of a great room that also includes the kitchen and living area.

the fireplace. Including the garage, the home is about 3,100 square feet.

The central core is flanked on one side by a wing with two guest bedrooms — for the Galeucia children, Chris and daughter Lindsay, as well as other guests — and on the other side by an expansive master suite. The suite, which features views via big banks of windows on two sides, has a capacious walk-through closet leading to the bath.

Because of that division of functional spaces, no part of the house feels overwhelming.

“It’s all about the views,” Gary said.

“Wherever you leave a room, you are always looking out.”

A wall-mounted fireplace leaves plenty of room for a large art piece.

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November / December 2019

wanted a see-through house” to take advantage of both the meadow and the wall.

Butler designed a linear, one-story home with a great room that serves as a light-filled central gathering space, including kitchen, dining and living areas, with a vaulted ceiling and vast views north and south. A large, center island with built-in propane stove is a natural gathering spot, as are the dining area and a comfy couch in front of

Well-situated

The exterior siding is reclaimed wood with a natural finish that helps the home blend into its surroundings.

Molly Patterson suggested leaving some of the structural steel beams exposed, enhanced by subtle lighting in the great room.

The Galeucias also wanted a lowmaintenance home that included a garage and a large “mudroom” near the main entrance for all their recre-

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confluencehealth.org ational gear and outerwear. It also has concrete floors with radiant heat.

The house presents a low profile thanks to its slightly cantilevered “butterfly” roofs, with deep overhangs that created protected outside areas.

That idea came from Butler and Jeff Patterson. “If you had asked me, it would never have occurred to me,” Gary said.

“The roof design is a flat membrane with pea gravel,” the Pattersons said.

“The butterfly roofs on the master and guest wings were conceived to eliminate snow buildup around the house.”

In describing the home, the Pattersons cite its “angles and positioning to capture the epic views … it is also positioned to the southwest for minimum encroachment on the neighbors’ views.”

The Pattersons said the steel framing and I-beams were necessary to “accommodate the extensive window package.” So making them part of the décor seemed liked a complementary touch, Molly said.

Cabinetry was done by Jerry Cole, and steelwork was done by Mark Edson (Methow Valley Industrial). Tim November / December 2019

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27

Top: World travelers Gary and Monica Galeucia settled on the Methow Valley to build their vacation and eventual retirement home.

Bottom: Some winter days are meant for staying indoors and enjoying the view.

Odell contributed a brass logo “bel campo” embedded in the concrete floor. All artwork in the house is by local artists, including Rod Weagant and the late Sean McCabe.

Right at home

The Galeucias said they worked well with Butler, as well as with the Pattersons.

“We were very involved, and 28

Foothills

November / December 2019

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Brice didn’t mind,” Monica said. “He [Butler] wanted our input, and he and Monica worked smoothly and wonderfully together,” Gary added.

The house was completed in mid2018, and the Galeucias say they could not be happier. They now split their time between the Mazama house and their home in Pennsylvania.

From the meadow, it’s an easy walk to recreational trails or the Mazama Store. “We could go days without using the car,” Monica said. “We can do everything right here.”

Methow neighborliness has also made a quick impact.

“We know more people on a firstname basis in less than a year than we do in Pennsylvania,” Gary said.

“After all those years of planning, it’s better than we ever imagined,” Monica said.

“What’s not to love?” Gary added. F

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NCW ACTIVITIES STORY BY MARLENE FARRELL PHOTOS BY KEVIN FARRELL

K

ids used to frequently sit down with a friend to play a board game or card game. Today, digital entertainment and distraction make it easy to overlook the fun and challenge of cribbage, backgammon and chess. These classics lack electronic bells and whistles, relying instead on components made of wood, stone, felt and paper.

Could these games teach different skills from those learned through online gaming? Is there value in facing a live opponent and, rather than battling a countdown or fast-paced attack, taking the time to develop winning strategies?

A few programs in the region, aimed at kids, are investing in such ideas.

