A White Wine for Fall and Winter (Yes, You Read That Correctly)

Posted on November 15, 2024 by The Rambling Vine

Disclosure Statement: This post contains affiliate links. When you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, I receive a commission at no additional cost to you. All opinions are my own.

Greetings, readers! It’s good to be back on the blog. The last time we spoke I was lauding the juicy scrumptiousness of blackberry wine. Then summer happened, brimming with fun in the sun, kid activities, a sickness or two, and a surgery for me. Sadly, my wine blogging ambitions had to take a backseat. Life gets busy and in those down moments it was often my desire for a nap or Netflix that won out.

But it’s time to get back to business. There are just too darn many amazing wines to write about and to try. I love the French saying, “Life’s too short to drink bad wine” but honestly the motto that resonates most with me is “So many wines, so little time.” (Anyone know where I can get that as a T-shirt of baseball cap?) 😉

Harvested grapes at David Hill Vineyards

Harvested grapes waiting to be turned into wine.

ANYWAY…. It’s November. Fall is well underway, the harvest has happened, the elections are over, and Thanksgiving is staring us in the face, just over the river and through the woods (not to fear, my Thanksgiving wine recommendation will be coming up next!). Everyone take a Deep. Calming. Breath. I’m enjoying the fact that there are still some vividly colored leaves hanging on to the trees, illuminating otherwise often-gloomy grey skies.

November to me is when we settle in collectively for a season of coziness. I’m making lots of soups for dinner, snuggling in ultra-soft blankets, and filling my coffee with pumpkin spice creamer. Cozy and homey. My wineglass lately has been full of excellent Pinot Noirs, whose lightness and complexity beg for the kind of contemplative savoring unique to fall.

But we’ll save Pinot Noir for another day… what I most want to talk to you about today is an unusual Pinot Blanc. I tried this particular wine in Oregon a month ago. It truly embodies the spirit of fall in a white wine. This Pinot Blanc is from David Hill Winery in Forest Grove, Oregon. David Hill Vineyards and Winery is LIVE certified and uses low impact, organic farming methods to pamper these special grapes and bring out their maximum potential, and the efforts pay off handsomely in delicious wines.

David Hill Vineyards & Winery, Forest Grove, OR

The day we tasted at David Hill Winery. Heaven on earth.

As I may have mentioned before, Oregon white wines have seriously captured my fancy and have been commanding plenty of attention as of late. This winery is a wonderful place to discover some phenomenal old-growth varieties and taste a spectacular array of wines.

The oldest vines in the vineyard were planted from rootstock, brought back from Alsace, France, by UC Davis graduate Charles Coury in 1965. Wines made from Coury’s plantings are part of the winery’s Discovery Series label. Some of the other intriguing varieties include Riesling, Sylvaner, Chasselas, Melon de Bourgogne, Gewürztraminer, and Pinot Noir. The Sylvaner may very well be getting its own blog post here in the future, and my husband and I are huge fans of their noble rot-affected Riesling. 😋

White wine grapes just about ready for harvest at David Hill Vineyards. Soaking up that golden sunshine.

Come get to know this Pinot Blanc that is unlike any other Pinot Blanc I’ve had to date:

David Hill Vineyards & Winery Discovery Series 2023 Block 22 Pinot Blanc
100% Estate-Grown Pinot Blanc
Get this: this wine is aged in 100% chestnut barrels. Chestnut barrel aged wines are something you don’t taste everyday. Chestnut wood barrels were used in many European wineries before a global blight wiped out a large portion of chestnut trees. So it’s a real treat to taste a wine fermented and aged in something besides oak, stainless steel, or concrete.
$32/bottle
ABV 11.28%
From the tasting notes: “Aromas of golden apple and brown pear with a hint of nectarine and river rock meet the freshness of dill and fennel to round out the nose of our 2023 Pinot Blanc.” These notes carry over to the palate “along with subtle Marcona almond” giving “a warming, comforting… textural component through the finish. This wine is reminiscent of… fall spices and late summer notes.”

Isn’t that just gorgeous? 🍂

You need this wine for light refreshment when you are outside enjoying a still-warm autumn afternoon, just as much as you need this wine when you are indoors, at night, curled up on the couch next to a fireplace, ready to relax and soak in all this wine’s autumnal glory. And it’s begging to play with fancy cheeses. 🙂 It’s got it all!

So don’t EVER put away your whites, just because it’s after Labor Day. 😉 This rich and complex Pinot Blanc is perfect for fall, winter, and beyond.

Cheers! 🙂 🥂

25 Most Wanted Wines

Food & Wine Gift Baskets

Great Bottles to Give

Buzzing with Excitement: Celebrate World Bee Day with Oppegaard Mead

Posted on May 20, 2024 by The Rambling Vine

Did you know that today – May 20 – is World Bee Day? As in the insects, not spelling bees. 🙂 Fun fact about me: I used to intentionally lose spelling bees as a kid because I knew all the words and was terrified of having to go to the state spelling bee and stand up and talk in front of other people. You might as well have told me I would be walking into an actual beehive.

But back on the apian track, or flight path. Considering the massive importance and amount of work these tiny heroes do to feed our planet, I thought it would be most appropriate to celebrate their hard work with a couple delicious mead recommendations on World Bee Day.

Just as hard cider is made from fermented apple juice, mead is an alcoholic beverage made of fermented honey and water. It dates back to ancient times, before even beer and wine had emerged on the scene. Africa is where it originated, and mead was likely the result of an accidental wild fermentation of honey. Keep in mind honey cannot ferment on its own unless a certain amount of water is added to it (otherwise we would all be getting buzzed whenever we used honey that was more than a few days old). The Vikings popularized mead in later centuries and this is the historical era which Oppegaard Meadery proudly touts.

Oppegaard Meadery hails from the hamlet of Tukwila, Washington. Owner Jon Oppegaard is super proud of his own Norwegian heritage and utilizes Viking designs on his bottle labels and Viking-themed tasting room. He offers a number of different meads, each of outstanding quality and style. From time to time he even does some wacky experiments and lets guests sample them (a number of years ago, my husband tried a taco mead made for Cinco de Mayo). 🙂

(Don’t worry, I am not blogging about taco mead today, promise). 🌮

It has been a long time since I tried these two meads but their deliciousness still haunts me (in a good way) to this day. When I drink mead, I definitely have to switch gears mentally because I can’t approach this beverage the same way as I do wine, beer, or cider. Mead shares a certain affinity with wine as its body/consistency is closer to that of wine than that of carbonated beer or cider. Alcohol levels are closer to wine, too.

