All the Dirt That’s Fit to Dish - June 2025

Written By Judy Phelps

Welcome back, you saucy wine lovers! This edition of The Hoe Down brings you summer sips, steamy vineyard gossip, events to shake your hips at, and a couple of no-sweat recipes to go with that chilled bottle of Gamay.

🍷 What’s in Your June Shipment?

This quarter’s wine club delivery includes:

Let’s break down the deliciousness...

🌸 2024 Carbonic Gamay Noir – Lake Chelan AVA

This isn’t just wine—it’s a summer mood. A vibrant magenta in the glass, this beauty bursts with wild strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and a whisper of pomegranate and watermelon rind. It’s light-bodied, juicy, and just zippy enough to make you fall in love.

Crafted with 100% carbonic maceration (a rare and rebellious move in Washington winemaking), it’s full of life, low in tannins, and totally crushable. Chill it and thrill it.

Pair with: BBQ ribs, sesame cucumber salad (see recipe below), or literally anything involving sunshine and bare feet.

🍕 2022 Primitivo – Wahluke Slope AVA

Bold, juicy, and silky-smooth, this red is a showstopper. You’ll taste ripe blackberry, raspberry jam, dark cherry, mocha, and oak—all cozied up together in a glass like they’ve been marinating in good decisions for 18 months. That’s how long it aged in new American oak.

Made using whole-berry fermentation (no crushing—just a slow flavor extraction), it’s plush, rich, and ridiculously drinkable.

Pair with: Pizza, pork tonkatsu, moo shu pork, or a random Wednesday night when you need a treat.

🖤 2021 S & M – Lake Chelan AVA

Our seductive Syrah + Malbec blend is back and ready to take control. Grown on our north shore slopes and fermented with extra skin contact for extra pleasure, this wine is bold, spicy, dark, and smooth.

It’s everything you want in a red: power, depth, complexity—and just a little bit of mischief.

Pair with: Steak, deep convos, or a night that requires a safe word.

🎉 Upcoming Summer Events at the Winery

Mark your calendars—this summer is stacked with events that promise wine, music, sunsets, and some foot-stompin’ fun:

  • July 6 – 19th Anniversary Party
    6–8 PM | Live music by Kevin Jones Band + gourmet hotdogs from Rancho Wieneria. Wine club gets priority seating—call to reserve your spot.

  • July 9 – Bach Fest Concert
    Enjoy classical music under the stars in our natural amphitheater. Club members get reserved tables.

  • 🚢 July 12 – Sunset Dinner Cruise
    Aboard the Lady of the Lake, 7–9 PM. Wine pairings with Winemaker Julian Shaver, gourmet buffet, and unforgettable lake views. Call us for availability, tickets going fast!

  • July 26 – Live Music + Food Truck
    6–8 PM | Full Vinyl Jacket (70s rock) + Nomad Food Truck

  • Late August – West Side Pop-Up
    Date & location coming soon! Club invite to follow.

🧊 Why You’re Getting a Chillable Red Instead of a White

It’s hot out. You’re sweaty. And we thought—why not send you a red wine you can chill with?

Our 2024 Carbonic Gamay Noir is summer’s secret weapon: low tannins, high refreshment, and total crowd-pleaser energy. It’s one of the few Gamays grown in Washington and thrives in Lake Chelan’s glacial soils and cool vibes.

We crafted it Beaujolais-style using a process called carbonic maceration (read more on that below), and the result is a wild berry explosion made for beach days, porch hangs, and anything that involves flip-flops.

🧪 What is Carbonic Maceration?

Carbonic maceration is like fermentation with a sexy twist. Instead of crushing grapes, we seal whole clusters in CO₂, and the fermentation begins inside the berries. This technique creates super fruity, aromatic wines with:

  • Softer tannins

  • Lower alcohol potential

  • Light color

  • Major freshness

This year’s vintage? 100% carbonic. That means max fruit, no BS, and a bottle that disappears faster than your sunscreen.

🧀 Gamay Pairings + Serving Tips

Serve it chilled (50–55°F = 20 min in the fridge) and pair with:

  • Roast chicken or grilled fish

  • Charcuterie + soft cheese

  • Veggie dishes like couscous or pasta with pesto

  • Spicy food (Thai, Indian)

  • Hot nights and cool attitudes

🥗 Summer Recipes to Sip With

🥒 Sesame Cucumber + Avocado Salad

Perfect with chilled Gamay or Primitivo and BBQ anything.
View full recipe →

🍅 Sheet-Pan Baked Feta with Broccolini

A bold dish that stands up to Gamay’s zing.
View full recipe →

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Got questions, comments, or love notes?
Call, email, or find us on social—we read everything. 💋

Until next time,
Your mischief-makers at Hard Row to Hoe Vineyards

Judy Phelps

Owner and founding winemaker at Hard Row to Hoe Vineyards

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