Cribbage

Kathryn Praye, librarian at Alpine Lakes Elementary School in Leavenworth, hosts an after-school Cribbage Club for second through fifth graders.

Once a week, students play two-person games.

For the first few weeks Praye goes over the rules. “While we were learning, we laid out all the cards for everyone to see,�

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Beyond Board games teach kids strategy, gamesmanship

Digital

Don Seabrook photo

Ryker Hall reacts to a chess move made on a neighboring board during chess club at Cascade Elementary School.

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Tristan Sharpe looks on as Coulter Baker counts his points at the end of a round of cribbage.

she said. The club is made up of Spanish and English speakers, so everyone learns counting and important terms in both languages, such as points/puntos and runs/corridas.

The somewhat quirky game was invented in England in the 17th century and is popular throughout the English-speaking world. The colorfully tracked board isn’t necessary for card play, but it keeps score, as points are “pegged” in every stage of the game.

Cribbage teaches addition facts and a sense of probability as players decide which cards to keep and which to throw into the “crib,” the bonus cards that change ownership each round.

“I’ve played since elementary school,” Praye said. “My mom and I played until she lost her sight in her 80s. It is a lifelong game and is crossgenerational.”

After playing a few games, students improve their counting speed.

“A game or flash cards — which is a better way to learn number fluency?” asked Praye.

Cribbage can be played leisurely or cutthroat. “Cutthroat is when you notice he forgot to count all of his points, so you get to count them for yourself instead,” fourth grader Riley Warman explained.

Students generally get through one game of cribbage per session. “And some weeks we mix it up, playing Yahtzee, Speed or Apples to Apples instead,” Praye said. “Aside from the math skills most board games reinforce, getting along and taking turns are good goals.”

Backgammon

Having a hand that equals 15 is desirable in cribbage.

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November / December 2019

Libraries are evolving to be more than just a place to find books. Icicle River Middle School librarian Amy Massey understands that trend and used a small portion of library funds to buy five backgammon sets. She made them available to students during Plus Period, providing an alternative for students already caught up on their schoolwork.

Elegant in its simplicity, backgammon comes with a felt board, wooden checkers and two pair of dice, matching the color of the checkers.

It’s a relatively fast-paced twoplayer game, as each player rolls the dice and moves the checkers accordingly along a horseshoe of spikes,

Students play backgammon as a break from school work during their Plus Period at Icicle River Middle School. trying to be the first to clear the board of one’s checkers. A player can hit an opponent’s checker, sending it to the center bar, a penalty zone.

Backgammon meets kids where they’re at. If they want to play a casual game while chatting, they can. But a player who strategizes several steps ahead and considers the probability of certain rolls can play a higher-level game.

“The students started off feeling it was a simple, easy game, but some soon realized the nuances and started developing strategies to increase the odds of winning,” said Massey. “It’s truly a combination of luck and skill, so each game is different but always fun.”

Chess

After school on a Tuesday at Sunnyslope Elementary in Wenatchee, while others headed out to catch buses, 11 students went to the library where they met Keith Madsen and began unfolding mats and laying out chess pieces.

A player moves a checker along the spikes toward her home base in backgammon.

Madsen has begun this and several other Chess4Kids clubs at area schools. For just over an hour, the members play games and slowly unravel, through Madsen’s tutelage,

the techniques to launch successful attacks, aiming for a checkmate.

Like a sport, the session began with warm-up practice games, and then Madsen gave them a mental November / December 2019

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35

Addy Reyes watches her opponent’s face while slowly making a move with her queen during a chess match at Cascade Elementary.

Don Seabrook photo

If students at Alpine Lakes Elementary School don’t finish their game of backgammon in one session, they can leave it set up on a cart that’s stored in the library and resume play later.

Corban Davies watches a chess move by Addy Reyes.

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November / December 2019

Don Seabrook photo

“workout.” He stood next to a demo chessboard poster and reviewed a pin example, where a bishop trapped the opponent’s knight; if the knight were moved, the bishop would have the king in checkmate. “What could you do next?” Madsen asked.

