Page 7 - FF USA Exchange Diary September 2016

Date: Friday 15 July From: Glen Chateau St Michelle Winery, Red Hook Brewery and Baseball

Our program for today started with a visit to the picturesque Chateau St. Michelle Winery located on 105 acres in
Woodinville, being part of the Hollywood Farm Estate of Seattle lumber baron Frederick Stimson.
A contorted Filbert Tree, commonly called Jacob Lauder’s Walking stick, because of its twisted branches and
foliage, takes pride of place in Flagpole Square outside the Chateau where we commenced our tour. The winery
is known for producing excellent Riesling, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and other world class wines.
In 1974 their Riesling won a gold medal in competition with some of the best in California and Germany.
Grapes are grown in several vineyards in the Columbia Valley and are blended by renowned German winemaker
Ernst Loosen. The winery was named American Winery of the Year in 2004 and 2005, and in 2014 was named
th
one of the Wineries of the Year for the 20 time by Wine and
Spirits Magazine, more than any other American Winery.

Our well informed Guide,
showed us through the
bottling plant, unfortunately
offline at the time, and then
through the cellars and finally
the tasting area, where we all
were able to taste a range of
lovely wines. Many of us
followed up by purchasing a few bottles and other items from the attached
store.

Our proposed tour of the adjacent Red Hook Brewery had been cancelled at the last moment, however some of
our group lunched at the Pub before a free afternoon.

7.00pm came, and we all stood, as the Colour Party from the American Armed Forces marched into the Safeco
Baseball Stadium and the American National Anthem was sung magnificently by the female guest singer. Our
group was welcomed during the game, as were other groups of spectators. Some of us had played soft ball so
knew the format of the game, and everyone was given a simple written explanation sheet.
I was lucky as my host was a game regular so we had excellent seats but the home side, the “Seattle Mariners”
failed badly. Like my host Kay, I had a Hot Dog and a Beer at the start of the game and others also pursued
similar gastronomic delights!

Waiting for 4 of our group to eventually find the parked car after the game was not the best end to the night,
however, we had experienced the national sport of the United States of America.