I don’t think it will come as a shock to find out that I love wine. I mean, DUH! But would it surprise you to find out I’m a huge fan of football? I am. Growing up in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, my team was (and is) the Chicago Bears. So it was a real thrill to get to talk with Dan Marino and Damon Huard, two former NFL quarterbacks who, like me, share a passion for wine. (Alas, at 5’8″, 155 lbs, and extremely uncoordinated, I did not attract much interest from football scouts. Not even a JV squad at a tiny high school desperate for players would have a need for my, ahem, talents. Blogging and podcasting? A much better fit.)
So where did Marino and Huard’s interest in wine take them? Right here to the state of Washington. With Winemaker Chris Peterson of Avennia fame on board, they created a wine: Passing Time. (Peterson is the guy with the sunglasses in the above photo.) Not only was I impressed with the inaugural 2012 vintage of this Cabernet Sauvignon (86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc) from the Horse Heaven Hills region, I also came away with a very strong understanding of the depth of feeling Marino and Huard have for wine. And, specifically, Washington wine.
It was a treat to hear Marino talk about growing up in Pittsburgh, where his great-grandpa made his own wine. And speak fondly of, as an adult, drinking Washington wine icons like Col Solare and Leonetti.
Huard is so knowledgeable about wine I was ready to give him the keys to this blog, go home, and open a beer. (Putting a guest blogging offer on the table, BTW.) His description of the different vineyards that making up Passing Time, along with what a small amount Cabernet Franc brings to the table, is illuminating.
Find out what else we talked about at the release party for the inaugural 2012 vintage. And subscribe to the Wine Without Worry podcast.