Student Neal Nayak suggested, “Add another attack to the knight.”

“Yes! Remember the rule of attackers versus defenders. If there are more attackers than defenders, you can take the square.”

After the lesson, everyone reset their boards, shook hands with a new partner and played based upon an eight-week tournament structure.

Madsen explained, “We’ll recognize who’s won the most games over the eight weeks, but every child has an opportunity to win something if they show good effort.”

Madsen has dedicated his life to guiding and supporting others, first as a minister for 41 years. While he played chess as a kid, it wasn’t until recently that he learned to teach chess under a National Grandmaster in Bellevue.

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They teach problemsolving strategies, which can be applied to other aspects of life. ­– Chess, backgammon and cribbage Once the students know the basics, Madsen teaches tactics. “Most chess tactics involve putting your opponent in a trap where they have to choose between two bad choices,” he explained.

Fueled on fruit snacks and Rice Krispies treats, the kids laughed with tablemates while still making decisive moves. The club members, several in their fourth or fifth session, displayed learned confidence.

Chess, backgammon and cribbage are classics for a reason. They teach problem-solving strategies, which can be applied to other aspects of life. The kids who learn these games have another tool in their toolkit to deal with life’s ups and downs. And when they want to share a non-virtual experience with a friend, it can be as easy as reaching for their favorite game. F

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THE HOLIDAYS

Support your local crafter, or make your own this Christmas season.

38

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November / December 2019

STORY BY MARLENE FARRELL PHOTOS BY KEVIN FARRELL

12 Days of a

greener

Christmas

G

ifts to loved ones don’t need to have a large environmental price tag.

Ponder these questions before you buy:

• Is the gift single use and/or discarded quickly?

• Does it contain a lot of plastic?

• Does it require disposable batteries?

• Does it have a lot of packaging?

• Does it have to travel far from where it’s made?

• Do you need to give a gift?

#1

A donation to a charity the recipient admires.

A handmade ornament, made by an artisan from a craft fair, or better yet, made by you.

#2

#3 Eqpd bags are made in Twisp.

You can find them online at eqpdgear.com.

Reusable grocery bags or other durable goods to replace single-use items.

November / December 2019

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39

#4 An experience such as tickets to a play or concert.

Know your way around a computer? Offering a friend two hours of computer help will have more lasting impact than a traditional gift.

#5

Give the gift of the live arts.

#6

Artwork, supporting local artists.

Personal coupons.

If you’re handy, maybe offer two hours of car repair.

If you’re techie, maybe two hours of computer help. Massages, anyone?

Local artisans are producing high-quality goods that will be appreciated this Christmas.

Thrill a friend this Christmas with a one-of-a-kind, locally crafted gift like a handpainted hat from Whiskey Jack Designs (whiskeyjackdesigns.com).

#7

Locally made treats, such as wine, beer and candy.

#8 Money, perhaps the lowest impact gift on the planet. The recipient can buy something she wants or needs.

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November / December 2019

The gift of cash may seem impersonal to some, but it allows the recipient to buy exactly what they want.

#9 Upcycled goods, including furniture and apparel

#10

Compost bin

Homemade food gifts

#1

1

Used books

Used doesn’t mean useless, with used books a good example of a gift idea that won’t destroy the budget.

#12

Sure, you’ll have to clean up the mess you made baking treats or crafting, but there’s personal satisfaction in making a gift with your own two hands.

More greener decorating tips • Wrap your present in newspaper instead of store-bought wrapping paper.

• Discuss with family about reducing the numbers of gifts.

• Decorate naturally, harvesting your own garland and tree or buying a tree from a local farm.

• Instead of gift buying and giving, spend time together, chatting, cooking, playing games, sharing music and more. F

• Re-gift items your family has outgrown.

November / December 2019

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Winery at the end of the road

Del Rosario Family Vineyards is worth the drive 46

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November / December 2019

THE VINE STORY BY RICK STEIGMEYER PHOTOS BY RICHARD DUVAL

Renato Del Rosario is a former Napa Valley bank manager who turned his interest in wine into a second career.