Both of these beverages are technically melomels, or meads that have had fruit added to them. Oppegaard has crafted two impeccable meads that are truly delicious and dazzle with sumptuous, sweet flavors. The first is the aptly-named Dragon’s Blood Mead, which adds raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries with mead. Dark, gorgeous color, rich berry flavors, just right sweetness, nice weight on the palate. My notes from the first time I tasted this one read, “Pure awesomeness.” I still stand by that. $40/bottle.

Nectar of the Nordic gods

The Blackberry Mead, priced at $30/bottle, was perhaps my top favorite of all their meads. Local, Pacific Northwest blackberries and honey, bottled into happily-ever-after bliss. So, so enjoyable. Just go get some already.

In addition to sampling the superb meads at Oppegaard, you can attend a medieval fair in their parking lot with combat fighters, food trucks, and entertainment, meet up with your gaming friends to play some Dungeons & Dragons, or even take a class where you learn how to make your own mead. Lots of really fun and unique events to foster community, which I love to see happening. Check out their website for a complete list of goings-on.

It seems curiously fitting that Viking explorers adopted the product of another group of fellow traveler-explorers: honeybees. Honeybees go from flower to flower, gathering up their beloved nectar and pollen to create honey. Vikings went from place to place “in search of wealth and adventure on the seas. During their travels they brought mead with them to trade and consume” (Oppegaard Mead bottle description). So it’s not only something they both make to sustain themselves, but it’s a gift for others to partake in.

A toast to the Vikings for their pioneering efforts and rich legacy in the realm of mead, and to the humble honeybee, on whom we all depend and whose work is greatly revered and appreciated. Cheers! 🐝

What’s the buzz? Do you like mead? Have you tried Oppegaard or another brand? Bee opinionated – comment!

Give ‘Em the Old Razzle Dazzle: Razzamatazz Dazzles Your Taste Buds

Posted on July 3, 2023 by The Rambling Vine

Here in Washington, we are in the throes of beautiful summer weather. I imagine many of you are planning or already taking some vacations. We had planned a trip to Oregon this week which was going to include some wine tastings, but that had to be postponed due to me being diagnosed with pneumonia. Groan and groan. I am hoping to be able to make the trip sometime later once I recover.

In the mean time, you’re probably on the prowl for refreshing wines that enhance your summer moments. Let’s take a look at a breathtakingly gorgeous travel destination that also fits the bill for wine tasting, and one winery’s irresistible “summer” wine with a jazzy name.

I love the musical Chicago. It’s my all-time favorite. I’ve danced a fair amount of the choreography, saw it once live at the Paramount Theater in Seattle, and five times at the movie theater. One of my email addresses even includes the phrase, “all that jazz.” Me, obsessed? Nah. 😉

“Give ’em the old razzle dazzle” is the resounding battle cry of shyster courtroom attorney Billy Flynn, flanked by sequined and feathered showgirls. But Billy’s brand of razzle-dazzle is used to sidetrack one’s vision with a false optical illusion.

This wine, however, tastes as good as it looks; pure razzle dazzle for your taste buds! No deceptive trickery here.

Razzamatazz is a dessert wine concocted by Icicle Ridge Winery in Peshastin, WA, which is right next to Washington’s favorite Bavarian village, Leavenworth. Peshastin is in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains and is home to numerous orchards and farms, and the fruit grown in these parts is sensational. Leavenworth is home to many wonderful wineries (including an additional Icicle Ridge Winery tasting room in the heart of the town), but venture just a few minutes outside town and you can enjoy world-class views as you sip the wines at IRW’s log cabin tasting room. This is one of the most beautiful and scenic places I have ever tasted wine – add it to your wine tasting bucket list! Learn more about Icicle Ridge Winery here.

Wish I was there right now! Icicle Ridge Winery Log Cabin Tasting Room, Peshastin, WA

Few dessert wines taste as truly refreshing with authentic raspberry flavors as Razzamatazz. Fresh raspberry juice is blended with Riesling for the ultimate Washington summer wine.

This is a well-orchestrated wine that is sweet, thirst-quenching, zippy, and delicious. In the glass, this perfectly balanced wine does everything you need it to do… the sweetness from the excellent Riesling is complemented and balanced by the juice of fresh, lush, tart raspberries. A glass of this just for dessert would be incredible.

The only trouble with IRW’s dessert wines is they go down super easy so be prepared and buy at least a couple bottles. But I can’t think of a better summer treat that shows off our beautiful WA vinicultural accomplishments than this wine. This wine also pairs exceptionally well with Fourth of July fireworks displays.

Razzle Dazzle ’em! 🙂

Hats Off to the Grads: Convocation Red Blend + NW Wine Academy

Posted on June 20, 2023 by The Rambling Vine

I was driving around last Friday running errands and was amazed at how busy it was everywhere I went! It was the kickoff for Father’s Day weekend/Juneteenth/summer tourism season, the last day of school for many schools, and a booked up day for graduation ceremonies.

Here is the second part of my “dads and grads” series for June, with a focus today on graduates. I’ll introduce you to a truly unique red blend that is perfectly befitting a graduation, and uncover a lovely hidden gem near West Seattle for wine tasting. Ready?

Some weekends the urge to go wine tasting is so great, we pull the kids in the car and go off on a quest for our favorite beverage. I generally don’t like to take the kids to too many wine tastings; if unequipped they get bored and rightly so. But at the same time, when it’s just us, there’s no childcare, and Mom and Dad just want to get out for one measly half-hour tasting, I see nothing wrong with taking the kids and expecting them to practice the patience we are teaching them (of course every family is different and it won’t work for all ages and stages of kids).

Where better to practice than an institution of study… specifically wine studies! 🙂

Not too long ago on one of our weekend wine forays, we stopped by the tasting room of South Seattle College’s Northwest Wine Academy. Years ago at an old job, I sampled some of their wines at an event held at South Seattle College, and remember being so impressed I made a mental note to do a tasting there sometime. I’m just sorry it took me so long to get there!

Northwest Wine Academy offers classes in wine making, wine marketing & sales, and food & wine pairing, all taught by renowned and experienced wine industry professionals. Students can take a class or two just for fun/enrichment or earn a full-on degree or certificate. Learn more about their classes here.

