I’ve been a fan of everything from France’s Loire Valley for quite a while, but two co-op wines sampled at a recent tasting put on by the Loire Valley Wine Bureau were standouts that will slake your thirst for a one-two summer wine bargain punch: 2011 Cave Cooperative du Vendômois Coteaux de Vendômois Lieu-dit* Cocagne 2010 [More]
188 Kinds of Wine Grapes Growing at Herdade do Esporão in Portugal
Why are they growing 188 kinds of wine grapes at Herdade do Esporão winery in Portugal? And why is this giant rock in the middle of this vineyard? Let’s start by tackling the first question. As one of my colleagues on this press trip, Pamela Busch, observed, this is probably the only place in the [More]
A Portuguese Wine Adventure
I am off in the morning on a press trip to visit Esporão in Portugal. Look forward to sharing through words and images what I learn about Portuguese red and white wines, food, history, and culture. I’ll be visiting two properties: Herdade do Esporão in Alentejo and Quinta dos Murças in the Douro. Image courtesy Esporão.
Spindrift Cellars Oregon Rosé for a Thirsty Summer
I’ll admit to a strong predilection towards rosé from Southern France, particularly the regions of Provence and Bandol. But that doesn’t mean I’m immune to the charms of an Oregon Rosé, especially when it is as delightful as the Spindrift Cellars. Made from Oregon’s most famous grape, Pinot Noir, the Spindrift Cellars is textbook pleasure [More]
Thoughtful Washington Wine Pairings in Edible Seattle: The Cookbook
It probably comes as no surprise that Edible Seattle: The Cookbook (edited by Jill Lightner) is full of great recipes centered on local ingredients and the local cooks and chefs who bring them to your table. I also enjoy its readability beyond the recipes, with charming and informative introductions to each recipe, tips on cooking [More]
Seattle: Drink Local Puget Sound Wines
There is a lot of wine coming out of Eastern Washington being consumed by Seattle and the rest of Western Washington, but if you really want to drink local, I suggest trying some of the white wines coming from the Puget Sound region. Working with unique grapes like Siegerrebe, you’d be hard-pressed to find more distinctive [More]
Label Lust: Teutonic Wine Company Silvaner
It’s not just glitzy, hyper-modern wine labels that make me swoon, and the Teutonic Wine Company Silvaner is a perfect example of that. Looking at it makes me feel like I’m paging through a charmingly illustrated wildlife guide, with suggestive radishes and a glass of wine off to the side. (Note: radishes and wine are [More]
