The Wine Knows blogs

The Spectator effect

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:35:48 -0500

I'd like to think that our little magazine has some kind of effect on a winery's future. In fact, when we recommend a wine, there can be a bump in sales, and when we feature someone, the winery sees an effect.

But it's tiny compared with what finishing anywhere on the Wine Spectator Top 100 list will do for a producer.

7% of world's top wines from Pacific Northwest

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 12:15:08 -0500

Wine Spectator's annual top 100 list is out, and as usual, the Pacific Northwest has fared very well. In fact, fully 7% of the wines on the list are from Oregon and Washington, though a few notables are conspicuous by their absence.

Merlot Smackdown: The Video

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 23:50:11 -0500

Earlier this week, I wrote an account of last weekend's tasting of Northstar Merlot and Chateau Petrus, which I entitled "Kiss French, Drink Northwest."

After the tasting, I chatted with David "Merf" Merfeld, Northstar's head winemaker. Here's the video.

Wineries file for new Washington appellation

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:08:38 -0500

A group of wineries near Yakima, Wash., has petitioned the federal government to create a new American Viticultural Area, or appellation.

Kiss French, drink Northwest

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:09:25 -0500

Saturday afternoon, I traveled to Walla Walla, Wash., where the good folks from Ste. Michelle Wine Estates put on an event that was, shall we say, rather interesting.

It also was the hardest ticket to get in town.

Walla Walla winery wins top award at Tri-Cities Wine Fest

Sun, 09 Nov 2008 20:14:44 -0500

A Walla Walla winery took home top honors at the 30th anniversary Tri-Cities Wine Festival on Saturday night at the Red Lion in Pasco, Wash.

The Russell Creek 2005 Winemaker Select Syrah was chosen as best of show in the annual competition, which this year drew a record 328 wines.

Researchers confirm 'Sideways' effect

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 15:40:27 -0500

Thank goodness someone at Sonoma State University is putting California tax dollars to work by confirming that the hit 2004 movie Sideways caused Pinot Noir sales to increase in America.

On the sorting line

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 20:46:19 -0400

I stopped by at J. Bookwalter this morning to chat with owner/winemaker John Bookwalter. He was, quite literally, on the sorting line going through 10 tons of Cabernet Sauvignon from McKinley Springs Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills.

In fact, as I write this, John and his crew likely still are sorting that fruit, as they can go through about a ton to a ton-and-a-half of fruit per hour, double-sorting for leaves, sunburned grapes, etc.

Harvest weekend

Sat, 25 Oct 2008 19:58:11 -0400

This is harvest weekend for me. My humble backyard vineyard got toasted by the frost two weekends ago, and these Brunello clone Sangiovese grapes are not going to get any riper.

Here's how I do things: I take two 10-quart buckets and start picking grapes, dropping those clusters I am not going to bother using because they're underripe, dessicated or moldy. Then I fill the buckets with water to drown insects and spiders. (Note: earwigs are nasty little creatures straight out of the depths of hell.) Then I take each cluster and pull off the ripe grapes, putting them into a stock pot.

Grapes for snacks

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 23:02:34 -0400

Last night, my wife got home from the grocery store with fresh Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. It's one of those specialty food items Fred Meyer is selling this year.

According to a tag on the container, the grapes are from Ohio. I find that difficult to believe. They have to be from California. They're from Chiquita, which would seem to be based in Cincinnati (hence the Ohio connection).

Showing alcohol

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 12:11:31 -0400

In his latest column for The Seattle Times, Paul Gregutt has begun to list alcohol levels of the wines he reviews. That's a practice we began recently, starting with the Summer issue of Wine Press Northwest.

Columbia Crest takes H3 brand national

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:16:04 -0400

Columbia Crest's newest label, H3, will now be available nationwide, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates announced Tuesday.

H3, which uses fruit from the Horse Heaven Hills AVA, was launched earlier this year. The wines include Cab, Merlot and Chardonnay, all priced at $15.

Red Mountain escapes weekend freeze

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:37:00 -0400

Keith Pilgrim, owner/winemaker of Terra Blanca Winery on Washington's Red Mountain, reported this afternoon that the tiny but important appellation came through the weekend's subfreezing temperatures relatively unscathed.

So long, photosynthesis

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 19:15:08 -0400

Two nights of sub-freezing temperatures have toasted my little backyard vineyard. I woke up this morning to brown leaves on my Sangiovese and Riesling vines.

I can kiss goodbye any additional ripening on the Sangiovese vines (the Riesling is just second leaf, so no grapes to worry about). I could still see some accumulation of sugars, but that will be from dehydration in the grapes, not sunshine.

Oregon legend David Lett dies

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 02:10:49 -0400

David Lett, whose 1975 Pinot Noir put Oregon on the global wine map, passed away late Thursday of heart failure. He was 69.

We've posted a story from The Associated Press.