And, most fun, the wine you get to enjoy is made by the students, and it’s REALLY GOOD!

While the tasting room doesn’t have a ball pit, arcade, or jungle gym for kids (that would be an amazing tasting room – I wonder if that exists somewhere?), it DOES have plenty of spacious tables to spread out at, and there is a large outdoor patio with tables that is especially great for wiggly children or those who wish to sip wine al fresco.

There are also snacks available for purchase. I think I recall seeing things like crackers, snack bars, salami, and cheese.

Another plus in my book is the ample free parking – no crazy packed wine country weekend parking nightmares here (ahem Woodinville).

At the tasting room, your tasting fee is only $8 and you get to pick 4 wines from a fairly extensive list of wines available. The pours are very generous, too (basically 4 full glasses of wine), so if you’re a lightweight make use of the dump bucket. Or just plan to be there a really long time. 🙂

The wines are very interesting and delicious, and all are made by students under the supervision of their professional winemaker teacher. For my 4 wines, I picked the Duet White (Muscat Ottonel and Riesling), a Rosé of Merlot and Pinot Gris, Merlot, and Convocation Red Blend. My husband tried the Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon so between the two of us we sampled all the reds. There’s my little lineup below….

Wine tasting at Northwest Wine Academy, South Seattle College

We went home with the Syrah and the Convocation Red Blend, which I thought would make the perfect bottle of red wine to gift your (21+ age graduate)! 🙂

Northwest Wine Academy Convocation Red Blend Washington State

$19/bottle
64% Merlot, 26% Blaufränkisch (which is also known as Lemberger), 10% Mundy Red field blend (a field blend is where two or more types of grapes are grown together in the same vineyard and then harvested and fermented together)
13.5% ABV
Really pretty deep ruby with a little crimson/garnet
Blueberry, blackberry, black cherry, nice background spice and some kind of herbal note (thyme/rosemary/sage?)
Lovely and sophisticated nose – perfect for the accomplished and erudite graduate in your life
Approachable yet refined
Plenty of tartness and mouthwatering acidity
Strong tannic finish that makes a lasting impression
Winemaker tasting notes: “Aromas of black currants and cloves with hints of tobacco. Medium body and acid with lingering black cherries on the palate.”

What I like about this blend is it’s a sort of triptych of an academic journey: the Merlot represents the old-fashioned/classic/traditional, the Blaufränkisch is like the unique individuality a student brings to their education, and the field blend represents the unknown future/element of mystery. Not sure if that was what the winemakers intended or not, but it seemed symbolic to me.

Before or after your wine tasting, wander over to the Campus Arboretum, which is home to numerous specialty gardens, including rose, tropical, conifer, perennials (among many others), and the Seattle Chinese Garden. All gardens are open every day from dawn until dusk, and are free admission. Gardens are managed by students of South Seattle College’s Landscape Horticulture Program.

Here is the complete listing of gardens and walking map.

South Seattle College Campus Arboretum Walking Map

Walk around in a beautiful and peaceful setting as your kids run around exploring and as you metabolize your wine. 😉

DO NOT MISS THIS PART OF YOUR VISIT!

Building in Seattle Chinese Garden at South Seattle College

Check out the Northwest Wine Academy Tasting Room for a special tasting experience for your grad or dad and for enjoyable Washington wines. Your purchases support the next generation of winemakers! And that is an important investment as anything.

Congratulations, graduates! Put your feet up and sip some NW Wine Academy wine, you’ve earned it! 🙂

Tasting Room at Northwest Wine Academy, South Seattle College

Wine in Sacred Places

Posted on May 29, 2023 by The Rambling Vine

In Which I Discover Phenomenal Cabernet from Mosquito Fleet Winery

Do you have those sacred places on earth where you feel at home, or somehow closer to heaven because of the beauty of the place? Is it a beach, a mountain, a cute small town? Hood Canal, WA is one such place that holds a special spot in my heart. My great-grandparents built a cabin out on a piece of property right on the water, and it’s still standing and in the family! It has been a huge part of my life, from childhood through parenthood. It’s been a refuge, especially during the pandemic when we were isolating and being careful. A place to fully relax and be.

My sacred place… Hood Canal

In recent years, every time my husband and I would drive out for some down time at the cabin, we would pass by a tasting room in Belfair with “Mosquito Fleet Winery” printed in elegant script across the building, tempting us with the prospect of delicious wine. A wine-tasting room to me is like an iPad to a kid – very very hard to resist! 🙂 Every time we passed it we said to ourselves, “We’ve got to stop in there sometime.” But with young children in tow, and often on a tight schedule, it just didn’t happen.

Well, we finally DID stop in – last summer, I believe. Our kids were with us but they are older and better able to handle the occasional wine tasting with Mom and Dad every once in a while. It’s not like it takes all day to sip 5 or 6 wine pours… it’s good to learn some patience and that the day is not just about what they want to do. The people working at the tasting room were very kind and even gave the kids some popcorn and juice for a snack.

I should pause a second and give you a quick bit of history on the winery’s name. And I must say, it’s nice to have a Washington state winery pay tribute to local history rather than donning an awkward mock French name like Château Belfair or Domaine du Canal. 🙂 Also, while there are literal fleets of mosquitos at Hood Canal (I wish they didn’t love me quite so much – must be the wine in my bloodstream?), the name has no connection to that ecological fact. 😉

For those of you unfamiliar with the name, Mosquito Fleet refers to the fleet of various steamboats that transported people and cargo throughout the many waterways of Washington state, from the inlets of Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands, from the 1840s until about the 1950s. Mosquito Fleet Winery honors the spirit of bringing people together through their wines. I love it!

Anyway, hubby and I each did a tasting and enjoyed the wines presented. We wound up going home with a gorgeous bottle of Mosquito Fleet Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2019. To me, this was a standout wine – the kind of excellent Washington Cabernet Sauvignon you can pull out and enjoy with an equally excellent steak dinner, or simply to savor uninhibited. Perfect for Memorial Day BBQ fare, I may add.

