Arbor Crest Is A Little Slice Of Heaven
I’ve had the opportunity to visit Arbor Crest Wine Cellars, in Spokane, Washington, three times now and each time it is worth remembering the visit. Built in 1924 by Royal Newton Riblet, the three-story Florentine house is surrounded by an arched gatekeeper’s house, sunken rose garden, open-air pagoda, terraced flower and herb gardens, and a life-sized checkerboard. Arbor Crest Wine Cellars purchased the National Historic Landmark in 1985. Kristina Mielke-van Loben Sels is the winemaker and is the second generation of the Mielke family to oversee Arbor Crest. She came from Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery in Napa and Sonoma, California, one of my favorite wineries from California. She is married to experienced viticulturist James van Loben Sels, which makes them quite the tandem at Arbor Crest.
During my past visits I’ve experienced music on a sweltering afternoon at Arbor Crest, where they hold live music events each Sunday in the summer, sipping on their Sauvignon Blanc and swing dancing to great music. I’ve also took out-of-town family members up for a taste of Eastern Washington’s summer and Eastern Washington’s wine. This last time I went up all by my lonesome to taste some of Arbor Crest Wine Cellars newer vintages.
This time I was the only one in the tasting room and Shelby greeted me with a friendly hello followed by a warm smile. The one thing I have noticed about the wine industry, with very few expceptions, is that everybody is just so nice. Oh, sure, I’ve occasionally ran into snobs or people that just don’t want to be doing what they’re doing, but not very many. This stop was no exception. Shelby was knowledgable about the wine she was pouring and very easy to talk with.
I tasted six of their wines this day. Among them, their Sauvignon Blanc from Bacchus Vineyard, Sangiovese from Wahluke Slope Vineyard, Cabernet Franc from Conner Lee Vineyard, Petite Sirah from Wahluke Slope Vineyard, Malbec from Wahluke Slope Vineyard and Dionysus Meritage Red blend. Arbor Crest does not grow their own grapes or have their own vineyard other than what you see when you drive in, which is used, according to Shelby, only for their sparklers.
A couple of the wines prompt extra mention. Their Sangiovese was very warm with an extra zing on the end. There were rich aromas of plum. I am not normally a fan of Sangiovese because of the lack of nose and just a bland taste. I have tasted some $100 a bottle Chianti’s that are 100% Sanviovese that I just didn’t really like until they started blending them with Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon. The Sangiovese’s that Washington is producing seem to have a much more defining nose, I’ve noticed. In fact, we just tried a Maryhill Sangiovese that was very similar.
The Arbor Crest Sangiovese sells for $18 a bottle which makes this a great value.
One that sells for a bit more ($45 a bottle) but I STILL consider a great value is their Meritage Blend Dionysus. I rated this VERY GOOD. It consists of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Malbec. This wine packs a punch and has good depth with many personalities. There were tannins in this wine, to be sure, but not too tongue ripping.
Next time you’re in Spokane and want a unique experience head on up to the crest of Spokane and visit Arbor Crest Wine Cellars and enjoy the breathtaking view to go with your choice of wine. And when you do, write me to tell me what you thought of it!
Until next time, thanks so much for reading and bottoms up!
Leave a Reply
