Best in Show at the 2009 Pacific NW Wine Summit
Arcane, as defined in the Oxford English dictionary is “that which is kept hidden and secret” The name is meant to suggest that those in the know,...
When we sat down to choose the grapes we wanted to work with at Trio Vintners the first and unanimous choice was Riesling. It was a bit of a no-brainer, as Washington has become known as the second...
“Truly, it's like a vacation in every bottle.”
Each year it is a joy for us to offer you Pinot Noirs from wineries crafting truly memorable wines that you have probably not run across. This year...
The next time you raise a glass to toast a friend’s health with one of our wines you may be doing more than expressing goodwill. A number of studies have been done to determine the therapeutic and disease...
Throughout antiquity the wines of Sicily were held in high esteem, the favorites of royalty. The island's many seaports made trade with the outside world easy and profitable, and Sicily's agricultural...
Thurston Wolfe Winery, owned and operated by Dr. Wade Wolfe and his wife Becky Yeaman, has been producing rare varietal wines in Washington State for the past twenty years. Some unique Northwest varietals...
Elk Cove’s focus is on what they call the “Pinot Trilogy”, ie. Noir, Gris and Blanc. To that end they own 600 acres on four separate vineyard sites. Currently, 180 of those acres are mature producing...
Sangiovese (san-jo-veh-zeh) is a red Italian wine grape variety whose name derives from the Latin sanguis ovis, “the blood of Jove”. Though it is the grape of most of central Italy, from Romagna down...
Passing the port – the tradition and etiquette of Port…... finally we arrive at the Bishop. There are many minor variations of the basic Port etiquette, but they are either local or specific to certain...
The main article for this month and next is all about Port. I thought it would be a nice tie-in for you to get a Northwest style “Port “ wine. Officially the Northwest wineries cannot label their wines...
Deborah and David Hansen established COUGAR CREST ESTATE WINERY at the Walla Walla Airport in 2001. Owners of 50 acres of vineyard, all in the Walla Walla Appellation, they had sold wine grapes to other...
Beaujolais Nouveau is perhaps the best known of all French wines. Each year, on the third Thursday in November its arrival is welcomed across the globe. You may have seen newspaper or heard radio ads...
Dan asked me to write this article a long time ago after a casual conversation at the wine club office. I have kept him waiting long enough with busy excuses, so it’s time to dust off my round tuit....
“Gino Cuneo of Gino Cuneo Cellars is a man on a mission, but he’s no Don Quixote. He’s already become a success story by being different in a business where being different can be very good or very...
Sparkling wines have been used for hundreds of years to celebrate important events and special occasions. They bring both effervescence and flavor to the party. The effervescence is, of course, unique...
When all is said and done, when wine drinkers have enjoyed the trendy varietals and the new blends from Italy, California or elsewhere they inevitably return to the king of red wines, Cabernet Sauvignon....
Champagne is truly like no other beverage made from grapes. It represents gaiety, celebration and success, and is capable of delighting us with its charm. Champagne and all other wines with that holiday...
A cycling getaway about 5 years ago led one of the finest and most respected Syrah winemakers in the world through the Zenata region of Morocco. Alain Graillot spotted a vineyard on a bluff overlooking...
In last month’s main article we mentioned that Lake Chelan was awarded AVA status in June of this year. The 13 wineries represented in Washington State’s newest AVA are excited as they feel their hard...
Terra Vina Wines is a small, family owned wine business based out of the northern Willamette Valley in Oregon, started by Karl and Carole Dinger in 2004. Originally from the Midwest, we relocated to...
I know you can feel it in the air; those crisp, cool winds of autumn floating in behind the final, fleeting breezes of summer. And with the autumnal equinox on September 21 it became official – fall...
In the main article above we mentioned that Lake Chelan was awarded AVA status in June of this year. The 13 wineries represented in Washington State’s newest AVA are excited as they feel their hard...
In the fall of last year we sent you an obscure white varietal, Madeline Angevine. It was extremely popular so this year I again searched out a little known white for your enjoyment, Albarino. Considered...
Situated between Washington and Oregon is the Columbia River Gorge, arguably the most scenic of all Northwest wine growing appellations. As you drive through the Columbia Gorge it is evident there are...