D

A rusted 1950s Chevy pickup occupies a small space on the Del Rosario Family Vineyards property in Palisades.

rive 14 miles to the end of the pavement on Palisades Road in Douglas County and you’ll find Del Rosario Family Vineyards. It may seem the most unlikely location for a winery, one of the newest of scores of North Central Washington wineries and more than 1,000 that have opened in the state in the last 20 years.

The drive is spectacular. And now, with the Del Rosario Vineyards tasting room at the end of the paved road, there’s an additional prize to make the trip worthwhile. Like nearby White Heron Cellars and Cave B Estate Winery, Del Rosario capitalizes on the grandiose scenery and the unique grape-growing terroir of the Ancient Lakes area to create fine wine and draw visitors to his dream project. Del Rosario Family Vineyards is located in the Columbia Valley American Viticultural Area, just outside of the Ancient Lakes AVA footprint.

November / December 2019

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47

Clockwise from top left: Renato Del Rosario said he worked with a lot of winery owners and investors as a bank manager in Napa and San Francisco. He later took classes in enology, viticulture and winery compliance at University of California, Davis.

The Del Rosario Family Vineyards tasting room is 14 miles from the Highway 28 turnoff to Palisades.

Del Rosario planted his first vines on his Palsades property in 2009.

48

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November / December 2019

The winery may still be a work in progress, but the Spanish missionstyle tasting room and its growing selection of delicious estate wines has already become a destination for many Crescent Bar vacationers and residents.

Renato Del Rosario said he envisioned his vineyard and winery nestled against the basalt bluffs as soon as he set his eyes on the property in 1997. It was love at first sight.

It would be a dozen years until he planted his first vineyard there, while still working in the banking industry in California’s Bay Area and Napa, where he also learned to market and make wine.

Del Rosario said starting a winery is a true labor of love and passion.

Even so, it takes time and much work from his entire family to make dreams real, and the isolated beauty of Palisades is a long way from the busy urbanity of managing banks in San Francisco, Oakland and Napa.

How far? In geologic time, at least 15,000 years since the great Missoula Floods carved the Palisades channel through volcanic basalt with a

massive surge of melting ice age water. Along with Grand Canyon-like carvings along the narrowing draw, the floods left a backwater of silt and fertile soils that have sustained a few farmers and cattlemen for generations. Del Rosario calls it the canyon that time forgot.

“Yeah, this is going to work for me,” he recalled thinking after taking soil tests to confirm his gut feeling

helped him find the land in the Palisades, and that turned out to be the stronger draw.

“I did my due diligence before I jumped into this,” he said. “Creating a winery is a very expensive proposition.”

Del Rosario said he worked with many winery owners and investors as a bank manager in Napa and San Francisco. While managing the US Bank in Napa, his interest in wine led him to a second job, working at local wineries on weekends. At first he was a wine tour guide, meeting busloads of wine tasters eager to know how wines are made. Later, he began marketing wines for Viansa Winery in Sonoma.

In 1995, he started making wines at Viansa under the tutelage of Michael Sebastiani, a fourth-generation master winemaker, who now oversees winemaking for Cathedral Ridge Winery in Hood River, Oregon. Later, Del Rosario took classes at University of California, Davis, in enology, viticulture and winery compliance and worked as a winemaker for Eric Ross Winery in Sonoma.

“I paid attention to all levels of the

that he had found the land he was looking for.

Del Rosario had originally thought he would buy land near McMinnville, Oregon, where he would grow and make Pinot Noir. His parents had emigrated from The Philippines to nearby Portland, where he was raised. He still has family there. But he also has two sisters who live in North Central Washington. They

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Top: Renato Del Rosario originally considered starting his winery in Oregon, but ended up in Palisades after doing soil tests on the Douglas County property.

Bottom: The great Missoula Floods more than 15,000 years ago carved the Palisades channel through volcanic basalt, leaving a backwater of silt and fertile soils.

