Inyo Winery is Whatcom County’s Latest Addition

Some people will do anything to get out of mowing the lawn, even if it means putting in their own vineyard.

Charles Terranova, owner/winemaker at Bellingham’s Inyo Vineyard and Winery recalls how in 1997 he conceived his vineyard, located on a grassy slope adjacent to his house off Agate Heights Road.

“I got tired of mowing the lawn,” he says, “so I thought, I can take some of it out, plant some grapes, and make my own wine.”

Somehow, I’m not convinced that this reduced Terranova’s workload. But the happy result for the rest of us is Whatcom County’s newest winery, with a cozy tasting room in a serene setting dotted with fir and cedar trees overlooking Lake Whatcom.

Because of its tiny production – 200 cases last year, 60 cases this year – Inyo qualifies as something even smaller than a boutique winery. Terranova aptly refers to it as a “nano-winery.”

The “estate” vineyards are planted with Siegerrebe and Madeleine Angevine grapes that won’t be ready for bottling and release until next spring, provided they ripen sufficiently. So to augment production, grapes are also sourced from Eastern Washington’s Columbia Valley and Wahluke Slope Appellations.

Here are my tasting notes on some Inyo current releases:

2011 Dry Riesling ($18) – Tangy Granny Smith apple and citrus flavors lead off, with a splash of ruby red grapefruit on the finish. This wine begs for food, and Asian cuisine such as shrimp with a creamy curry sauce comes to mind. I also noted a bit of sulfur on the nose, but this gradually dissipates as the wine has a chance to aerate.

2008 Sangiovese-Barbera ($18) – This delicious red wine blend opens with a fragrant aroma of caramel and berries followed by bright fruit flavors of red currant and cherry and a lengthy finish with hints of orange peel and pekoe tea. A fine effort and well worth the price.

2008 Syrah-Mourvèdre ($24) – Restrained dark berry and cola flavors are capped with an unmistakable hit of black pepper provided by the mourvèdre, along with touches of brambly spice. This wine should pair perfectly with most anything beef.

During the month of July, the winery will donate 20-percent of your purchases to your choice of several Whatcom County organizations such as the Humane Society, United Way, and Hospice Foundation, to name a few.

Tastings at the winery are available by appointment only and can be arranged by phoning
Public Relations and Salesperson Mary Michelutti at (360) 398-3785.