Even after 10 years, there’s still a first time for everything. Forbidden Fruit’s 2013 Caught Apricot Mistelle and the 2011 Earth Series Merlot both won Double-Platinum awards at Winepress Northwest Platinum Judging making this the first time ever that a Northwest winery has won Double-Platinum in both grape and fruit wine categories in the same competition. “The Caught was the fourth highest ranking wine in the competition,” says Steve.
A special new label for the grape wines riffs on the farm’s location at the end of Sumac Road. The new label is called “Dead End” but it also reflects the no-turning-back creativity that has permeated everything that Steve Venables and Kim Brind’Amour have done in their decade of making wine. Dead End will feature four wines – one white and three red – as wine shop exclusives. “Skrewed” (Pinot Gris, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc), “Catch 22” (Cabernet Franc), “No Return” (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc), and “Game Over” (Tannat and Malbec) will be the lineup of bold wines created by winemaker Nathan Venables. Of course, all wines are made with certified organic grapes.
Art has always been important to the experience at Forbidden Fruit which features paintings, barrel stave art, jewelry and glass vases. Forbidden Fruit will be one of four sites hosting “Art in the Garden” exhibits with wine tastings and food pairings outside in the orchard near the river. A drop-in event, the exhibit will be all day July 25th and 26th.
If a day trip isn’t enough, you can always plan to stay longer. The Harvest Moon Guesthouse will be reopening again for the first time since 2006. Check the website forbiddenfruitwines.com for more details.
~ Luke Whittall
Pictured: left: Steve Venables, Dominic Rivard, and NathanVenables