The Wine Knows - Oregon

NW winery search

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 12:55:00 -0400

Over the past few months, we've been working on a better way to provide information on Northwest wineries. Our old Web site had a searchable database, but it was difficult to maintain. Our new system will provide a way for site visitors to provide updates, which then will be easy for us to upload.

We know we're missing a fair bit of information in this first release, which is why we're counting on all of you to take a look at your favorite wineries and provide us with any updates you might have.

Take a look:

The wrath of Oregon grapes?

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:50:38 -0400

The Oregonian published an article in which Bill Hatcher of A to Z (and formerly of Domaine Drouhin Oregon) believes the state is headed toward a grape glut. Others, notably David Adelsheim and Dick Shea, disagree.

Coastal wine

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:29:12 -0400

With high gas prices and flying becoming increasingly less convenient, many folks are staying close to home this summer.

If your travels keep you within the Pacific Northwest and you decide the Oregon Coast is your destination, be sure to stop by The Wine Shack in Cannon Beach. Dean Reiman has operated this wine shop in the downtown area of this resort town for several years and provides an eclectic collection of regional and international selections.

Thanks, I'll stick to writing

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 03:30:33 -0400

A number of folks out there think that just because I love wine, write about it, collect it and even grow wine grapes in my backyard, perhaps someday I'd like to make my own wine, perhaps start a winery.

If I'm alone, I laugh it off with a line I heard from wine writer Bob Woehler: "I learned long ago that I'm better at drinking the stuff than making it."

If I'm with my wife, I shout: "No way! I'd never take on such an endeavor!" before she has the chance to give me the hairy eyeball.

Paradis out of winemaking business

Mon, 26 May 2008 18:27:28 -0400

Paradis Family Vineyard in Silverton, Ore., is calling it quits on its winemaking operation, according to an email from the owners.

Oregon wants to shut down new self-serve AgriVino

Sat, 24 May 2008 03:16:12 -0400

Last week, we brought you the story of AgriVino, a self-serve wine-tasting room in Oregon's Yamhill-Carlton District. How things change quickly. Below is a report from Eric Degerman, Wine Press Northwest managing editor, who is working on a story about it:

Self-serve wine tasting

Sun, 18 May 2008 16:40:45 -0400

If you've read about those self-serve wine-tasting machines but haven't yet seen one in action, check out our video below.

The Enomatic has been around for at least a couple of years and has been in action in various areas of the country. Now, it's in Oregon wine country.

Ponzi Wine Bar marks 1st decade

Thu, 15 May 2008 12:29:00 -0400

The Ponzi Wine Bar in downtown Dundee, Ore., is celebrating its first decade of business.

The Ponzi family, pioneers in the Oregon wine industry, always have pushed forward with innovative ideas. In the 1980s, the Ponzis launched Oregon's oldest microbrewery, BridgePort. With the Ponzi Wine Bar, they decided to feature and pour Oregon wines other than their own, leading the national wine bar trend.

Cliff Creek moves north

Wed, 14 May 2008 11:52:37 -0400

One of the relatively obscure gems in Southern Oregon has located its tasting room in the northern Willamette Valley. Cliff Creek has opened in Carlton, the main town in the Yamhill-Carlton District.

Tony Rynders out as winemaker at Domaine Serene

Tue, 13 May 2008 12:59:37 -0400

Domaine Serene owner Ken Evanstad announced Monday that longtime winemaker Tony Rynders is out and Drew Voit, former associate winemaker, will oversee the operation until a new winemaker can be found.

Breadth of Northwest Riesling production

Fri, 09 May 2008 12:17:53 -0400

One item of note as we prep for our Riesling competition this weekend: The noble white wine grape of Germany and Alsace is produced throughout the Pacific Northwest. In fact, I'm a bit amazed at how many various appellations are represented on wine bottles.

And the winner is ...

Fri, 02 May 2008 19:03:39 -0400

For the second consecutive year, a wine from British Columbia has won best of show at the annual Northwest Wine Summit. This year, however, the victorious wine was more "traditional."

The winner was Mission Hill Family Estate for its 2006 Select Lot Collection Riesling Icewine.

NW Wine Summit under way

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 02:37:24 -0400

The Wine Press Northwest crew is up on Mount Hood for the annual Northwest Wine Summit, the largest judging of Pacific Northwest wines.

This year, we have nearly 1,200 entries, a big increase over last year's 1,060. Judges the South and Pacific Northwest began judging after lunch today and will continue through Tuesday afternoon.

Oregon Petite Sirah

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 13:09:46 -0400

Look at those words up in the headline. Until now, we've never seen them on a bottle of wine. But yesterday, I saw that a Petite Sirah from Spangler Vineyards in Southern Oregon's Umpqua Valley had shown up as a new release. Before this year, putting "Petite Sirah" on a wine label in Oregon was against the law.

A reason for Oregon's high-alcohol Pinot Noirs

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 12:00:08 -0500

As I mentioned last month in one or two posts, I was rather dismayed by the high alcohols in many Oregon wines during our judging of Northwest Pinot Noirs. We had many wines above 14% alcohol - and a few above 15%.

Two weeks ago, I was chatting with Terry Casteel, co-owner/winemaker of Bethel Heights Vineyard in Oregon's Eola-Amity Hills. We got on the subject of high alcohols, and he was able to share some insights on the issues Oregon winemakers have faced since 1998.