One of my favorite aspects about writing this column is having the opportunity to go “behind the scenes,” see what’s in the back of a business and learn how “stuff” is made.  I had just that experience with Lynn DeVleming, who along with Rick Wasem, own Basalt Cellars.  In the Co-op’s Wine and Beer Department, you will find a handful of their wines; a few dry red wines and their most popular dry white wine, Semillon. 

In 2002, Rick and Lynn met during a Grape Symposium.  Passionate about wine they both attended wine making classes at Walla Walla Community College.  Lynn recounted that when Rick said “I’m gonna make wine,” she “jumped on his dream.”  They began selling wine in 2006 and opened doors in the Port of Clarkston in 2007.  The two partners plus two-part time employees operate the business.  In addition to his wine making, Rick is also owner of and pharmacist at Wasem’s in Clarkston.

Walking through the Co-op’s Wine and Beer Department, I think of a hands-on art gallery.  Simply viewing and touching bottles, I am transported to places of various colors and designs.  The nearly two dozen wines crafted by Camas Prairie Winery happily bring me home to Moscow.  While interviewing Jeremy Ritter, the Winery’s new owner, my appreciation of his wines and our town’s Winery grew. 

Having a dad from Greece, I grew up learning and appreciating that a meal without bread is not a meal. Psomi or bread is the centerpiece of your eating experience. Not surprisingly then, I felt delighted and hungry interviewing local baker, Nels Peterson, owner of Panhandle Artisan Bread Company in Moscow. For the last four months, the Co-op has been selling eight types of Nels’ bread. The display of delicious, bready-goodness is located across from the Hot Bar and Deli.

It's not everyday you meet a cow.  Let alone a cow with a personality.  I had the chance to do just that when interviewing Amy Wincentsen, who operates Little Bear Dairy in Troy with her husband Tim.  The Wincentsen's began providing Raw Jersey Cow Milk to the Co-op in mid-December.  You can find their quarts of milk in Grocery's dairy coolers.