Marcus Sophia Winery [July 2020]

As I’ve said many times in the past, I usually “just happen” to come across most of my wine tasting venues, but I honestly have no earthly idea how I came across Marcus Sophia!! I certainly wasn't just riding around out in the forrest. Haha!! When you see the photos and hear my description, I hope you will have the same wonderment!! I will say this though… driving into the woods the way we did, on a tiny one lane dirt road makes me so glad that Shawn was with me the first time I visited!! As you can see from the photo below, [Steele is beyond excited to be featured!! LOL] the little "Winery" sign is the only thing to indicate that you were in the right spot!!

Truthfully, we drove right by it the first time!! Ha!! It was a wonderful tasting in a beautiful location and when I told my co-workers about it, we decided to do another “team building” [wine tasting] exercise, like we did when we all went to Abbe Vineyard!! I even made little invitations… cordially inviting everyone!! As I previously mentioned [in last week’s blog] you need to call and schedule a wine tasting before you go. You see the "tasting room" is out in the middle of the woods and in the someones private backyard. You can imagine how inconvenient it would be to just have people dropping by and walking around your backyard without an appointment!?

In 2009, Leala Cramer opened Marcus Sophia Winery from her home and backyard in Graham, Washington. [I’ve never even heard of Graham… I’d still really like to remember how I found this place!!] She was a personal chef for nearly 20 years and she was confessedly obsessed with food. Well with more than food, she was mesmerized with the perfect food/wine pairing phenomenon. Leala dreamed of one day making her own wine and this fascination propelled her into taking classes at Washington State University. She receive a certificate in Enology, [the study of wine] and went on to do a deep dive study into winemaking.

Marcus Sophia is a family owned and run winery located near Orting Valley. In fact, the winery is named after Leala’s son, Marcus. She then added the name "Sophia" because its Greek ancient meaning is "wise, clever, skillful, intelligent". She though it created a beautiful balance and she strives to carry over this balance to her winemaking. They make small batch wines here, using grapes from local several Washington Vineyards. You may recognize the names of some of these places from past blogs... Horse Haven Hills, Yakima Valley, and Walla Walla. Leala crushes and bottles all her wine here on site, in the oversized garage in the backside of her property. She bottles around 700 cases [or 8,400 bottles] each year!! Go Leala!!

Since I was just there a few weeks prior, I think it made things a little easier for me to give my coworkers good directions on how to get the winery. I believe we took up every available space in her driveway, and I specifically remember helping Deb park her totally awesome conversion van!! LOL The little patio [pictured above] that was set up for my first, personal tasting was intimate and personal. She also has a small place in her house to offer tastings to small groups. However, there were a lot more of us coming to taste wine this time around. Leala had the perfect solution... she set up a place with chairs for us to sit in her lower yard. We shared many laughs, and just enjoyed our own company!!

Another total success!! [in my humble opinion!!] Now let me introduce you to some of the amazing ladies I got to work with at Walters Day Surgery Center, which is part of St Joseph's Medical Center in Tacoma, Washington!! Shannon, Cassandra, Peggy, Deb, Carly, ME, Diane & the two beautiful redheads in front... Haley and Chelsea!! I love looking at their smiling faces in this photo and remember all the fun times we had while at work, and while at play. We thoroughly enjoyed Leala’s hospitality, the views, and [of course] the delicious wine!! We sampled some of Washingtons premier Bordeaux Blends, Syrah, and Viognier.

If memory serves me correctly, Peggy lived pretty close-by. After we finished our private wine tasting, we jumped in our vehicles, and followed her back to her place. She served us yummy snacks, we drank more wine, and told each other secrets [my lips are sealed] on her lovely back porch!! You have to be thankful for the times where you get to work with an excellent group of people, that you know you'll never forget!! The Walter's group will always have a special place in my heart and in my memories!!

For the next several weeks, Wine with Wixy will be heading back to visit several wineries in Woodinville. This is the home of Chateau Ste. Michelle, the winery where my friend Amy and I found those wonderful glasses that we now share!! Haha!! Let’s see what other kind of wines we can get ourselves into tasting!!

Cheers to you my wine loving friends, and TTFN!!