This morning I purchased an intriguing bottle of wine from right here in the famous wine producing region of the Columbia valley.  The wine I selected was a 2014 Riesling from the 14 Hands Winery.  I have no idea if 2014 was a good year for Washington Rieslings, but the label's promise of "flavors of apple, pear, and apricot with an ideal balance of minerality and acidity" sounded too good to pass up.

I stuffed the bottle into my tent bag and hauled it all the way to my campsite where I planned to uncork it after I was done biking, wildlife viewing, swimming and cartwheeling.  Unfortunately, I didn't have my Swiss Army knife with me this year, therefore I had no corkscrew.  I resorted to pushing the cork into the bottle with an allen wrench.  Interestingly, the loose cork seemed to have a positive effect on the decanting process.

I sensed no apples, pears or apricots but I kind of tasted the flavor of grapes, a touch of beef jerky, and a hint of sin.  Those flavors came as a surprise because, upon opening the bottle, the bouquet exuded such scents as river water, pine needles, and a discreet hint of evangelism.

Oh yes, the wine is perfect for the end of a hot Columbia River day.  I would comfortably pair this wine with a handful of ants, which are crawling around this campground.  The wine's pungent fruitiness would offset the bitter acidity of live ants very nicely.  I could also see chugging this delightful Riesling with a filet de carp.  I don't know what kind of fish they actually catch on the Columbia River.  Maybe it's carp.  Maybe it's walleye.  Maybe it's shark, halibut or catfish.  I don't know fish, but I sure as heck know wine--and this wine is fine.

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