SEQUIM — Flavors of Spain and Italy, along with Eastern Washington sunshine, have come together in a highly unusual wine made by Wind Rose Cellars.
This is Library Re(a)d, a Tempranillo-Barbera-Cabernet blend for lovers of literature. The wine, a Wind Rose limited bottling, is a fundraiser for the Clallam and Jefferson counties and Port Townsend city libraries.
Added to store shelves just in time for holiday shoppers, it’s also available for tasting today through Sunday at Wind Rose, 155-B W. Cedar St. in downtown Sequim.
“We wanted to get more involved in the community,” said Wind Rose co-owner David Volmut. “As a kid, I spent a lot of my time at the library.”
Library Re(a)d
That was in Lawrence, Kan., long before Volmut moved west to make wine. He and his wife, Jennifer States, started out in Eastern Washington, then came to Sequim in June 2011 to open Wind Rose, which specializes in Italian-style wines: Pinot Grigio, Barbera, Orange Muscat, Nebbiolo, Dolcetto.
It was Theresa Percy, director of the Port Townsend Library, who came up with the idea for Library Re(a)d a year ago. Sorensen Cellars near Chimacum had produced the “First Edition” Cabernet for the Jefferson County Library and the Port Townsend Library Foundation, and it sold out in a few months.
The Jefferson and Port Townsend librarians have since joined the newly formed North Olympic Library Foundation, which supports Clallam County’s libraries in Port Angeles, Sequim, Clallam Bay and Forks, for this new vintage.
“We get double-takes from people when we mention a library wine,” said North Olympic Library System Director Paula Barnes.
“It’s fun to smash the library stereotype.”
Library Re(a)d sells for $28 a bottle, with $6 per bottle going to support the libraries. The price is due to the limited production, Volmut said: Wind Rose bottled just 25 cases.
Just 25 cases
Volmut invites the curious to taste Library R(e)ad between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. today, between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday and between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday. Those looking to purchase a bottle will find it at Wind Rose, of course; at Country Aire Natural Foods and the Renaissance cafe in Port Angeles; at the Red Rooster Grocery in Sequim; at the Agnew Grocery just east of Port Angeles; and at the Wine Seller and Getables gift store in Port Townsend.
Wind Rose Cellars, meantime, is about to relocate. Volmut hopes to reopen as a wine bar and shop at 143 W. Washington St. by early next month. In the former location of Damiana’s Best Cellars, Wind Rose will offer light fare, Mt. Townsend Creamery cheeses and live music Friday and Saturday nights.
“We hope to be open by the First Friday Art Walk in January,” Volmut said. “We’ll stay open till 9 or 10 o’clock on Friday and Saturday.”
To find out more about Wind Rose’s plans and wines, phone 360-358-5469 or visit www.WindRoseCellars.com.
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Features Editor Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5062, or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.
