Washington state is home to small wineries and big, big vineyards. Sure, there are exceptions. By and large, though, farming belongs to the semi-arid land east of the Cascade Mountains. That’s where the spouse and I headed. In the Yakima Valley, conditions are nearly perfect for growing a variety of grape varieties. Warm summer days […]
Road trip to Yakima, Part II: Four vineyards to know Read More »
Like a person or a cherished pet, a wine has a personality of its own. Some are slow to open up. They’re intense, complex and take a long to get to know. Others are forward and direct, or they may be hearty and easygoing. To me, the L’Ecole No. 41 Frenchtown Red, Columbia Valley AVA,
A Washington red meets Mediterranean-style cuisine Read More »
Invited to a party while the weather is still warm enough to dine outdoors and wondering what wine to bring? Simply put, you can’t go wrong with Côtes du Rhône. No matter your budget, you can easily find an easy-drinking, crowd-pleasing Côtes du Rhône wine. If you want, you can delve into the nuances of
Red, white and pink – the colors of Côtes du Rhône (#winophiles) Read More »
Back in the day – a decade ago, actually, when I was first getting into wine seriously, few producers made wine from organic grapes. I’d wander around the Pennsylvania state store in a futile search for these wines before finally having to flag down a sales assistant to help me. Organic wine is now a $54.5
Vegan black bean burgers and organic wine: A planet-conscious pairing (#winePW) Read More »
Let me start this post about Oregon sparkling wine by saying a few words about Lambrusco. Don’t worry – I promise to connect the dots. It’s been hit or miss for me with Lambrusco from central Italy. Too many of these red sparkling wines taste grapey and lack complexity. Now, fans might insist I haven’t
On the road in Oregon? Check out the sparkling wine Read More »
