Willie Porter & Snoqualmie Gewurtztraminer

If you have never heard of Willie Porter before, you are in for the musical discovery for a lifetime. He’s an acoustic picker with a style blending the best of Leo Kottke, Michael Hedges, Richard Thompson and Lindsey Buckingham bolstered by rootsy vocals and twisting, offbeat lyrics that evoked John Hiatt.

Porter released his debut CD, The Trees Have Soul in 1990. Back then he traveled in a Volkswagen selling discs out of his trunk, mesmerizing audiences with his guitar chops and original tunes. He’s release a bunch of follow-on CD’s including Dog Eared Dream, Falling Forward, a self titled disc, Willie Porter, High Wire Live, Available Light, and How to Rob a Bank and has toured with Jeff Beck, Tori Amos, and Jethro Tull. In fact, after hearing him play, Ian Anderson commented, “Thank God he doesn’t play flute.”

Moonbeam: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uK5eP1kes0A

Paper Airplane: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEVSdVVmgvQ&feature=related

Unconditional: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DLkwGMUEJ8&feature=related

Angry Words: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsoHxgnW5Ck

Breathe: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ua48yO6kDCI

You stay here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEdMVhdrPH4&feature=related

Hard Place: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcsS69Bf5C8&feature=related

Fear only fear: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GR_ebn88EN0&feature=related

Sowelu: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYZfW8sixjI&feature=related

Mystery: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDMM73yuU6A&feature=related

Available Light: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBnh9VWVXV4&feature=related

Cut the rope: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i19Lp-RQMYg&feature=related  

Sister: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKJKdnpItH4&feature=related

Loose gravel & interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vhu_NwT8m4I&feature=related

How about a Gewurtztraminer to go with Willie’s music? The 2004 Snoqualmie Naked Gewurztraminer ($13.00) is golden straw in color with subtle aromas of pear and honeysuckle, but not the heavily perfumed spiciness that is often characteristic of this varietal. It has a juicy viscosity that clings to your tongue bursting with flavors of sweet apple and peach, and finishing with a honeyed note. I think it would have been even better with very spicy Indian or Thai cuisine, but it’s also an excellent aperitif, or just darn good for enjoying with the smooth music of Willie Porter. Gonna be out of town for a while as I’m taking a week of vacation. See y’all when I get back in a week. Enjoy!

Cheers!