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There’s this great guy I used to work with while I was bartending at The Marcus Whitman Hotel. One evening two young women who had been dining in the restaurant left a comment card: “Hunter is the hottest guy in town! He’s the best waiter too. We love him!” That comment made it onto the staff bulletin board.

Since then, Hunter, or Lloyd as he is now known, has launched a fantastic business called American Winery. They’ve gotten some press and are doing extremely well. I couldn’t be more proud of Lloyd Benedict, the founder and CEO. Wineries, check it out. Wine drinkers, check it out.

What I find perhaps even more exciting is that the current featured winery is Mannina Cellars, a local winery!

“My approach to winemaking is to create a pristine environment in which the fruit can make the journey from grapes to wine with as little outside impact as possible, resulting in wines that are a near-perfect reflection of the place that produced them.”
Don Redman, Winemaker, Mannina Cellars, Walla Walla, WA

American Winery’s homepage shows a photo of Don, his wife Nicole, and three adorable kids. The 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon, which American Winery marks as a favorite, has improved immensely since I tasted it last spring. It was never bad, and now it is truly good. I have also been savoring the 2005 Cali. At $17 a bottle, it’s a great deal! Medium to full red blend. Easy drinking. Pairs so well with harvest meals. I’ve been enjoying squash from the garden, portobello mushrooms with garlic, herb salads. A blend of primarily cabernet sauvignon and merlot, the Cali is smooth with a long finish. It’s been getting solid reviews, so I can’t be totally off base here.