Terra Blanca Winery in Benton City has solidified a deal with Twigs Bistro & Martini Bar in Kennewick, making the new bistro its exclusive caterer.
“Since we opened the new building and event facility on Red Mountain in 2006, the winery has worked with a variety of restaurants and caterers,” said Keith Pilgrim, Terra Blanca’s winemaker who owns the winery with his wife, ReNae. “With the movement of Twigs, a longtime winemaking partner, into the community, we were presented with a unique opportunity.”
Pilgrim said Terra Blanca has been creating wines for the Blackwell family’s Twigs restaurants in Spokane for five years.
“We kept talking about having Twigs in the Tri-Cities because we enjoyed their food and liked the family nature of their business,” Pilgrim said. “ReNae and I recognize the trust they put in Terra Blanca by having us make the house wine for their restaurant — TnT — so we know going into this partnership that we have a close working relationship. “
Twigs will be exclusive caterer for the winery event facility and for the winery’s weekend café, Café Orsa.
Trevor Blackwell, Twigs owner and chief operating officer, said the partnership is a great opportunity for the company to work with a like-minded business.
“We’re not big corporate chains. We live where we work and we know where our food and grapes are grown,” he said.
Blackwell said that means guests at the restaurant or the winery can count on the businesses showcasing the best of local produce, meat, fish and wine.
Twigs Executive Chef Jonathan Holden will work with the Pilgrims and Gretchen Wiseman, Terra Blanca’s director of banquet sales to create menus that are exclusive to events held at Terra Blanca. Blackwell said the menus will focus on sustainable and Northwest cuisine for the winery’s Friday night happy hour late openings and weekend hours.
“Twigs brings not only up-and coming cuisine and spectacular food and wine pairing knowledge, but also a commitment to exemplary customer service,” said Wiseman. “
by Mary Hopkin
Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business
