Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1013885
"An Exciting Time for Washington Wines" According to Johnson, Spoken Barrel set out to "[make] a name for itself by creating straightforward, bold wines that craft wine and beer drinkers love to discover and can confidently share with friends." "We're proud of our Washington roots and challenge ourselves to make wines that are a true expression of the grapes grown here," she adds. Among the Washington establish- ments introducing Spoken Barrel to their mostly beer-and-whiskey-loving clientele is the Rabbit Hole, a neighbor- hood bar in Seattle's trendy Belltown neighborhood. With dark, wood-pan- eled walls, weekly skeeball tournaments, and Southern comfort food served up in epic portions, the Rabbit Hole has estab- lished a reputation as a favorite upscale "dive bar" of Seattleites since it opened its doors in 2011. "We paint ourselves as the Cheers [bar] of the neighborhood," Spoken Barrel's wines make for an ideal pairing with Rabbit Hole's upscale Southern comfort food: The Meritage blend matches the sweetness and zestiness of the barbeque wings while the bold Cabernet complements the pulled pork sandwich. Derek Simcik, Executive Chef at Scout PNW in Seattle, shuns easy pairings with Spoken Barrel wines in favor of a more out-of-the- box approach. "We're such a fusion of different cultures here, so we take that to heart with the ingredients we source. Our Northwest-inspired cuisine is a natural fit with wines from the region." august 2018 / the tasting panel / 63