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industry. I want to be able to do this right,” he said.

He planted his first vines — mainly Cabernet Sauvignon and Primitivo — on the Palisades property in 2009.

He’s since added Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay and Riesling.

He planted rows of Tempranillo and Siegerrebe this year. Sangiovese and Barbera will go in the ground next spring, followed by plantings of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon the following year.

The winery bottled about 300 cases of wine last year, but production will increase in coming years as its vines mature.

Del Rosario retired from banking and moved to the Palisades in 2014.

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The Del Rosario Family Vineyards tasting room is near Palisades in Douglas County.

While tending vines and making his first estate wines, he built a house, small wine-processing building and the tasting room.

His wife and daughter remain in the home the family still owns in Fairfield, California, while his daughter finishes school. “We talk on the phone every night,” he said. He travels back to California several times a year. And they come up, as do other family members from Portland whenever he needs help with the vineyard.

“My life is the vineyard and making the best wine I can. You need a lot of passion and conviction to do this. You can’t do it halfway,” Del Rosario said. “You have to love it.”

Del Rosario Family Vineyards The Del Rosario Family Vineyards tasting room sits at the end of a row of grape vines.

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159 Wagon Road, Palisades 509-886-1080 rdelwines@gmail.com Look for Del Rosario Family Vineyards on Facebook F

Foothills Magazine presents its 8th Annual

PHOTO CONTEST

Enter your photos for the chance to win cash prizes and see your photos published in the magazine. Photos will be judged in three categories — landscapes/nature, posed photographs and candid photographs. To be eligible, photos must have been shot in North Central Washington during the 2019 calendar year.

Get all the details at photos.ncwfoothills.com Entries must be submitted by January 13, 2020

North Central Washington’s lifestyle magazine ncwfoothills.com

UPON FURTHER REVIEW

A TASTE OF NCW WINES WITH BARB ROBERTSON

Eagle Creek 2018 Pinot Grigio, $22

Benson Vineyards 2016 Rhythm, $28

Rocky Pond 2017 Sauvignon Blanc, $20

If you’re looking to view the beautiful seasonal colors, head up to the Upper Valley and stop by Leavenworth’s oldest winery. Eagle Creek was a leader in the now booming wine trade in Leavenworth and has two tasting sites. The winery on Eagle Creek Road is rural, quiet and beautiful. It is open May through October. The second place is the D’vinery tasting room, located on Leavenworth’s busy Front Street. It is open year round. Pinot Grigio is a popular go-to wine due to its adaptability to food, or as an aperitif.

Eagle Creek’s Pinot Grigio would be at home in just about any situation.

The flavors include melon, red apple, peach and a slight funk (in a good way). It’s medium bodied with a medium dry finish laden with fruit.

Rhythms are found in many aspects of life and often bring us joy and/or comfort. So does this red blend from the Benson family. The 2016 Rhythm is comprised of 50% Merlot, 18.8% Sangiovese, 12.5% Syrah and 18.7% Pinot Noir. The different varieties merge to create a well-balanced wine. Red plum, cherry and spice aromas lift from the glass and beckon the lucky to take a sip. Red fruit, blackberry, orchard floor and chocolate are on the elegant palate. The wine is not heavy and will be a good friend to a wide variety of proteins. I drank it with ham and a baked sweet potato on a rainy day. It was perfect!

The grapes for this wine come from Double D vineyard, which is along the Douglas County side of the Columbia River, just north of Orondo.

Rocky Pond’s tasting room is conveniently located in downtown Chelan.

They have a solid lineup of wines, including their tasty Sauvignon. A pretty grapefruit and floral nose lead the way to a pleasing mediumbodied mouthfeel with more citrus. I visualize a mojito due to the wine’s fresh herbaceous and slight mineral qualities. The Rocky Pond Sauvignon Blanc is a very food friendly wine and would go with a wide variety of poultry dishes, appetizers and, of course, shellfish.