Here are the details of this particular wine:

Divine wine from Hood Canal: Mosquito Fleet Winery Cabernet Sauvignon

355 cases produced
$45/bottle
13.8% ABV
95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc
From the winemaker: “A beautiful Cabernet Sauvignon with notes of blueberry, blackberry and anise. It has a beautifully full mouthfeel with nice, juicy acids and beautifully rounded out tannins that linger. It was aged predominantly in new French oak barrels which lend a nice aroma of oak and elegance.”
My impression: superb fruit, rich yet elegant, appealing texture, noteworthy balance – a wine of outstanding quality! ❤

Mosquito Fleet Winery prides itself on producing wines that are “hand-crafted with time-tested ‘Old World’ winemaking techniques of centuries past. This small lot, labor intensive approach helps produce memorable wines and memorable times for any occasion.”

As someone who just purchased a very disappointing bottle of cheap-sad-crap-red from the grocery store for our latest excursion to the Canal (I’ll blame the economy, whether I’m justified or not), I understand and appreciate the effort that goes into crafting fine Cabernet Sauvignon using the best fruit, the best winemaking techniques, and new French oak barrels. There is such a difference, and while I can’t afford to drink higher-priced wines every day (let’s be real, I don’t drink wine every day), if I want to experience real pleasure from a wine, I usually have to spend a bit more. But it’s well worth it. There truly is nothing like a truly fine wine. Truly. 🙂

Hood Canal is a beautiful place to relax and unwind, especially with a visit to Mosquito Fleet Winery thrown in. Go try it sometime. Maybe it will become one of your special places. ❤

Full disclosure: this was not Mosquito Fleet Cab, rather, ’twas a bland and mediocre substitute, but I was still determined to enjoy my time at the beach! 🙂

Let’s toast to those who made the greatest sacrifice on this Memorial Day 2023. ❤

Special thanks to Jacquie for your assistance in answering my questions!

Table for 12: Dishing Up Cooking and Community

Posted on May 8, 2023 by The Rambling Vine

¡Ay, caramba! We’ve had a whirlwind tour of Mexico this past week, haven’t we? Maybe you’ve whipped up a Prickly Pear Margarita or considered trying some Mexican wine. Well, this week I’m wrapping it up with one last post focused on one of the world’s greatest cuisines: Mexican food.

The simple things are often the best things, and to me Mexican food is perennially popular because the ingredients are specific to Mexican land and culture but they are simple, wholesome, and flavorful, which gives the cuisine broad appeal.

If you follow me on Facebook and Twitter, you may have seen some photos I shared a while ago about a certain cooking class. That was in April, and so today here is the post I promised. Enjoy! (Hint, hint, this event makes a great Mother’s Day present for those shopping for the occasion.) 😉

Table for 12
Edmonds, Washington

My mom treated me and my husband to a night out in Edmonds at Table for 12, a recently-opened studio kitchen in which to take group cooking classes and also the home of food production company, 12 Tomatoes. Check out their drool-worthy videos on their YouTube channel! I’m fixing on making something from them soon.

The theme of our class was Street Taco Table. All of us rallied around the table and every person had a hand in creating this gigantic, awesome feast. The vibe is relaxed and all about being together and having fun while cooking, not trying to be Master Chefs. And whaddya know, we also learned some better cooking techniques too while having fun. 🙂

We each had several things to do throughout the night: I chopped veggies for salsa, shredded lettuce, made vinaigrette, and tossed salad, among other things. I also got to fry tortilla strips for the salad, which was good practice for me to deep fry without fear (I avoid deep frying in my home kitchen). My husband also chopped produce, roasted veggies for salsa, and helped make tortillas.

Chef Dom did a great job explaining our tasks and delegating just the right amount of work to each person. It’s great to have access to a professional chef for 3 hours to ask any and all your nagging cooking questions! I should also mention they pay the highest attention to hygiene and safety for all their events at Table for 12, and that all levels of cooking experience (or lack thereof!) are welcome.

I’ve been to a number of cooking classes and demonstrations over the years… ones where you are required to stand and cook most of the time, others where you are seated and watching a chef create magic. This event struck a happy balance between watching and learning from the chef-expert and getting to practice cooking skills (i.e. chopping, sautéing, etc.) – just the right amount of activity at each end of the spectrum. One cooking class I took in the past had me standing and hustling most of the night, with little to no chance to sit down. It was interesting and fun but tiring. This was definitely not tiring, with plenty of time to cook, seated or standing, and plenty of time to sit down and sip our wine or beer (or muy deliciosa agua fresca). 🙂

The event ran from 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm. Because you don’t eat the dinner until 9:30 pm or later that night, I recommend adjusting your eating schedule the day of your event and either have a late big lunch in the afternoon or normal lunch and then a light snack or meal to tide you over until later. We did have chips and salsa to nosh on, but the point is to be cooking, not sitting and dining.

All classes are limited to 12 people, and since there were about 4 no shows, we had a slightly smaller group. Group size is a very important factor for an event: just the right amount to get to know folks, but also not so few that all the work falls on a couple people. Can I also say how thankful I am to be back in person, out and about doing things with other humans after COVID? It’s so great. ❤

Street Taco Table
Table for 12
Edmonds, Washington

Here is the menu. Everything was fresh, colorful, flavorful, and delicious. It proved to us how relatively easy it is to prepare Mexican food at home that tastes WAY BETTER. We are not shy about making our own tortillas now. We got to take home printed copies of the recipes and we also got to take home leftover food. We gave it to my mom and she verified it was excellent. 🙂

Street Taco Table Menu

Crunchy Green Taco Salad
This is what salad is all about: rainbow colors, flavors, and textures. I could eat this salad every day. Sorry I don’t have a better picture of the salad; above it’s buried under other food.
Dry-Rubbed Carne Asada with Fresh Flour Tortillas and Salsa Roja
Carne Asada was terrific. The salsa was fantastic. The freshly made tortillas beat anything I’ve bought at the store. Going to be making these at home.
Spanish Rice and Brothy Beans
This was not your average rice n’ beans snooze fest from your average Mexican restaurant. Hearty and with amped up flavor. ❤
Mango Tres Leches with Fresh Mango and Salted Whipped Cream
Even though I was getting quite stuffed after the main meal, I still saved a little room for dessert, and am I glad I did! This dessert was amazing not just for taste, but it was light and refreshing after a hefty meal – how many cake recipes do you know of that can achieve that after dinner?

