Fall has slipped into town this weekend here in Madrona.  The evenings are arriving earlier and there is a fresh feel to the air.  We might even get a touch of rain.  It is a perfect time to enjoy some good wine and we have two great opportunities this weekend at the wine shop.

Saturday we are featuring wines from Illahe Vineyards an organically farmed winery from Oregon that makes some distinct whites and some fabulous Pinot Noir.
2016 Gruner Veltliner $18
2016 Pinot Gris $18
2016 Viognier Willamette Valley $18
2015 Estate Pinot Noir $23
2014 Project 1899 Pinot Noir $ 68

Sunday, we are pouring a pair of organic wines from the Ovieto region in Italy.  Altarocca is at 350m above sea level, higher than its neighbors, and consequently has a longer ripening season.  The grapes are all farmed organically and the wine made in a straight forward fashion.   

2015 Cantina Altarocca Orvieto Classico  $11
Grechetto, Procanico, Malvasia
Delicate and pleasant, with notes of fresh fruit and flowers. Refreshing, fragrant and persistent, with a hint of acidity and minerality.

2015 Cantina Altarocca Librato — Ovietano Rosso  $14
70% Cabernet Franc, 30% Canaiolo
Intense and harmonious in the nose, rich with notes of red fruit and a vegetable scent. In the mouth is full and balanced, with elegant notes of fruit and smooth tannins. No oak is used during the wine making to highlight the fruit.

Madrona Wine Merchants offers free wine tastings featuring 4-5 selections on a theme every Saturday from 2 until the bottles run out and on Sunday we offer a mini-tasting of two wines all day from 11-5.