Reininger Employee Profile: Courtney (aka the mischief maker)
Hold onto your wineglasses, folks, this employee is about to spill the beans on a long-standing prank!
Name: Courtney Morgan
Role at the Winery: Marketing Assistant/Graphic Designer/Office Fashion Guru
Favorite Reininger wine: 2007 Helix SoRho, 2003 Reininger Ash Hollow Cab (long standing favorite from when I first started working here)
Courtney originally joined the Reininger team back in 2007 when she graduated from Whitman College in order to earn some grad school money. After finishing school in 2008, Courtney moved back to Walla Walla and started doing graphic design work for Reininger, designing ads, print brochures, handouts, wine club letters, and secret projects yet to be unveiled. She also has been a steady source of entertainment for everyone at the office, and will be much missed as she transitions to New York. Fortunately for the rest of us, Courtney plans to work for Reininger, or her “second family” as long as she can!
During her free time, Courtney enjoys yoga, conquering New York on her single speed bike, skiing hard and fast through trees, and cooking (followed by eating). Courtney claims weird (arguably hideous) shoes are her downfall. She is “decidedly single” with a delinquent cat named Frederick.
And now for the big secret- Courtney’s favorite Reininger story: “Several years ago, Spencer (who now owns El Corazon winery) and I ‘borrowed’ a case of toilet paper from the winery to TP another employee’s house. She came to work the next day convinced that it was her ex boyfriend, who she had just broken up with, who had pulled the prank. Up to this point, who the culprits were has remained a secret”. Guess the cat is out of the bag now…
Reininger Employee Profile: Shellie (aka the famous fisherwoman)
This employee is famous in her own right (well, in certain circles at least). Bring your copy of Sportsman’s Magazine and get her autograph today!
Name: Shellie Schoonover
Role at the Winery: Selling and Taste Testing!
Favorite Reininger wine: I LOVE Cima with salami and cheese, oh my…
Favorite Reininger story: It cracked me up when Raul’s roosters were singing along with the Walla Walla Symphony. I didn’t think anything of it, but our guests from the city weren’t used to it! Welcome to the country!
During her free time, Shellie loves to be on the river, and isn’t picky how it happens. She loves fishing, floating, beers, groovin’ to a live band, and playing with Millie Dog. Her family consists of Jared (the fisherman of the house), Millie Dog (her sweet lil’ german short-hair squirrel dog), and two bluegill fish.
Fun Fact: Shellie, as well as our sales rep Brooke, have been in two magazines with their famous Steelhead! They caught two 12 pounders within a half hour on the Snake thanks to their guide, Jared. Check them out in Salmon Trout Steelhead and Sportsman’s magazine!
Walla Walla Event: Jazz and Wine Among Friends
Jazz and Wine for a good cause (not that you really needed an excuse for either…)
Clear your calendars and head to Walla Walla this weekend! The Friends of Children of Walla Walla is hosting the 4th annual “Jazz and Wine Among Friends” festival this Friday, August 26th- Sunday, August 28th, 2011. The festival includes a myriad of great regional jazz artists performances at some of our favorite locations in Walla Walla. Tickets can either be purchased for each individual day, or together as a package for $100 (which would save you $10) on the Friend website www.wallawallafriends.org/Events.html or downtown at the Walla Walla visitor center. All ticket sales directly benefit children served by the Friends program. Please call the Friends office at (509) 527-4745 with any questions.
Friday Events: regional jazz artists at downtown venues: $20 for access to five performances
• 4:30-6:30pm – Sinclair Estate Vineyards – Paul West
• 6:00-9:00pm – Walla Faces – The Crawford-Glenn Band
• 6:30-9:00pm – Marcus Whitman Hotel – The Darin Clendenin Trio
• 7:00-10:00pm – Laht Neppur – Philly King Bee & The Stingers
• 8:00-11:00pm – Sapolil Cellars – Mark Brown, Gary Romjue & Friends
Saturday Events: Waterbrook Winery performances: $60
• 6:30-7:15pm – Pete Crawford, Dave Glenn and band
• 7:30-9:30pm – Gail Pettis Quartet
• Tickets include entrance to both performances, gourmet appetizers, desserts, and a glass of Waterbrook wine
• Additional wine, including bottles with a custom Friends label designed by local artist Matt McKern, will be available for purchase
Sunday Event: New Orleans-style jazz brunch at Whitehouse Crawford restaurant: $30
• Seatings at 10 am and 11:30 am
• Tickets include mimosa and two course Southern-style meal from award-winning chef Jamie Guerin
• Entertainment includes a live processional and performance by The Uptown Lowdown Jazz Quartet from Seattle
We can’t think of a more fun way to help out a great cause. We hope to see you there- it should be a lot of fun!