Mango Tres Leches Cake
Table for 12
Edmonds, Washington

While this was not a wine event per se, our tickets included two beverages (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) for the evening. We also had the option of purchasing additional beverages or bottles à la carte. I had a glass of both their featured white and red wines, which came from the excellent wine shop next door, Arista Wine Cellars (they are listed on my Places to Taste page). The white was the 2021 Domaine De L’arfentiere, Macon Uchizy Chardonnay Burgundy France and the red was the 2020 Mark Ryan Lu & Oly Red Blend Columbia Valley Washington. Both super delicious wines I enjoyed that each went very well with our Mexican cuisine.

Want to know something super cool? You can even take FREE CLASSES from Chef Dom online. He offers a wide variety of topics and recipes. Great option especially if you are out of town. Here is a class happening this Wednesday: Southern Comfort.

Personally, while I’m thankful for technology, nothing beats the in-person experience, so please take a look at their current classes, gather some friends (or go solo and make friends!) and go to a live class. Prices as of May 2023 are $99/person before tax and tip.

¡Salud! 🙂

Muchas gracias a mi madre por una noche sabrosa y divertida. ❤

Willows Lodge Secret Supper Series at Barking Frog with Côte Bonneville Wines

Posted on April 10, 2023 by The Rambling Vine

Disclosure Statement: This post contains affiliate links. When you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, I receive a commission at no additional cost to you. All opinions are my own.

Spoiled. Utterly spoiled to the hilt. That was my March 2023, and I am not complaining. I hit every single possible type of wine event last month – a wine festival, a tasting, a seminar, a wine club event, and an unforgettable, luxuriously indulgent multi-course wine and food pairing dinner, generously provided by my exceedingly gracious in-laws. That dinner was the Secret Supper Club at Barking Frog Restaurant, featuring Côte Bonneville wines.

About Barking Frog/Chef Dylan Herrick
Willows Lodge is a luxury hotel in the heart of Woodinville (WA) wine country (which boasts over 130 wineries!), and Barking Frog is its signature restaurant. Here is what makes Barking Frog special:

“Barking Frog is a culinary experience known for innovative seasonal menus, award-winning global wines and its signature ambiance. When you pair this with our exceptional service it is easy to see why it is one of the most widely desired restaurants on the eastside.

In collaboration with local farmers, food artisans and foragers, Executive Chef Dylan Herrick has built a talented culinary team that draws its mastery from modern and classic techniques, creating dishes that are inventive yet timeless.”

In addition, Barking Frog has received Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence for five consecutive years. No bad wine here!

The Secret Supper Series is an opportunity for Chef Dylan Herrick to be creative and come up with some fantastic dishes that he pairs with the equally fantastic wines of a featured winemaker; in this case, Cote Bônneville Winemaker Kerry Shiels. The collaboration between a chef and winemaker is akin to a dancer and a musician working together – two diverse but essential elements needed to create a masterpiece. The congruity of the food and wine was outstanding. Mind and taste buds blown.

About Côte Bonneville Wines/Winemaker Kerry Shiels
Côte Bonneville is an estate winery located on world-renowned DuBrul Vineyard in Sunnyside, WA, in the Yakima Valley AVA. In 1991, Hugh and Kathy Shiels (parents of current winemaker Kerry Shiels) purchased some land and tore out the existing apple orchard. In 1992 they planted DuBrul Vineyard. According to their website, DuBrul Vineyard is “consistently recognized as one of the top vineyards in Washington State…. DuBrul Vineyard designated wines, from Côte Bonneville and others, have consistently been well received by critics and sought after by consumers world wide.” Grapes grown here have unique flavors and structure that put them in the class of ultra-premium wines. Côte Bonneville Winery was founded in 2001 to “produce classically styled wines that best express our particular site.” Learn more about DuBrul Vineyard and Côte Bonneville.

Kerry was great to talk to and learn from. A former engineer turned winemaker, she received her master’s degree in viticulture and enology from UC Davis. After gaining winemaking experience in California, Australia, and Argentina, she came home and got to work as head winemaker at Côte Bonneville in 2009. She brings exacting precision, immense knowledge, excellence, and the utmost care to her winemaking and her wines show it.

An interesting fact I learned about Kerry’s vineyard crew is that they are all women. This is unusual since over 75% of winery workers are male. She told me they tend to be “more nurturing and detail-oriented in the vineyard. They take great pride in helping grow some of the best grapes in the state!”

The Dinner
This was so much fun! There were only 9 of us guests total, 11 counting Kerry and Dylan. In my opinion, this is the perfect group size for an intimate evening, and being able to actually talk to each other and get to know each other proved very pleasant. It was also nice to be able to hear the discussions, and not be trying to shout above the din, like at a loud, crowded event. We were able to ask questions of Dylan and Kerry, and had great conversations. The service was impeccable so a big thank you to the team that served our group that evening.

Every wine I tried was pure loveliness and went beautifully with the food pairings. It was a flavor celebration from start to finish. I probably moaned, rolled my eyes, and made hand gestures a lot, but I can’t help it when I have amazing food and wine!

Here is the menu and my review of the meal. I am missing a description and photo for the starter, but it was super tasty. I did not photograph the wines, but I assure you I drank them (I think you can imagine what a glass of cab or chardonnay looks like)! 😉

Roes & Rosé
Cured Salmon/Trout Roe/Citrus Panna Cotta/Local Honey Espuma
2022 Côte Bonneville Rosé

Roes and Rose course, Barking Frog Woodinville Secret Supper, March 2023

The Rosé is made from Cabernet Franc grapes that are grown specifically for becoming Rosé wine, not for making Cab Franc wine or to be blended with other red grapes. Deep, beautiful fruit aromas, medium body, bright acidity. An intriguing wine and perfect pairing with the salmon and trout roe. Welcome spring!

Five-Spice Sakura Pork
Indian Curry-Spiced Romesco/Pomegranate/Arugula/Pineapple Kombucha Caramel
2019 Côte Bonneville Chardonnay

Five-Spice Sakura Pork course, Barking Frog Woodinville Secret Supper, March 2023

Holy cow (or should I say, holy swine). This was my favorite food of the night. I am going to have to get creative and re-create this flavor palette at home sometime. Classy, rich pairing with the chardonnay. Hats off to Chef Dylan on this one!

