Crayelle, for Craig and Danielle Mitrakul, is North Central Washington's newest winery. It's so new in fact that they've only just begun to market the wines.
However, you can, by visiting the web site Crayelle cellars , order the wines on line. The wines for the moment consist of two choices, a 2008 Riesling and a 2007 Syrah, both created from Columbia Valley fruit from Quincy.
At the tasting event held at Tastebuds Wine Bar in Wenatchee Saturday evening, folks ooohed and aaahed over the luscious textures of the wines.
"This is velvet in a glass," speaking of the Riesling, Paul Massey said. Paul is the owner of the Label company, Columbia Valley Label, and was responsible for successfully matching an elegantly styled label for the new elegantly created wines. Paul worked closely with Danielle and Craig to make certain the label matched the direction they wanted to create for their new winery.
Tasting order was traditional; first the white and then the red, the Syrah, and what a Syrah it is! This is again, an elegant wine. One patron spoke up and remarked, "...the fruits are fresh, more like a jam when it is just freshly made." She went on to explain how the taste of jams change as the product ages. It's different from jam stored in the pantry several months. Others present nodded in agreement.
Craig has been making wines for a considerable length of time, and when asked about launching his own label he replied, '"This is what we both, Danielle and I, have been working toward; this is the dream come true for both of us."
Here's a brief look at Craig's employment history to give you a sense of his skills and abilities. And remember, it was the editor of Wine Press Northwest who reported that Craig Mitrakul was an "up and coming star" among Washington winemakers.
With the launching of the new label and the quality of wines in the bottles, this reporter notes, the star is no longer up and coming; he has arrived.
From the bio on the website of Saint Laurent Winery, the following about Craig Mitrakul:
"Craig was "hand selected" by Saint Laurent's previous wine maker. His vast experience in the wine industry, as well as his energy and enthusiasm, add the final touch to Saint Laurent's classic, approachable wines.
Rutgers University -1994 B.S. Food Science
Cornell University -1997 M.S. Food Science
Chateau Ste. Michelle -1997 Enology Intern
Rosemount Estates -1998 Cellar Worker
Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellar -1998-2000 Wine Maker
Ponzi Vineyards -2000-2002 Assistant Wine Maker
Three Rivers Winery -2002-2004 Assistant Wine Maker"
In 2004 Craig left Three Rivers and joined the teams of the Ryan-Patrick Vineyards and the Saint Laurent Winery as winemaker for both wineries. He continues in those capacities and has created a host of award winning wines for both organizations.
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