I’ve always been intrigued by the business model of purchasing a wine via nothing but a compelling text-only email that prompts to you open your wallet. Are you on any mailing lists like this? The most famous would be Garagiste, located here in Seattle. Another online wine business (going four-plus years strong) also with a [More]
Halloween Candy and Dessert Wine Pairing on Serious Eats
Very excited to have my first post on Serious Eats, and it’s all about pairing dessert wine with Halloween candy. Sadly, the pictured assortment of Willy Wonka candies did not make the final cut, but I really enjoy the photo. What pairs best with this listed sweet holiday bounty? Starburst Almond Joy Mellowcreme Pumpkins and [More]
Washington State Wine: Col Solare Vertical, Raw Elk, and Grappa
When visiting Col Solare, producer of a most notable Washington State wine, you don’t have to look far to see what’s going to end up in your glass. On an intensely sunny August day in the Red Mountain wine region in Eastern Washington, I visited the winery thanks to Saint Michelle Wine Estates (SMWE). Winemaker [More]
Complete Wine Selector by Katherine Cole Has Fierce Freshness
I wish I had come up with the phrase “fierce freshness“. But I have to give credit to Katherine Cole, author of the new book, Complete Wine Selector. (I first heard about her latest book when she was a guest on my podcast.) This alliterative duo is deployed in the first section of book, which [More]
SlantShack Beef Jerky and Lambrusco For Championship Snacking
How did I become acquainted with the glorious dried meat that is SlantShack Beef Jerky? I was speaking with the good folks at Open Sky, a site that pulls together entrepreneurs and those who like to purchase thoughtfully selected goods, about a collaboration. One problem. They don’t sell wine. But, thankfully, they do sell food. [More]
How Does a Winemaker Decide When to Pick Grapes?
When to pick grapes? It’s one of the biggest decisions a winemaker will undertake each year. So what tools and tricks of the trade are deployed? Is it a process assisted by: Science? Art? Taste? Voodoo? Clairvoyance? Luck? Fortunately, I know Ross Andrew Mickel, winemaker at Washington State’s Ross Andrew Winery. And I was able [More]
Dry Creek Valley Wines and Vineyards Provide 9 Noteworthy Finds
I just returned from visiting wineries and vineyards in Dry Creek Valley, California. It’s a region within Sonoma County that will surprise you like it did me. Here are a few things I found remarkable about the region during a trip sponsored by the Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley. 1) Dry Creek? Not dry. Visual [More]
Label Lust: Sokol Blosser Evolution Sparkling
The playful side of Oregon’s historic Sokol Blosser winery comes out in this Evolution Sparkling label. A new release in its popular lineup of red and white, this sparkling wine especially gives me Label Lust when you peruse not the front of the bottle but rather the rear. It pleases me to view a back [More]