Roasted Wild Mushrooms
Currant/Chimacum Valley Chimatomme/Potato Glass/Toasted Rice Oil
2012 Côte Bonneville Cabernet Sauvignon

Roasted Wild Mushrooms course, Barking Frog Woodinville Secret Supper, March 2023

My absolute favorite wine of the night had to be the Cabernet Sauvignon. There were zero faults with this wine: it was smooth, full, rich, pure, balanced, complex, elegant – basically every positive adjective you can throw at a fine wine. Because it’s an epic $200 bottle of wine, it probably won’t make my acquaintance again for a while. I didn’t know the price of the wine until I looked it up afterwards, but I could definitely tell I was drinking something extremely special in a whole other league of wine. Brava, Kerry!

Intermezzo (a palate refresher between bites)

Intermezzo, Barking Frog Woodinville Secret Supper, March 2023

The Intermezzo was one of the more memorable things I’ve consumed in a long time. This is not a complete list, but it did include kiwi juice, pop rocks, basil seeds, foam, etc. It hit every last pleasant taste bud receptor on the tongue and every food texture sensation. Wow and yum! I can still taste it.

Whey-Braised Lamb Shoulder
Vanilla Scented Parsnip/Fennel Two Ways/Cocoa Nib Hummus/Yogurt Drizzle
2014 Côte Bonneville Syrah

Whey-Braised Lamb Shoulder course, Barking Frog Woodinville Secret Supper, March 2023

Another delicious dish with delicious wine. The lamb, with the cocoa, vanilla, and yogurt flavors played very well with the Syrah.

Lemon Pound Cake
Chamomile Noodles/Citrus Salad/Mandarin Caramel/Lemon Curd
2009 Côte Bonneville Late Harvest Riesling

Lemon Pound Cake course, Barking Frog Woodinville Secret Supper, March 2023

I am a chocolate lover so the dessert I could have easily passed on (and I’ll be honest, the look of the noodles was a bit off-putting), but the flavors did make for an excellent pairing with the Riesling. The Late Harvest Riesling reminded me of Tokaji (toe-kai), the famed Hungarian dessert wine. Just enchanting. ❤

News/In Sum
If you love wine (check) and food (check) and pairing the two (check), Barking Frog will soon be rolling out some new food and wine pairing menus, presumably featuring slightly smaller food portions similar to this multi-course dinner format. The aim is to present foods that will complement featured wines and deepen their enjoyment through pairing. I would love to go back again, if not for a winemaker dinner, then at least to try these new pairing menus. Keep tabs on their happenings here.

If you’d like to know more about Barking Frog’s Secret Supper Club, you can request an invitation by emailing barkingfrogevents@willowslodge.com. These events are not published on their website so you will need to be on their email list. Expect to spend approximately $285/person plus tax and gratuity.

Check out Côte Bonneville’s current releases – they can be shipped around the country. Information on their tasting room hours can be found here. You can also purchase their Carriage House Red Blend through my affiliate link at wine.com.

A tasting out at Côte Bonneville is a must on my spring or summer to-do list!

Special thanks to Rich and Dustin for snapping pics while I lived in the moment. 🙂

Blind Tasting Seminar: Washington vs. the World

Posted on April 3, 2023 by The Rambling Vine

Disclosure Statement: This post contains affiliate links. When you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, I receive a commission at no additional cost to you. All opinions are my own.

UFC fanatics thrill when two top contenders have a highly anticipated match. With similar fervor, oenophiles get excited over blind wine tastings. Which Sauvignon Blanc will come out on top… the Chilean or the Washingtonian? Should Bordeaux from France hold the keys to the chateau, or does victory belong to another rival? There’s nothing quite like squaring off two anonymous glasses of vino to see what they’re really made of.

I had the great fortune to attend a blind tasting seminar in Seattle at Taste Washington, the state’s premier food and wine festival. For those unfamiliar with blind tasting, it simply means being able to see, smell, and drink a glass of wine but not knowing any details at all about the identity of the wine until the very end of the tasting. In this seminar, called “Washington vs. the World: The Ultimate Blind Tasting,” several of the best Washington wines were pitted against several of the best wines of other famous world regions. Here was the course description:

“Washington wine continues to captivate a global audience. From incredibly high scores from critics, and growing international investment in our state, this has become THE place to make wine. The number of those considered ‘legends’ in Washington wine is increasing at a rapid clip, and the wines they produce continue to cannonball onto the world stage. This is your chance to get into the heart of the action with the winemakers, themselves, and take a deep dive into some of our state’s most chart-topping wines. We’ll even take it one step further by putting some of them up against the best from around the world so you can decide for yourself where Washington stands.”

Taste Washington 2023 Blind Tasting Seminar Panel

Members of the panel for the Taste Washington 2023 seminar, “Washington vs. the World: The Ultimate Blind Tasting”

The seminar was moderated by Doug Charles, owner of award-winning wine shop Compass Wines in Anacortes, WA (on my list to visit!). The rest of the panel included Washington winemakers and a wine educator/writer, all of whom were also tasting the wines blind:

Peter Devison | Devison Vintners
Jason Gorski | DeLille Cellars
Devyani Gupta | Valdemar Estates
Justin Neufeld | JB Neufeld
Alex Stewart | Matthews
Elaine Chukan Brown | Award-Winning Global Wine Educator & Writer

We went through each wine one by one, with plenty of time to swirl/sniff/sip/savor/spit (if needed), jot down notes, and listen to the panel share their thoughts on the wines. It was also open to audience participation, so we were able to ask questions and share feedback. The whole event ran for an hour and a half.

Here were the wines we tried (order in picture: 1-5 is bottom row left to right, then 6-10 is top row left to right):

Château Picque Caillou, Blanc, Pessac-Léognan, 2017, $42
DeLille, Chaleur Blanc, Columbia Valley, 2021, $42
Devison, Above the Flood, GSM, Boushey Vineyard, Yakima Valley, 2020, $54
Sadie Family, Soldaat, Piekenierskloof, 2021, $92
Matthews, Reserve, Columbia Valley, 2013, $55
Château La Fleur, Grand Cru, Saint-Émilion, 2019, $146
Grgich Family, Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, 2018, $75
JB Neufeld, Old Goat Cabernet Sauvignon, Yakima Valley, 2016, $55
Valdemar, Syrah, Blue Mountain Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley, 2020, $75
Porseleinberg, Syrah, Swartland, 2016, $102

Wines used in Taste Washington 2023 seminar, “Washington vs. the World: The Ultimate Blind Tasting”

I enjoyed each wine for different reasons, but if I had to pick a couple that really stood out to me, I’d pick #3 and #9. These are wines I would pour a nice big glass of and relax with on the couch, or pour for company to savor together. Both featured wonderful Washington Syrah (from Yakima Valley and Walla Walla Valley, respectively), and I appreciated getting to try a couple different producers I’d never had before.

