Category Archives: Past Articles
LaConner’s Silver Bell is Everything a Boutique Winery Should Be
Located about 45 minutes south of Bellingham, the town of LaConner has a variety of amenities that make it a great day-trip destination. There’s a nice folksy/artsy feel to this community, with a handful of bed and breakfasts, inns and restaurants and, most importantly for us wineophiles, a terrific little winery. I first visited Alan […]
Stand-Alone Varietal or Blend: Washington Syrah Finds its Niche
Last February I wrote about the virtues of Washington syrah, a somewhat underappreciated varietal that still takes a back seat to cabernet sauvignon and merlot as a distant third in the state’s red wine production. That isn’t to say the grape hasn’t continued to grow in popularity and earn its share of recognition. There’s been […]
Ginkgo Forest a Key Winery in Washington’s Wahluke Slope Region
Washington’s isolated Wahluke Slope Appellation probably doesn’t get as much press as it deserves. Today, I’ll do what I can to help correct that. It’s easy to get to: follow Interstate 90 eastbound past Ellensburg, take a right after you cross the Columbia River, and head south about 20 miles to the tiny town of […]
Proper Food & Wine Pairings Can Make All the Difference
Question: Can pairing wine with food make the wine taste better? Answer: Yes! The proper food pairing can turn a so-so wine into one that’s a pleasure to drink and make a good wine taste absolutely amazing. The secret lies in the basic elements of taste in both the food and the wine. In their […]
Victor Palencia Returns to Walla Walla to Launch Promising New Winery
What better time to introduce a new Washington winery than at the start of the New Year. In fact, Palencia Wine Company is so new its web site is still a work in progress. I’ve been fortunate enough to have an opportunity to taste the first wines from this promising, winery to watch. They’ll be […]