Articles

A diamond in the rough, this vineyard is turning heads with world class wine grapes Starting a vineyard from scratch capable of producing world class wines takes a lot of trial and error.  Les Collines’ vineyard manager Shane McKibben cut his teeth planting vines and installing the irrigation system at the acclaimed Seven Hills Vineyard.  Before that, he worked in the nearby … [Read more...] about Les Collines Vineyard

Started by two hobbyists over 30 years ago, Walla Walla Vintners remains one of the best kept secrets around. Drive up Mill Creek Road, east of Walla Walla’s downtown, and just when you think you might disappear into the Blue Mountains, there is a tiny sign on the left that reads Walla Walla Vintners.  Locals, including other winemakers and tasting room staff flock to … [Read more...] about A Winning Blend at Walla Walla Vintners

Take a walking winery loop around the Bavarian style village of Leavenworth, where one million people  visit annually to partake of its unique Bavarian village atmosphere, replete with lederhosen-clad people dancing to polka music and the tangy smell of German sausage and sauerkraut wafting through the air.  These days, Leavenworth has added yet one more popular attraction for … [Read more...] about The Alpine Paradise of Leavenworth

Northwest wineries have been banking on grapes from Sagemoor Vineyards for decades.   With novel ideas and deep passion, this powerhouse vineyard team continues to supply winemakers with quality grapes. Click here to read about single vineyard wines produced from grapes grown at Sagemoor Vineyards (reprinted from the Summer 2011 issue). The late Alec Bayless, an … [Read more...] about Sagemoor Vineyards: An Unlikely Boutique

Cast with modern day heroes and legendary trailblazers, Mercer Estates is an epic story of two families – the Hogues and Mercers – whose century-old farming roots lay at the heart of this first-rate winery. Imagine Italy's Barone Ricasoli, the oldest family run winery in the world, partnering with the second oldest, Marchesi Antinori.  Or France’s Domaine Jean-Louis … [Read more...] about Mercer Estates: Of Golden Friendships

Explore a dozen wineries in Prosser's Vintner’s Village, where splendid tasting rooms abound in a wine country setting. Vintner's Village, a nucleus of wineries in Prosser, is like a connect-the-dots or six degrees of separation: longtime farmers turned grapegrowers turned winemakers is the dominant storyline. “The wineries here represent the evolution of the wine … [Read more...] about A Stroll In Vintner’s Village

A tour of Boushey Vineyards with renowned grape grower Dick Boushey, who makes the tough task of growing world-class grapes appear effortless. Click here to preview the actual pages from the story and the Boushey Wine Picks as published in the Spring 2011 issue of Tasting Room Magazine. ONE WOULD NEVER guess by talking to Dick Boushey that he ranks among the most … [Read more...] about The Golden Touch of Grower Dick Boushey

Is this the Southwest or the Northwest? You thought you were in the town of Prosser, Washington, but now you’re wondering if you time-traveled from the Yakima Valley to New Mexico when you pulled off Interstate 82 onto Wine Country Road, passed banks of lavender and riotous baskets of brightly-colored annuals and parked in front of the striking adobe-style building that … [Read more...] about Oasis In The Desert

Accustomed to dealing with the forces of nature, Paul Champoux is winning his battle with the West Nile virus with steely determination. Editor's update: This article was published in the Winter 2011 issue. Paul Champoux retired as a wine grape grower in 2015. CHAMPOUX VINEYARDS is considered to be among the best Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards in Washington State.  And … [Read more...] about True Grit: Champoux Vineyards

Published in the Fall / September 2010 issue I overheard Mike Januik say something about the grapes from Block One and Block Three and note that, “We could use more of the Cab.”  We were sitting near the fireplace inside the tasting room of Januik Winery and its partner winery Novelty Hill.  He was on the phone with Paul Champoux of Champoux Vineyards in the Horse Heaven … [Read more...] about Novelty Hill & Januik: A Modern Blend

Maryhill Winery is a destination for wine, picnics, music concerts & vistas on the Columbia River. Set in one of the most photographed areas of the Columbia River Gorge, Maryhill is located on a windswept bluff, surrounded by vineyards and lush cherry, peach, and nectarine orchards.  Down below, the Columbia River runs big and wide.  A craggy cross section of basalt … [Read more...] about Maryhill Winery: Inspired By Nature

The Hedges Family Estate Winery has risen and flourished out of a serendipitous collision of Red Mountain terroir and French sensibility.  Tom Hedges and his wife Anne-Marie, a native of the Champagne region of France, took a chance on Red Mountain back in 1990 and purchased land on this remote site of scrub and tumbleweed in central Washington. PAVING THE WAY Now, almost … [Read more...] about Hedges Winery: Tradition de Famille

Filled with harmonious connections to the sea, Westport Winery is a coastal traveler's dream The 40-foot tall lighthouse beacon lures visitors whizzing past on Highway 105, halfway between the quiet coastal fishing town of Westport and inland neighbor Aberdeen.  Coming upon Westport Winery is like the thrill of finding one of the elusive shiny agates that dot the sand at … [Read more...] about Passion For The Sea at Westport Winery

Alfalfa fields and grain silos still rule the land west of Walla Walla, where horses and cows graze the age-old pastures, unaware they share their home with some of the pioneers and trendsetters of Walla Walla’s wine industry along rural Highway 12. These humble creatures are also blissfully oblivious to history: the Battle of Walla Walla was fought in these parts in 1855. … [Read more...] about Winery Loop: Lowden to Walla Walla

THE MAN behind J. Bookwalter Wines is an avid reader, music host, part philosopher and marketer…did I mention winemaker, too? As if his “full time and a half job” running Bookwalter Winery wasn’t enough, winemaker and entrepreneur John Bookwalter opened what is known as Washington state’s first wine lounge in October of 2003 and never looked back.  The Richland tasting room … [Read more...] about The Next Chapter of Bookwalter Wines

Rediscovering magnificent Chateau Ste. Michelle and touring three sister wineries No two pearls in the world are identical.  Few understand this as well as Ted Baseler, CEO and president of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, whose keen eye for sizing up valuable pearls of a different nature has led his company to success.  His talent for collecting noteworthy wineries—both … [Read more...] about The Pearls of Ste. Michelle

Wine, sculpture art and natural beauty combine to make Camaraderie Cellars a tranquil gathering place. “Wow, I had no idea this was here!” exclaim would-be wine tasters to Camaraderie Cellars. The utter surprise in their voice brings a smile to the face of Don Corson, winemaker and owner. “How long have you been here?” is the question Corson hears next.  “We’ve completed … [Read more...] about Marine Air Meets Cabernet at Camaraderie Cellars

Tsillan Cellars Winery will sweep you away with the romance and grandeur of a hillside Tuscan villa retreat overlooking Lake Chelan “Imagine the addition of an Italian-style piazza here,” said Bob Jankelson, owner of Tsillan Cellars Winery & Vineyards.  Jankelson was highlighting his plans for the winery as I alternated between scribbling notes in my journal and … [Read more...] about Paradise On The Lake At Tsillan Cellars

Klipsun means sunset in Chinook jargon. But the sun is certainly not setting on Klipsun Vineyard, located in the Red Mountain AVA (American Viticultural Area) near Benton City, Washington.  In fact, it’s more like late morning in the evolution of Klipsun Vineyard, with many of its best vineyard blocks just entering the prime of their productive lives. If you ask the best … [Read more...] about Klipsun Vineyards on Red Mountain

Tracing Red Willow Vineyard's roots to the birthplace of Washington Syrah … [Read more...] about Red Willow Vineyard: The Mother of Washington Syrah