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...