Barb Robertson City: Wenatchee Credentials: Earned advanced certification through London-based Wine and Spirit Education Trust; currently working toward higher-level diploma through WSET. Earned degree in marketing from Central Washington University. Owned The Wine Bin retail shop in Wenatchee for five years, as well as the Mission Street Bistro Wine 54

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Bar for 14 years. Has worked in the Northwest wine industry for more than 15 years, including sales, production and marketing. Was a judge for the 2011-18 North Central Washington Wine Awards competition, the 2017 and 2018 Cascadia Wine Competition and the Washington State Fair 2015-16.

UPON FURTHER REVIEW

Del Rosario Family Vineyards 2016 Primitivo, $35

Some people believe that Primitivo and Zinfandel are the same grape and the only difference is that Primitivo comes from Italy and Zinfandel from California. Beyond the controversy, Primitivo from Italy is typically lighter bodied than Zin and with a little less fruit and alcohol. They both pack a lot of dark jammy fruits without being particularly tannic or bitter.

Del Rosario Family’s Primitivo drinks more like a Zinfandel. Bing Cherry and Dr. Pepper are on the nose with flavors of sarsaparilla, black plum and pumpkin pie spice on the palate.

It’s a juicy, medium to full bodied wine with a slightly off-dry finish.

Try it with pizza or a red-sauced pasta.

Holiday Party?

Offering customized menus perfect for your occasion anywhere in North Central Washington.

Big or small, we cater all!

Call 509-888-7340 to learn more

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Mission Ridge Season Pass Giveaway!

— Barb Robertson

Look for details starting Nov. 1 at www.wenatcheeworld.com and Wenatchee World’s Facebook page!

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Getting Married Next Year?

Have A Wedding Business?

The January-February 2020 issue of Foothills is the Wedding Issue.

It will feature stories of local couples who have tied the knot recently, as well as the work of the many businesses that form the backbone of the local wedding industry. We plan on dedicating a large portion of the magazine to the topics that interest would-be brides and grooms.

For more information, contact us at 509-664-7130 or advertising@wenatcheeworld.com.

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Pika Provisions co-owners Aaron Bailey and Elizabeth McLaughlin sometimes make 10 versions of a drink over two weeks to perfect it.

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THE BUZZ

STORY BY HOLLY THORPE PHOTOS BY REILLY KNEEDLER

Pika Provisions owner Aaron Bailey passes a tiki drink to Hanne De Bleser, who was visiting from Belgium.

Leavenworth’s Pika Provisions serves unique, high-quality cocktails

W

Visit

buzzncw.com to find out more

hen Aaron Bailey opened Pika Provisions in December 2018, he wanted to bring something to Leavenworth that people hadn’t seen before.

“I wanted a place that is really trying to do their own thing,” he said.

“I wanted to look at a menu that’s creative and unique and different.”

Co-owners Bailey and Elizabeth McLaughlin saw the opportunity to bring a new craft cocktail experience to Leavenworth. They sought to combine high-caliber cocktails, a robust spirits collection, a knowledgeable staff and a welcoming environment.

“I wanted something that felt cozy and neighborhood-y, someplace I could sit where there wasn’t a TV,” Bailey said. “I wanted someplace November / December 2019

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Pika Provisions co-owner Aaron Bailey shakes a pair of cocktails behind the bar. He likes to change the menu every two weeks to avoid complacency.

Pika Provisions has a large selection of spirits, including 20 different unique mezcals and 28 different rums from Martinique alone.

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where you could sit down and engage with the server or the bartender.”

Bailey got the idea to start Pika Provisions (pronounced pie-kuh and named after the rodent-like mammals found in the North Cascades) in August 2018. He had been working in Leavenworth after moving from Seattle

and saw the need for a bar like Pika Provisions.

“There was no place that collected spirits. Everything was kind of cookie cutter. I enjoy trying rare spirits and cocktails, so I decided that I would open up a bar,” Bailey said.

