An ode to Washington’s educational and research efforts
In the first of my recent articles on “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly” of Washington wine, I outlined 10 things the Washington wine industry has done well. One embarrassing omission, which a number Read more...
Washington wine: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, Part III
This is the third in a three-part series on Washington wine. Read part I. Read part II. There has been a great deal of handwringing and soul searching in the Washington wine industry since Ste. Read more...
Washington wine: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, Part II
This is the second in a three-part series on Washington wine. Read part I. Read Part III. There has been a great deal of handwringing and soul searching in the Washington wine industry since Ste. Read more...
Washington wine: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, Part I
This is the first in a three-part series on Washington wine. Read part II. Read Part III. There has been a great deal of handwringing and soul searching in the Washington wine industry since Ste. Read more...
Will the wine industry go sideways?
Will the wine industry be on the inside looking out or the outside looking in? Twenty years ago, Merlot was a star in the wine world. The variety was practically synonymous with a Read more...
Why can’t Hollywood hold a wine glass?
Hollywood actors are famous for their intense levels of preparation. Many actors think such steps are imperative to bring authenticity to a role, though some take it to extremes. For example, leading up to her Read more...
How much cork taint comes from sources other than the cork?
One of the myths I hear frequently about cork taint is that the cork is not necessarily the most likely culprit. While true, in theory, that cork taint can come from other sources, in practice Read more...
Wine competitions have jumped the shark
Wine competitions have long been a dubious side of the industry. Wineries submit wines along with a healthy submission fee; competitions send back shiny medals that have a strong whiff of pay-to-play, particularly as most Read more...
Is Willamette Valley “the next Napa”? Let’s hope not.
Earlier this month Time magazine named Oregon’s Willamette Valley one of the “World’s Greatest Places” of 2023. The appellation is among 50 locations and one of only six in the U.S. The headline reads “Willamette Valley, Oregon. Read more...
What’s wrong with Dry January?
One way to know that Dry January is gaining momentum is the increasing backlash against it by people in beverage alcohol industry. This year I’ve seen a truly remarkable number of brands riffing on or Read more...
Can scores be compared across publications?
I have at times been told that I am a conservative reviewer in terms of my scores. I don’t believe that to be true. Rather, I believe that differences in my scores and those from Read more...
