You've moved to a new area, and you have to entertain visitors. The problem is, where you live is so isolated there aren't any restaurants to help out.
So what do you do? You cook for guests yourself.
This is the way it was in 2002, when winemakers Tim and Kelly Hightower, at the top, moved their wine-making operation from Woodinville, Washington, to Red Mountain, a small AVA in southeastern Washington known for powerful red wines.
The Hightowers chose that area because they wanted to use only Red Mountain grapes. It was a wonderful treat to taste what they are producing along with lunch in the tasting room.
Here, Tim Hightower is opening the wines for lunch.
First up was the 2018 Murray Syrah Rosé.
It's a lovely dry Rosé, paired with a beautiful vineyard view.
Then guests helped themselves to crispy chickpeas and lamb with greens and garlicky yogurt sauce.
The recipe is from a book the Hightowers rely on, "Dining In" by Alison Roman.
Here's a snippet of the recipe. Search online for more detailed versions of this dish.
First, guests sampled cheeses.
Along with bread based on a starter made from the natural yeast on wine grapes by Leslie Mackie of Macrina Bakery in Seattle.
With the main course came the Murray Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, 78% Cabernet blended with Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot.
Next, the 2015 Hightower Merlot, which blends 91% Merlot with 9% Cabernet Sauvignon.
This is the richest Hightower red, the 2015 Reserve, which is 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Malbec, aged in 90% new oak.
Then came dessert, chocolates from Fran's in Seattle, which is famous for its salted caramels.
After dessert, visitors toured the wine-making facilities. The Hightowers now have 12 acres under vines, half of that devoted to Cabernet Sauvignon, followed by Merlot, Cabernet Franc and others.
Their red wines are unfined, unfiltered and aged in oak for 18 to 20 months. In 2018, they made 4,000 cases.
And to think that Hightower Cellars, its winery, vineyards and the Hightower home were once only an alfalfa field. This shows what vision can achieve.
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