Bailey has worked at a variety of bars for more than 20 years. He said he wanted Pika to take a scientific approach to cocktail development and creation. Drinks would be designed for balance and created with precision and consistency, without sacrificing creativity.

“I want that knowledge and expertise to be in everyone who works here and everyone who bartends here,” Bailey said. “I appreciate it when I look at a menu where bartenders are willing to try something new.”

A year in, the reception has been positive, Bailey said. Fellow bartenders, brewers and other industry workers have discovered Pika, making it a popular after-work stop. And despite its somewhat out-of-the-way location, tourists have been finding the bar as well.

“It’s been word of mouth; there’s no sign outside for it. It’s off the beaten path because I want it to be an

intentional visit,” Bailey said. “A lot of people that do come in, they want to party and stumble upon us and say ‘This is great, we heard about this from our friends!’ A lot of people come in and they just want to drink; they want a vodka soda or whatever, and we’re very happy to accommodate that, but especially with the local crowd — and when I say local I encompass the whole valley — they’re excited because they want to try something new that they’ve heard about.”

The menu routinely features lesser-known spirits, and amari and vermouths appear regularly. The bar also boasts large spirit collections, including 20 different unique, unaged mezcals covering the spectrum of different types of agaves and 28 different rums from Martinique alone.

“I change the menu every two weeks. I want to keep the locals interested and it keeps us from getting complacent and bored,” he said. “Our flavors are pretty out there and pretty unique.”

Visitors can also find rare spirits, including bottles that are out of production.

“It’s a huge bottle program; it takes a lot of experience and knowledge,” Bailey said.

Bailey and McLaughlin work most nights and employ two other people.

“We both do everything — run water, sit people down, build drinks,” Bailey said.

The staff develops the menu together. Bailey said they’ll make 10 versions of the same drink over two weeks to perfect it. Bailey said they train employees on the elements of a cocktail and how to balance them. That’s how he learned.

“I’ve been nurtured by other bartenders and underqualified for jobs.

I’ve worked hard and made a lot of bad drinks,” Bailey said. “Eventually they just started coming out of me, and they came out of me more and more.”

Despite being diverse, all the drinks share a few elements: high-quality spirits, fresh ingredients and homemade mixers. They make their own syrups, orgeats, infusions and even bitters. This gives them even more flexibility in creating original drinks.

“The quality of ingredients that we’re using in all of our drinks is really, really high,” Bailey said, “and I’m not afraid to try different things.”

The wide variety of Pika Provisions cocktails share a few elements: high-quality spirits, fresh ingredients and homemade mixers.

Hanne De Bleser, left, and Lisa Witkowski, sip a drink on a late September night.

Bailey encourages people to explore the menu and ask questions.

“Come get nerdy, try some cocktails and some things you’ve never tried before, never seen before,” he said. “I guarantee there’s something you didn’t know you wanted to try, but you’ll want to try it.”

Pika Provisions

217 9th St Suite D, Leavenworth 509-888-0746 pikaprovisions.com F November / December 2019

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THE SCENE

PHOTOS BY RUSS ALMAN, DIGITAL MEDIA NORTHWEST

Wenatchee Wine & Food

Festival

Clockwise from Top: A second-level view of the event.

Sarah Ogle Deis and Kathryn Bonny Ancestry Cellars shows off its hardware from the North Central Washington Wine Awards competition.

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T

he 2019 Wenatchee Wine & Food Festival drew a large crowd of wine lovers to the Town Toyota Center on Aug. 24. Center stage were the winning wineries from the North Central Wine Awards competition. Thirty wineries poured to an appreciative crowd. The food from area restaurants and caterers was top-notch and plentiful. F

Clockwise from Top: Michelle Shermer and Kimberly Andrew Alysia Cumbo, Randy and Sue Fenich Candied bacon was a popular choice among the food offerings.

Courtney House, Nita Jones and Sharron Johnson Tom Cox, Cari Morris and Kyle and Stephanie Smitily

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wall to wall

WalkersFurniture.com i WalkersMattress.com 64

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