Traders working for the Hudson Bay Company planted the first vineyards in the state of Washington in 1825, although it is not known if wine was produced from them. The industry in Washington really...
Granacha Tinta is the Spanish name for the grape we know as Grenache or Grenache Noir, and because of it’s popularity in Spain and southern France it is the worlds most widely planted dark-skin grape...
It seems every wine periodical I pick up these days has another article about a winery that has gone “Green”. Recent headlines referred to Mother Earth, Green Grants and staying LIVE certified. Web...
Pinot Blanc probably is not the first varietal you think of when you are searching for a great white wine. The norm may be Chardonnay or Pinot Gris. Let me assure you the full-bodied multi-flavors of...
Developed in the 1870s, Durif, the grape known as Petite Sirah in California has also become popular in South America. In fact, the grape has succeeded better in drier climates abroad than in its South...
Many people go to great lengths and even greater expense to build a home for their wines. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this but it is not strictly necessary either.
There are only three...
To many, France and wine are synonymous. France supplies the benchmarks by which all wines are judged. Though Italy may produce more wine overall, few doubt that France leads in quality. Geological...
Vin' Affaires Newsletter (Excerpts from Eugene Register-Guard Tastings)
By Paul Omundson
, Guest Writer
February 1, 2009
Question: what wine do we suggest for your Valentine’s celebration?
Answer: this one!
All Mark Jurasevich wanted to do was plant an acre of Pinot Noir grapes to enhance the beauty of the hill on...
The name “Serience” comes from two words put together, “Serious and Experience”. This seems fitting as we seriously search out new and wonderful wines for you to experience each month. In that vein...
Wine Festivals are living movies. Vignettes of the major production, off-location from the grapes and open to the critics. There is wine judging prior to the premiere, opening night and box-office jitters...
Harvest Report 2007
As the 2007 harvest crawls slowly to bed, I sit in my family room exhausted, but with a smile on my face, satisfaction in my heart and of course a glass of Pinot within easy reach....
This year I decided to kick off the New Year by sending out the two wines Oregon is most noted for, Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. When the wine industry started in Oregon folks thought Chardonnay would...
There can be little doubt that Pinot Noir is seeing it’s greatest ever popularity in the United States. According to the Nielsen Company research, in the years between 2006 and 2008 sales of Pinot Noir...
This white vinifera grape produces superb dry wines all over the globe, ranging from its premier role in France's Burgundy region and its importance as the white grape of real Champagnes, to its dominant...
The holidays are here and Apolloni Vineyards has the perfect treat to enjoy with family and friends or to share as a seasonal gift. Apolloni Vineyards is proud to introduce our newly released dessert...
The season of flying corks is upon us. From now until the end of the year Americans will purchase more than three-quarters of their annual sparkling wine supply, domestic or imported. Please enjoy this...
If you have been a member of our club for any length of time you may have noticed that we like to vary our wine plan. March’s red selection may be Zinfandel this year and Merlot the following year....
That’s it; stick your nose right into those wine concoctions! You will be rewarded by a spicy, citrus fragrance that may take you right back to holidays at Grandmother’s house. Yes, I am talking about...
Not chilly chili, I’m talking about Chile, the country, in fact one of the best wine producers of South America. If you can visualize a map of South America, Chile is the rather long, north south, country,...
Why Three Rivers?
The name Three Rivers represents the three most prominent rivers in the appellations from which the winery sources its grapes-the Columbia, Snake, and Walla Walla Rivers. Three...
This month, as our tasting panel reconvened to pick out next month’s wine they were still talking about our last judging. The Gewurztraminer assortment (there were 15 examples presented) we pondered...
Many of you know that my yearly duties include overseeing the wine garden at the Bite of Oregon. One of the tasks that leads up to that event happens approximately one month before, as I organize and...
How and why sulfites are used in wine
1. At the crusher: Sulfur dioxide in the form of a diluted liquid solution is added to just-harvested grapes at the crusher to protect against oxidation. Much...
On almost every wine label, a challenging subject is concealed behind an opaque, almost nonchalant warning: "contains sulfites." The term encompasses sulfur dioxide (SO{-2}) as well as many derivative...
