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Yelp
If you like business parks, fluorescent lights, utility carpet, laminate countertops, and at least one very rude staff, then the Cascade Winery is for you!
Let's start on location, which is what brought us here. Driving along the business-parky Broadmoor / East Beltline, looking right, you see "Cascade Winery" and think - what on earth is a winery doing there? Fast forward: there's a living social deal for a wine tasting - we figure this will be our chance to check it out. We set our expectations low.
But not low enough. You see, one would think that locating your business in a business park, you might try to compensate for the lack of rolling hills by creating a unique and interesting atmosphere. The solid wood floors and polished wood countertops of Sonoma and intimate lighting. You could create this in a business park and people walking into it would take a step back and say, "Hey - this is pretty cool".
I'm quite sure no one has said this when walking onto the utility carpet, the same used at a Family Bookstore perhaps, and then stare blindingly up into the fluorescent lighting.
We were greeted by what came off as a quite rude older lady, who before I could say a word, mumbled something about 'Living Social' and then walked away. This was your chance to start a relationship with a potential wine patron - and you pretty much killed it. Most people will buy a bottle or two after a tasting, if not for any reason other than they feel like they should, but after this rude greeting, we pretty much dismissed the thought. Be nicer - be welcoming - be warm - be personable - these are the things we look for in winery staff.
So let's get to the wines; which given the lackluster of everything else, isn't negative. They are drinkable. There is no allusion to vineyards; these are indeed third party grower sourced grapes; there is no field for you to visit, or tour to be offered, but the wines were drinkable - if not generic. They do try to stand out by also producing a variety of fruit wines, meads, and a Jalapeño wine (that was pushed on us heavily as something that goes good on most foods, I'm sure).