Old school Seattleite winos might know Ron Irvine as one of the founders of Pike and Western Wine Shop, a wine cellar and boutique established in 1975 and perched outside of Pike Place Market, now owned and operated by Michael Teer. Others know Ron Irvine as the owner/winemaker of Vashon Winery, a “garagiste” enological effort on Vashon Island and author of the book The Wine Project. Most do not know Ron Irvine as cidermaster of Irvine’s Vintage Cider, his best kept secret until Washington-based Metropolitan Market started carrying his ciders in their stores. The Vintage Blend is just that—several vintages, several European cider apples from a variety of sources, crushed and pressed in a cheese press at the winery and fermented to dryness then aged in a barrel for one year. Sunny, Golden Delicious apple aromas pop from the glass with a touch of cream and baking spices, the palate is medium-bodied and structured with firm apple skin tannins and crisp acidity.