Thanks to all my studious drinking, I did happen to guess all of the Washington and other origin wines correctly (not the other locations specifically, just that they were clearly not Washington). It has definitely helped that I have been trying wines from around the world through The Everyday Guide to Wine course (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases) so some of these flavor profiles and styles were not completely out of left field. I also know my own backyard Washington wines well enough by now to be confident in my assessment. This was a really great exercise for me to do and it was worth the investment ($95 for the event). Considering several of the bottles sampled were very costly, it was a small price to pay for the chance to try these wines and others, and to hear experts discuss them simultaneously. I hope to attend another seminar next year.

A few things I learned from this experience:

A couple wines reeked on the nose but tasted amazing on the palate. That was surprising. I’ve had wines with Brett (Brettanomyces yeast) – the funky barnyard/Band-Aid smell – and I usually appreciate it, but not everyone does. I did not mind it in the #7. The other unusual trait I hadn’t encountered before was volatile acidity (I think – I am not 100% certain on this – my notes failed me). All I know was that one of the wines had a highly unusual, pungent note on the nose, but on the palate was delicious. Funny how that works.
Washington wine is insanely brilliant and is perhaps my all-time favorite wine region. So many fantastic iterations and interpretations. So good it’s scary.
I will never learn everything there is to learn about wine… it is endless. Perfect material for a blog! ❤

Have any of you ever participated in blind wine tastings? Or did anyone attend Taste Washington this year (2023)? Comment below!

World Taste Tour – Only $59.99 for 12 globetrotting wines, BONUS bottles and glasses

McMinnville Wine + Food Classic 2023: A Review

Posted on March 24, 2023 by The Rambling Vine

On Friday, March 10th, I got up early and hit the road to make the journey down to McMinnville, Oregon, where the 30th Annual McMinnville Wine + Food Classic was taking place. I had not been since 2019, so the absence had definitely compounded my excitement.

This event goes for three days (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) at the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum, and is a fundraiser for St. James School in McMinnville, OR. You can purchase tickets for as many days as you like. They even offer shuttle service from downtown McMinnville to the Museum.

McMinnville Wine + Food Classic 2023, Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum. Photo courtesy Eagle Eye Droneography.

There are tons of wineries, but also distilleries, cideries, meaderies, breweries (all the eez). There is obviously food, and a handful of artisans and crafters. You can peruse all of the 2023 participating vendors here.

I tried numerous pours of wine. I would have loved to have tried some other alcoholic products but stuck to my original plan (maybe next year).

Your ticket purchase includes two tasting tokens. At most places, one token is equal to one pour, but for certain specialty and library wines, two or even three tokens might be required. I wound up purchasing 15 additional tokens, and that was MORE than enough. Having an additional day or two to try more wines would be ideal but I could only attend one day.

Tasting tokens for the McMinnville Wine + Food Classic 2023, Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum. Photo courtesy Eagle Eye Droneography.

I obviously was not able to try every single wine and winery at the festival, but out of the ones I did, here are five wineries and their wines that stood out to me, and that you would not be remiss in checking out. Please note that at some of these vendors I only tried one pour, so this is based on the limited amount I tried that day. I also would have loved to have purchased more bottles but, alas, budgets. 🙂

Denison Cellars 2019 Björnson Vineyard Pinot Noir: This wine really captivated me. Their Pinot was elegant, complex, expressive, beautiful. I sure wish I could have tasted their full line-up but I was trying to spread my tasting tokens out to try more wineries. Time to plan a private tasting at their vineyard in Salem! From the tasting notes: “The resulting wine is deep ruby in color and displays aromas of black cherry, pomegranate, and cranberry. With hints of cola and all-spice, the ripe, velvety tannins provide structure for rich, mouth-filling volume. Flavors of dark red fruit persist into a lingering finish.” $48/bottle. *Of special note for Oregonians: FREE LOCAL DELIVERY for those in Yamhill County, Salem, and Portland with any 3+ bottle purchase. I cannot wait to return and taste more of their wines.
Patton Valley Wines 2018 Lange Vineyard Pinot Noir: Patton Valley has been a brand for over 25 years, but at the moment they are a nomadic winery with no permanent tasting room. I think that’s cool because I’m sure it allows them to save a ton of money and put that towards great winemaking; plus it’s a chance to get creative and have some fun, different tasting options. This was a delicious Pinot Noir I decided to take home as well. $55/bottle. According to the tasting notes, it has a “lush red fruited nose” and a “broad and silky palate.” This is a winery whose offerings you must try if you’re into specific Pinot Noir clones from particular Willamette Valley area vineyards. Visit their website to order wines and to learn where they are pouring.
Domaine de Broglie 2019 Clone 777 Pinot Noir: Established in 2019, Domaine de Broglie is a more recent newcomer to the Dundee Hills AVA. This estate is owned by Francis Ford Coppola and was previously Vista Hills Vineyard. At the 2023 McMinnville Wine Competition, this showstopper wine took home Best of Show, Best Red Wine, and Double Gold! Uh-huh. Here are the tasting notes, you’ll see why: “Aromas of mushrooms, cedar, and forest floor mingle with sweeter aromas of vanilla coffee. A savory, well rounded palate counterpointed with notes of strawberries, red fruit, and salted caramel. An outstanding wine, showcasing the range of expression found in Oregon Pinot Noir.” $62/bottle, 100% Pinot Noir. This wine is music in a glass! This is the indulgence bottle. I did take this beauty home. (I also recall a tried a very enchanting Chardonnay).
Rue Cler 2019 Rocks Syrah: Oh, wow! This is one I will be buying in the future, so intriguing and delicious. $48/bottle, sourced from Noble Rock Vineyard in Milton-Freewater, OR. From the tasting notes: “Black fruit takes a backseat to savory meats, crushed violets and brine…. Huckleberries and wet stone give great acid that lingers on the finish…. Decant to discover layers of earth and umami in your glass.” If you like wines with savory flavors and plenty going on, you’ll love this! Side note: I did not try their Walla Walla Syrah, but one of my tasting companions did and she kept going back for more sips. 🙂
Siltstone 2021 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir: What I especially enjoyed about Siltstone Wines was they make a very good, very drinkable Pinot Noir for $24/bottle. You’re greeted with aromas of cherry, red fruit, and vanilla spice on the nose, and flavors of cherry cola and plum on the palate. The wine is medium-bodied with balanced tannins and a soft smoky finish. As much as I love ultra-fine, premium Pinot Noirs, I just can’t afford them all the time, and I’ll bet you can’t, either. And while $24 for a bottle of wine is a lot for many people (especially right now), when you look at overall pricing for good quality Pinot Noir, you’ll see that it’s very difficult to find GOOD stuff like this in this price range. This is a bargain for lovely Pinot Noir. I also would love to try more of their wines someday.

