Every week in the Weekly Volcano print edition, we highlight a national food holiday in the Buzz-o-Meter. It's ridiculous, really - the food/drink holidays, that is. No government agency has officially recognized most of them. Industry folks say they have no clue how national food days are determined. Yet, someone, somewhere has declared a day of recognition for every edible imaginable; there's National Tempura Day, National Rhubarb Pie Day, National Crabmeat Day, National Beans 'n' Franks Day, and, of course, National Leftovers Day the day after Thanksgiving. There's a national food holiday every day of the year.
Yesterday, apparently, was National Cabernet Day.
While it's easy to dismiss this "Day" as just another excuse to tie one on, in truth it's a good reason to learn more about "The King of Red Wine Grapes." Cabernet Sauvignon reigns as one of the world's most popular grapes, showing up as the main variety in some of the most renowned (read: expensive) wines on the planet. According to Bob Kinnaman, co-owner of the Wine Bank & Beer Vault in University Place, Cabernet Sauvignon is, "one of the most widely planted varieties on the planet - particularly in California - where pricey Napa Valley lays claim to nearly a quarter of the state's total Cab crop." The grape actually is a cross between two grapes: Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc.
In celebration, we visited several area wine shops and wine bars to wish folks a happy Cabernet Day and have some wine-soaked fun. By the way, no one - owners, employees or patrons - knew it was National Cabernet Day.
VINOTIQUE
7304 Lakewood Dr. W., Lakewood, online
Vinotique co-owner Thom Morris selected a 2012 Ridge Crest Cabernet Sauvignon as the celebratory Cabernet. A funky fruit aroma with hints of tobacco swirled inside the stemmed glass. Its robust, blackberry finish paired well with Vinotique's Black Forest ham sandwich.
WINE BANK AND BEER VAULT
7017 27th St. W., University Place, online
After spending hours breaking bread and drinking gobs of wine with Efeste winemaker Brennon Leighton at Brix 25 several summers ago, we've been a fan of the Washington winery. The hard-to-find Efeste Cab Big Papa beamed from Wine Bank's Cabernet shelf - specifically the 2009 full of blackberry, black currant, black cherry and even a hint of plum. Make no mistake; this is not a juice bomb. Its old vines foundation gives the 2009 Big Papa exceptional balance, and not overly ripe.
BLACK DOOR WINE COMPANY
3906 N. 34th St., Tacoma, online
What's instantly apparently after meeting owners Victoria Johnson and David Lower behind their black door in Tacoma's Proctor District is they know their wines. Point at a bottle at the two can give deep background on the wine, its journey from harvest to decanter and the hobbies of its winemaker. Seriously. Johnson and Lower are storytellers in the most delicious way. As for Cabernet Day, they chose the 2006 Boudreaux Cellers Cab - a Cabernet made by rock climber and camping enthusiast Rob Newsom who takes advantage of gravity when creating his wines - a story we'll leave for Johnson and Lower. The 2006 Cab can be equated to drinking a blackberry cobbler next to a campfire. Yum.
CORK! A WINE BAR
606 N. State St., Tacoma, online
Two months ago National Guardsman Lakmal Marasinghe bought Cork! from beloved owner Nick Coughran. Marasinghe fell in love with the wine bar just off Sixth Avenue during his active duty stint at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Cork! fans will be happy to know Marasinghe plans to carry on Coughran's tradition of quality wines in a relaxed, chill atmosphere. Whiskey fans will be happy to know Cork! now carries 50 whiskeys complete with flight options and cheese pairings. In terms of a recommended Cab, Marasinghe reached for the 2011 The Jack Cab from the Columbia Valley. We could taste the black cherry and spice, but couldn't make out the mint.
STINK TANK
630 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, online
The coolest wine cat in Tacoma has to be Bryan Carroll, the man behind Stink Tank's wine counter. Pick a subject; he'll chime in. Pick a wine; he'll chime in, too. Carroll and owner Kris Blondin have a few things up their sleeves they'll introduce in the next couple weeks. In the meantime, the 2009 Floating Rock Cab Carroll busted out last night - a tasty wine with pepper notes and firm tannins, forged from the great Missoula Flood - and this week's stellar Manchego cheese sandwich are reasons enough to celebrate.
CAFÉ DIVINO
2112 N. 30th St., Tacoma, online
We popped into Café Divino in Old Town Tacoma for owner Jana Zimmerman's take on National Cabernet Day. Instead, we were greeted by Zimmerman's daughter, Alex, who carries on Divino's tradition of great conversation and Food Network entertainment. The selected Cab, the 2010 Milbrandt Cabernet - filled with ripe plum, blackberry and subtle notes of mint - paired well with Cutthroat Kitchen on the tube.