The art of cooperage-barrel making-arguably dates back some 3000 years, to the first recorded evidence of closed-end wooden barrels. Though there have been improvements over the centuries, the craft...
The Four Graces was established in 2003 when Steve and Paula Black purchased a 110-acre vineyard in the Dundee Hills that had first been planted in 1990. The vineyard was originally a walnut and plum...
"Holy Cow", yes that was the name of one of the Merlot submissions. One of the many Merlots that didn't make it into the taste off (final round). This year we had Northwest Merlots submitted from large...
Since 1920, Washington State has led the nation in apple production. Apples are in fact the largest agricultural product grown in the state (can grapes be far behind?). Washington grows between 40-50%...
Sauvignon Blanc grapes are found in many parts of the world and in many blended white wines. It is a great wine to taste the difference in terroir and in winemaking styles, the main countries where...
This month our winning selection hails from a small winery just off Bald Peak Rd. at the end of Merlott Rd. a short 30-minute drive Southwest of Portland. They only make a couple of different wines...
This month we have chosen a newcomer on the Northwest wine scene. You may have seen one of their labels on a store shelf or tasted one of their offerings at a festival. From a marketing standpoint their...
Oak barrels have two qualities essential to winemaking: oak barrels breathe, which allows the tannins in red wine to polymerize, and oak barrels interact with wine as it ages to produce a range of effects...
In Pursuit of a Dream
The Journey
It all started with a glass of Pinot Noir. And from there things got a little crazy. A passion for wine led to an extended foray into home winemaking. When this...
This white vinifera grape produces superb dry wines all over the globe, ranging from its premier role in France's Burgundy region and its importance as the white grape of real Champagnes, to its dominant...
Why do strong men and women waste so much time and effort making top quality sweet wines? Is it a waste of time and effort? No, not when they can produce a delight like we have here. There are many...
The truth is, your next promotion at work is probably not dependent on your ability to spell "Gewurztraminer." And, chances are your marriage isn't teetering on whether you select the appropriate wine...
In a recent edition of "Wine Press Northwest" Rob Griffin, winemaker/co-owner of Barnard Griffin, was quoted, "Zinfandel in Washington 20 years ago? I wouldn't have imagined such a thing. But certainly...
Up, up there somewhere, above the dismal gray murk that is covering the Earth, there is a world of sunlight. Children are playing ball and flying kites, young lovers are hiking along woodland trails....
Campagna was originally the Latin description of the Italian rolling countryside north of Rome. The word came to apply to geographically similar areas as well, hence Campania in southern Italy. This...
Silver Falls Vineyards is rich in history starting with its conversion from a turkey operation in the 1970s to its present 22-acre vineyards and winery (converted turkey barn). The majority of the vineyard...
Twenty-Five years ago, who would have guessed the Walla Walla Valley would become one of the Pacific Northwest's most renowned wine regions? Eric Rindal did as he bet his future on it, by building his...
This month we turn our international focus towards Europe and the old world wines. Germany, France, Spain and in sheer quantity of wine produced the largest, Italy.
Every one of Italy's twenty geographical...
As the seasons change so do our wine selections. Thanksgiving is coming up fast with Christmas soon to follow. Holiday meals can be tricky for wine pairing as you have many flavors and textures of food...
It seemed like a simple question. What is wine? After all, there are definitions of wine. Here in one that is widely accepted. Wine is the naturally fermented juice of grapes. This leaves several questions....
Dalla Vina Wines is a small family owned wine business based out of the northern Willamette Valley in Oregon, started by Karl and Carole Dinger in 2004. Originally from the Midwest, we relocated to...
Syrah, Merlot, Zinfandel and Pinot Noir are some of the varietals we feature each month. Beyond that we send Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blends and traditional Bordeaux blends periodically. This month...
Attending a winemaker?s dinner hosted by a nearby winery or an upscale restaurant is a near effortless undertaking. You can simply put yourself in the hands of your hosts and rest assured that the wines...
In 1979, a retired grape-grower from California, Gene Neuharth, opened the Neuharth Winery in Sequim, a small town on Washington?s picturesque Olympic Peninsula. It was one of the first 15 wineries...
This month the white wine choice was ?blended whites?. We sent out requests for wineries to submit multiple varietals blended into a balanced wine. Some were sweet, a few were blends of many different...
