Wenatchee winemaker to open Cashmere tasting room
Posted on 17. May, 2010 by admin in News
by Yvette Davis
Winemaker Craig Mitrakul and his wife, Danielle, announced they will open a tasting room in Cashmere for their new label, Crayelle Cellars. Mitrakul, who is the winemaker for St. Laurent Estate Winery and Ryan Patrick Vineyards, began releasing wines produced under his own label in December.
The couple has leased space at 207 Mission Ave. in Cashmere, upstairs from distiller It’s Five O’clock Somewhere, and next to the proposed brewery. Mitrakul said he is in talks with other wineries to bring additional tasting rooms to the building as well, creating a Cashmere tasting destination.
At the moment, it’s just himself and the Waterville Winery that have signed on to occupy two of the building’s six 225-square-foot rooms, he said. But he’s hopeful more will join. Ryan Patrick Vineyards was going to open a room there and move its production facility there as well, but that plan didn’t pan out.
For winemaker Mitrakul, who said he is still learning the marketing side of the wine industry, the new tasting room presents an opportunity to take his fledgling winery to the next level.
“It is a good stepping stone to growing the business, getting the word out about the wines, and having the opportunity to get a little more face time with customers,” he said. “If things go well, the business will become more than the side project it is now.”
The Mitrakuls will staff the tasting room themselves for now, pouring what remains of their 2008 dry Riesling and 2007 Syrah. After that, the couple plans a release party to introduce their 2009 dry Riesling and 2008 Syrah. Production for the first year was at 140 cases. Production for the 2008-2009 season was a little higher, consisting of around 150 cases of dry Riesling and 100 cases of Syrah.
The tasting room is set to open in early June.
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