This event is a great way to get acquainted with a variety of fantastic Willamette Valley wineries all under one roof, and a great excuse to do something fun with your friends.

Have you been to the McMinnville Wine + Food Classic? If so, what did you try and like there? Comment below!

Definitely the best dressed guest! Photo courtesy Eagle Eye Droneography.

At First Blush: Evoke Winery Heralds First Day of Spring

Posted on March 20, 2023 by The Rambling Vine

A Perfect Springtime Sipper: Evoke Winery’s Blush Wine

At last, it’s the first day of spring! Release the doves and explode the confetti! Seriously, give yourself a pat on the back for getting through the winter. Western Washington has it pretty easy weather-wise compared to many other parts of the world, but the increase in daylight hours and sunshine so far has been more than welcome.

Sure, spring brings its fair share of rainy days for the foreseeable future, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s a new season; one of freshness, greenery, new growth, colorful and sweet-smelling flowers. Clearly, we need a wine to match the fast-approaching debut of daffodils, cherry blossoms, and tulips. And I cannot think of anything that epitomizes spring better than Evoke Winery’s Talk Flirty to Me Blush Wine.

Yes, you heard me correctly, I said blush wine. And why not? When was the last time you had a blush wine, or, have you ever even had a blush wine? I remember the bygone era when my parents kept boxes of Franzia White Zinfandel (blush wine) in our basement fridge.

And no, blush wine is not rosé. Read on for the juicy details….

Rosé wine can be made in a range of styles from dry (no sweetness on the palate) to sweet (where, obviously, you taste sweet). Pretty much all wine grapes, even red ones, have white flesh inside, not red (Alicante Bouschet is a notable exception). So a rosé wine is made by allowing the red skins to impart some color (longer time contributes to more intense color) to the grape juice, but then the skins are separated from the juice and do not ferment with the juice as it becomes wine (otherwise it would be red wine).

Blush wine, on the other hand, can have pink color like rosé, but instead of being dry it is sweet, with stronger fruit flavors and softer texture. Blush wine in particular is a good route to go if you are just starting out in wine (it’s sweet, aromatic, approachable) but experienced wine drinkers should not overlook the vernal charms of blush wine, either.

To be honest, I am not a huge rosé fan. There have been some standouts, but they generally leave me annoyed, because I see the pink color and naturally expect some sweetness, then I’m let down by drinking dry white wine with pink color. It messes with my brain! Blush wine is more my cup of tea (er, glass of wine).

I love “serious” wine – wine that offers up so many aromas, flavors, and textures you have a lot to ponder as you consume it – but I also really love it when people have FUN with wine and get creative with names and descriptions. Case in point: Evoke Winery, based out of Hood River, Oregon (which used to be called Naked Winery years ago – see my post on their Chardonnay from back in the day or their Oh! Orgasmic Barbera). I love their motto – “Northwest Wines for Fun People.” They can be silly with their wines because what is in the bottle, truth be told, is SERIOUSLY GOOD WINE. No need to try and impress or come across as serious – the wine speaks for itself.

According to their website, “Evoke Winery is an Oregon-based winery with a big personality – and a little something for everyone. From full-bodied reds (like our Penetration Cabernet Sauvignon) to the best-tasting rosé wine (like our fan-favorite Our Cliché Rosé), it’s our mission to make feel-good wines for whatever the times.”

Those words couldn’t be more true. Check out their wide selection of wines, there really is something on here for every palate.

Evoke Winery has three tasting rooms in Oregon (Hood River, Bend, and Seaside) and one in Vancouver, Washington, which just opened a few days ago. Lots of great options and excuses for getting out and seeing what the fun is all about.

Evoke Winery Talk Flirty to Me Sweet Blush Wine

Stop it, you’re making me blush!
Photo courtesy Evoke Winery

So on to the wine at hand:

Evoke Winery Talk Flirty to Me Sweet Blush Wine Columbia Valley 2020
$28/bottle
13.5% ABV, Residual Sugar 6
Varietals used: Viognier, Muscat, Petite Sirah
Aged 3 months in stainless steel
Medium body, semi-sweet
Soft and dreamy, low acidity
I got aromas/flavors of strawberry, peach, and orange blossom. Heavenly!
Evoke says: “Evokes notes of marmalade, peach rings, and hitting your data limit.”
Evoke also suggests pairing this with strawberry shortcake or rhubarb strudel à la mode.

This wine smacks of springtime perfection. Just writing about it is making me thirsty!

Happy First Day of Spring, readers! Go try some Talk Flirty to Me Sweet Blush Wine and share it with your favorite flirty people IRL.

Special thanks to Shelly at Evoke Winery for your enthusiasm and help answering my questions! 🙂

The Rambling Vine

Wine, Wit, Whimsy

Category Archives: Must Visit Destination

A White Wine for Fall and Winter (Yes, You Read That Correctly)

Buzzing with Excitement: Celebrate World Bee Day with Oppegaard Mead

Give ‘Em the Old Razzle Dazzle: Razzamatazz Dazzles Your Taste Buds

Hats Off to the Grads: Convocation Red Blend + NW Wine Academy

Wine in Sacred Places

Table for 12: Dishing Up Cooking and Community

Willows Lodge Secret Supper Series at Barking Frog with Côte Bonneville Wines

Blind Tasting Seminar: Washington vs. the World

McMinnville Wine + Food Classic 2023: A Review

At First Blush: Evoke Winery Heralds First Day of Spring

Share through the grapevine:

Share through the grapevine:

Share through the grapevine:

Share through the grapevine:

Share through the grapevine:

Share through the grapevine:

Share through the grapevine:

Share through the grapevine:

Share through the grapevine:

Share through the grapevine: