The Wine Knows - destinations

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.

Why Crest is best

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:57:27 -0400

Ever wonder how Columbia Crest manages to consistently make millions of bottles of wine for bargain prices? Ray Einberger and his crew at the Northwest's largest winery amaze me every time I pop the cork on one of their wines.

Vineyard tours by horseback

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 15:28:55 -0400

Diane Cooper-Knutz loves Northwest wine. She runs restaurant wine lists for Hilton Restaurant Group. She also loves horses. Now she has combined the experiences.

Cooper-Knutz has created Muscat-Dun Horseback Vineyard Tours near Echo, Ore. It's a seven-hour experience from saddling up through the last cup of coffee and includes a ride through retired NFL great Drew Bledsoe's vineyard overlooking the Umatilla River.

Wine village in works near Washington's Red Mountain

Thu, 29 May 2008 13:40:34 -0400

A new $3.5 million wine village is in the works in West Richland, Wash., nearly in the shadow of venerable Red Mountain.

Here's the story in today's Tri-City Herald.

The village will be near Pacific Rim Winemakers, the Randall Grahm-owned Riesling producer that relocated last year from California.

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.

My Mondavi Moment

Sat, 17 May 2008 16:18:38 -0400

I've been in the wine end of the journalism business for fewer than 15 years, so my opportunities to meet some of the legends in the American wine industry have been few.

I am thankful I was able to meet Robert Mondavi, a man who, as much as anybody, raised the level and prestige of American wine.

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.

Walla Walla weekend

Sat, 03 May 2008 19:01:57 -0400

It's Spring Release Weekend in the Walla Walla Valley, when thousands descend upon the valley in eastern Washington and Oregon to visit nearly 100 wineries now open to the public.

The genesis of this event lies with Leonetti Cellar, the valley's oldest winery. Since the early 1980s, Leonetti has enjoyed cult-like status, and early May has been when its customers have come to the winery for its annual open house.

A great meal in Walla Walla

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 13:10:11 -0400

I've heard a lot of folks talk about Saffron Mediterranean Kitchen in Walla Walla, Wash., for the past year or so, and I finally had the opportunity to have dinner there last week.

I was not disappointed.

Ste. Michelle's concert line-up

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:19:04 -0400

Chateau Ste. Michelle has announced its 2008 summer concert series, its 25th year of offering concerts on the grounds of Washington's oldest winery.

Tickets go on sale this weekend.

Here's the line-up:

On the WineTrails of Washington

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 11:53:51 -0400

Two years ago, Steve Roberts embarked on a journey of Washington wine country. His goal was to create a guidebook that focused on wine tourism. Steve ended up breaking the state into a dozen regions and 32 "wine trails," basically a touring guide.

Strategies for Yakima Valley Barrel Tasting weekend

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 21:02:28 -0400

If you're one of the thousands coming to Eastern Washington this weekend for Yakima Valley Spring Barrel Tasting Weekend, it's good to have strategies. Here are a few to consider.

Maryhill Winery sets summer concerts

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 15:34:00 -0400

After a two-year absence, the Maryhill Winery concert series is back. Renovations and highway construction forced the destination winery in the Columbia Gorge to not hold it concerts in 2005 and 2006.

The 4,000-seat amphitheater next to the winery overlooks the Columbia River with stunning views of the Columbia Gorge and Mount Hood.

End of an era: The Shoalwater's last supper

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:01:47 -0400

With entirely too little fanfare, the amazing Shoalwater Restaurant in little Seaview, Wash., served its final meal last weekend.

After 28 years in the historic Shelburne Inn on Washington's Long Beach Peninsula, owners Tony and Ann Kischner have closed the Shoalwater to focus on their new operation, the Bridgewater Bistro in nearby Astoria, Ore.