Reininger Employee Profile: Lindell (aka zip-lining adventure queen)
Name: Lindell McWhorter
Role at the Winery: Accounting
Favorite Reininger wine: All- but if I have to pick only one, Cima.
Before Reininger Winery, Lindell worked as a commercial loan officer with multiple banks until she decided to lower the stress in her life and work part time. She started in the wine industry working for Waterbrook winery. In 2004, Lindell started working for Reininger, back in the days when she and the owners all shared a small office at the Walla Walla airport!
When not busy with Reininger Winery, Lindell spends time gardening and hanging out with family and friends. Her family consists of her husband, Mel, their cocker spaniel, Maggie, 4 wonderful grandchildren, and their parents. Recently, Lindell traveled to Guatemala and Costa Rica with her church youth group. She went on a volcano tour, visited a butterfly farm and zip-lined through the rainforest!
Favorite Reininger story: In tasting room one particularly windy day in Walla Walla, a female customer commented that “it probably wouldn’t be so windy in Walla Walla if they would just turn off those windmills on the hills surrounding the valley”. Wisely, Lindell kept her response to herself.
Reininger Employee Profile: Justin Vajgert (aka ex-Fabio)
Our new series: Employee Profile!
You probably already know that Reininger Winery has some pretty incredible wines (if we do say so ourselves), and rest assured, we will continue to give you the inside scoop on our award winning wines here on the blog. But we also want to give you a peek into what goes on behind the scenes at the winery, and who makes up the Reininger team. We are starting a new blog series of employee profiles to introduce you to the gang. So grab a glass of your favorite Reininger and sit back and enjoy the true, surprising, and funny stories of the people behind your favorite wines…
Name: Justin Vajgert
Role at the Winery: National Sales Monkey
Favorite Reininger wine: Ash Hollow Syrah… duh
How Justin got involved: Justin actually went to school for wine making and dreams of making his own wines someday. He got involved with Reininger when he first moved to Walla Walla late 2005 after meeting Ronnie and Terry Tucker at the Creek Town Restaurant. “They suggested I talk to their son Jay about a job at Reininger. A month later, I was hired in the tasting room. A year and a half of hard work later, I was offered an opportunity to do the winery’s national sales and haven’t looked back since”. As much as he loves Walla Walla and the Northwest, Justin says ?“I miss my Mom, Grandma other family and friends that are still in Illinois…You guys should really move here!”
Other Interests: When not busy with Reininger (or dreaming of someday making his own beer, whiskey and tequila) Justin spends time with his girlfriend Katie hiking and exploring the Columbia River Gorge. He also enjoys music, cars, and hockey. Justin loves to cook (and eat), would love to someday travel and eat his way around the world, making sure to hit up Thailand, Vietnam, Mexico, Lebanon and Japan.
Seduction – Helix 2007 Pomatia
What makes the Helix 2007 so seductive? It could be the voluptuous, silky, full bodied texture, or the indulgent flavors, or the alluring origins, high scores, or the fantastic price. Whatever combinations of characteristics draw you in, we know you’ll agree the Helix 2007 Pomatia is a winner!
The Helix 2007 Pomatia’s rich aromas of dark fruits, caramel, and a touch of sawdust’s usher in decadent flavors of plums and black cherries bathed in French vanilla and coffee beans with a tantalizing finish of dark chocolate and eucalyptus leaf.
This well-balanced crowd pleaser is comprised of 38% Syrah, 25% Cab Sauv, 24% Merlot, and 13% Cabernet Franc. The grapes were sourced from some of Washington’s finest vineyards, including Pepper Bridge, Seven Hills, Ash Hollow, Stillwater Creek, Stone Tree, Patina, Baccuhus & Phinny Hill.
Modestly priced under $20, the Helix 2007 Pomatia garnered a 88 point score from The wine Spectator. Take home this luscious wine and transform and ordinary night into a sensational evening.
