Washington’s Columbia Valley is a low desert
“I’m afraid that all this time we’ve been growing grapes in a low desert.” One of the biggest misunderstanding about Washington as a grape growing region comes from the western half of the Read more...
Alternative closure use surges in Washington
In the last five years, the usage of alternative closures in the Washington wine industry has increased dramatically. In 2016, fewer than one quarter of the wines I tasted for review from Washington used an Read more...
Veraison begins in Columbia Valley
Growers in Washington are seeing the start of veraison, the changing of color of the grapes. Brittany Komm, vineyard operations manager at Sagemoor Vineyards, noted veraison beginning in Cabernet Sauvignon in Block 303 at Sagemoor Read more...
Wine Reviews July 14, 2023
50+ wines reviewed below, including the latest from Adelsheim, Aubaine, Avennia, Baer, Foundry, Garageland, J. Christopher, Le Doubblé Troubblé, Love & Squalor, Lu & Oly, Lytle-Barnett, Nicolas-Jay, Planet Oregon, Renegade Wine Co., Soter, and VanArnam. Read more...
Interview: How Washington’s Browne Family has defied gravity
In 2003, Browne Family, part of Precept Wines, started out with a mere 100 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon. The label has since grown to more than 125,000 cases annually. Today, while many in the wine Read more...
Hospice du Rhône coming to Walla Walla
Hospice du Rhône (HdR), a Rhône variety organization based in San Luis Obispo, California, will hold its next flagship event in Walla Walla, Washington. The still-in-development event will take place April 25-27, 2024. "Thirty years Read more...
Ryan Pennington named COO at Washington’s L’Ecole No. 41
Ryan Pennington, former vice president of communications and corporate affairs at Ste. Michelle Wine Estates (SMWE), has been named chief operating officer (COO) at L’Ecole No. 41 in Walla Walla Valley. Pennington starts today, July Read more...
Joseph Czarny named winemaker at Canvasback and Greenwing, Brian Rudin to Echolands
Joseph Czarny courtesy Canvasback Joseph Czarny has been named winemaker at Canvasback and Greenwing, two Washington brands of Napa Valley’s Duckhorn Vineyards. Czarny, who previously worked as assistant winemaker at Canvasback, takes over Read more...
Amos Rome sets the bar for white wines in Lake Chelan
The promise of Lake Chelan whites, realized From its first modern day vinifera plantings in 1998 – 25 years ago – it’s been clear that the Lake Chelan appellation could be special as a wine Read more...
Last Man Standing: Charles Sleicher of Associated Vintners
In the 1950s, a group of largely University of Washington (UW) professors, led by Lloyd S. Woodburne (1906-1992) – dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, began making wine at home. There would ultimately Read more...
