The Wine Knows - news

Rosé rising

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:26:41 -0400

According to reports, rosés have surpassed whites in total production in France. Taken at face value, I'd find that difficult to believe, but serious rosés have long been favorites in France.

But could it be possible that rosés are outpacing Chardonnay (Chablis, Burgundy), Sauvignon Blanc (Bordeaux), Semillon (Bordeaux), Riesling (Alsace) and Viognier (Rhone)?

More perfection for Quilceda Creek

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 19:53:28 -0400

Doug Charles of Compass Wines in Anacortes, Wash., announced in an email blast to customers today that Quilceda Creek Vintners in Snohomish, Wash., has earned another perfect 100 from The Wine Advocate, Robert Parker's publication.

Taming of the screw

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:32:09 -0400

CorkTec, a Connecticut-based cork producer, is setting up shop in the heart of Washington's Columbia Valley. Read our story on it here.

By fall, CorkTec plans to be producing up to 2 million corks per month with the idea of taking advantage of the fast-growing Northwest wine industry.

Dealing with fire

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 13:49:35 -0400

As many of you have read in recent days, wildfires in Northern California have threatened vineyards and wineries. Wildfires are nothing new in Washington wine country, where the arid climes of the Columbia Valley create conditions that set off blazes annually, usually in August. It's something we've learned to live with.

Matt Loso leaves Matthews Cellars

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:48:25 -0400

Matt Loso, who founded his eponymous winery Matthews Cellars in 1993, is selling his interest in the Woodinville, Wash., operation to his financial partners.

Ascentia bought NW brands for Riesling

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 12:28:31 -0400

I just got off the phone with Jim DiBonis, CEO of Ascentia Wine Estates, which last week purchased Columbia Winery, Covey Run Winery and Ste. Chapelle from Constellation.

We had a long-ranging conversation about DiBonis' new company and where the Northwest fit in, and the big take-away was this: One of the biggest reasons for wanting these three Northwest wineries was Riesling.

Constellation sells Columbia, Covey Run, Ste. Chapelle

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:08:24 -0400

Three of the Pacific Northwest's largest wineries have new owners.

Constellation, the world's largest wine company, sold several of its properties to newly formed Ascentia Wine Estates, including Columbia Winery, Covey Run Winery and Ste. Chapelle. All three were owned by Corus Brands before being sold to Constellation in 2001.

How far behind are NW vineyards?

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 19:33:08 -0400

This year's cool spring continues (we got a big, unusual dump of heavy rain today, reminding more of my days living in Bellingham than here in the Columbia Valley), and more than a few wineries are getting nervous.

Watch out for a '61 La Mission Haut Brion

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 14:08:40 -0400

An angry Doug Charles let me know this morning that a bottle of 1961 La Mission Haut Brion was shoplifted from his place, Compass Wines in Anacortes, Wash.

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.

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:

New filter for TCA

Fri, 23 May 2008 17:21:07 -0400

A new product announced in Wines & Vines purports to remove TCA from wine in a single pass without affecting the rest of the wine.

Leonetti tests grafted vines in Washington

Thu, 22 May 2008 16:31:24 -0400

I'll try not to get all viti-geeky on you here, but this is very significant: A few weeks ago, I chatted with Chris Figgins of Leonetti Cellar in Walla Walla, Wash., about a wide number of subjects. One that came up was working with grafted vines. Whoa!

Robert Mondavi passes away this morning

Fri, 16 May 2008 15:45:20 -0400

Robert Mondavi, the man who was key to dragging the American wine industry onto the world stage, passed away this morning at the age of 94, according to the Napa Valley Register.