The Wine Knows - touring tips

Barnard Griffin yields to tasting fees

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 18:47:59 -0400

Today, visitors to Barnard Griffin in Richland, Wash., are being met with a sign explaining tasting fees.

To taste the regular "Tulip" wines costs $5, and to taste through the reserves will be $10. Fees will be refunded with purchase. Wine club members' fees are waived.

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.

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.

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.

Taste future this weekend at Yakima Valley CC

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:58:04 -0400

The Yakima Valley Community College's teaching winery will be open this weekend during Spring Barrel Tasting. The first vintage by this new winemaking program bottled its first vintage last week and is excited to share it.

Have travel restrictions changed your wine-buying habits?

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 11:09:42 -0400

Have TSA restrictions changed the way you buy wine when you're visiting another wine region?

According to a survey by BottleWise, a company that makes wine carriers, many wine travelers have significantly changed the way they handle wine purchases. Here are the results of a survey conducted last month by BottleWise:

Col Solare to release second wine

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:55:07 -0400

Col Solare on Washington's Red Mountain has produced a sole wine per vintage since starting the Opus One-like operation in 1994, a Cab-based blend that retails for $70. That will change with the release of a second label called Shining Hill.

Col Solare is the international collaboration between Ste. Michelle Wine Estates of Woodinville, Wash., and Marchese Antinori of Tuscany. A year ago, the new $6 million winery opened on Red Mountain.

Filling a niche in Walla Walla

Sun, 02 Mar 2008 14:34:58 -0500

I've written with some frequency about finding your niche in the Northwest wine industry, and I love to highlight those who are.

In 2005, Heather Lewis saw a need that wasn't being filled in her hometown of Walla Walla, Wash. She was frustrated because she couldn't get the information she wanted about local wineries. The Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance did a good job with maps, brochures, etc., but everything was moving so fast, that kind of info was out of date soon after it was printed.

Winter wine touring

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 12:25:04 -0500

The skies above Washington's Columbia Valley have been clear and blue for the past several days. We wake up each day with frost on the ground, but the temperatures often reach 50 by early afternoon.

With Snoqualmie Pass relatively clear of snow these days, it would seem to be a perfect time to get in a little winter wine touring.

I love going wine touring in winter. Not only are there zero crowds, but there's also something fun about stopping at a tiny tasting room along some back road while it's cold and/or rainy.

Coming up: Walla Walla Holiday Barrel Tasting Weekend

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 13:54:03 -0500

As wine lovers wrap up their visits this weekend to Oregon's Willamette Valley and Washington's Yakima Valley, many are thinking ahead to next weekend's Walla Walla Valley Holiday Barrel Tasting Weekend.

Go east, young man

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:39:30 -0500

Standard thinking for wineries has been to get the product near the people. The success of Napa Valley has been its proximity to San Francisco. Meanwhile, the distance from Seattle - and Cascade Mountains - have been a challenge for Eastern Washington wineries. Thus, in recent years we've seen a trend of wineries holding events or locating second tasting rooms in or near Seattle.

Start planning now for Thanksgiving weekend

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 01:57:18 -0500

The weekend after Thanksgiving is a big deal in Oregon and Washington wine countries, as many wineries open their doors for visitors. If your plans take you to either, now is the time to start thinking about which wineries you hope to visit.

North Sound wine scarecrows

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:20:07 -0400

Looking for some fun on Veterans Day weekend (Nov. 10-12)? Head to the Olympic Peninsula for the North Sound Wineries Association's annual Passport Wine Tour. This year's event features a competition between the 10 wineries, in which each will create a "wine scarecrow."

B.C. no longer a great bargain

Sun, 07 Oct 2007 13:47:05 -0400

A couple of forums I frequent have had stories and discussions about how the Canadian dollar has surpassed the U.S. dollar in value in the past two weeks. While this might be a source of national pride for Canadians, it is anything but for tourism industries in British Columbia - especially wineries.