And we thought that last weekend's Taste Washington extravaganza would be just about swirling, spitting and sampling. Not so....is was about discovering dirt - the kind that Patricia Gelles (Klipsun Vineyard) is steward of. Luminaries Mike Januik, John Bigelow and Chris Upchurch shared their stories about acquiring Klipsun fruit and told how they treat it to cox out the best flavors.

The weekend was also about discovering how a winery exists without a winery and how winemakers, such as Chris Sparkman (Sparkman Cellars), have the energy to have a "day" job and then make wine in their "spare" time. The answer: PASSION. These Garagistes - Chris plus Chris Gorman (Gorman Winery), David Larsen (Soos Creek Winery), Danny Gordon (Tamarak Cellars), Rick Middleton (Cadaretta) and Gordy Venneri (Walla Walla Vintners) discussed their sourcing and using custom crush facilities while using home garage, small warehouse space and even a firehouse.

More about this in an upcoming issue of NorthWest Stir www.nwstir.com.