The feasting of Fourth of July has become its own beast, known worldwide. The sheer amount of hamburgers, fruit, potato salads, hot dogs, and chocolate chip cookies eaten on this day is practically unimaginable. While this is the day to go ham on all of these foods, it’s important to make sure that you’re eating all of the leftovers that you can,…
JUGGERNAUT SONOMA COAST CHARDONNAY The great white shark on the bottle label represents the resilience of the grapes that go into this wine. According to Juggernaut’s website, growing conditions on the Sonoma Coast frequently feature fog and intense wind, causing the grapes to ripen less sweetly. Their strong acidic structure withstands the winemaking process and prevails…
LONG SHADOWS POET’S LEAP RIESLING Poet’s Leap is one of my go-to Rieslings! It’s a burst of freshness in a glass. Think white flowers, zesty lime, and a hint of wet stone on the nose, instantly inviting and impossibly easy to sip. On the palate, crisp green apple, juicy peach, and lively citrus mingle with a whisper of sweetness, perfectly balanced by zesty acidity that keeps it light and refreshing. It’s approachable enough for weeknight dinners, yet stylish enough to show…
PEPPER BRIDGE WINERY MERLOT Pepper Bridge Winery Merlot is the kind of wine that feels like a hug in a glass—rich, smooth, and effortlessly…
ROMBAUER VINEYARDS 2022 ZINFANDEL The 2022 Rombauer Zinfandel continues the Napa Valley winery’s tradition of bold, fruit-driven reds with broad appeal. This vintage bursts with ripe blackberry, raspberry, and plum, layered with vanilla, licorice, and sweet spice from 10 months of aging in American and French oak. Lush and full-bodied, the wine balances rich fruit with smooth tannins and a hint of pepper on…
THOMSON & SCOTT NOUGHTY NON-ALCOHOLIC BLANC Thomson & Scott Noughty Blanc is a fresh and easygoing non-alcoholic white that’s perfect for light dinners. Made with organic grapes and crafted to keep its character after dealcoholization, it offers crisp citrus and juicy peach notes with a clean, dry finish. Think refreshing orchard fruit with a splash of sunshine. Vegan, low in sugar, and big on flavor, Noughty Blanc is ideal for anyone who wants…
AMBASSADOR WINES OF WASHINGTON 2019 ESTATE ENVOY RED BLEND Several months ago, I was treated to a wine dinner experience at Copperleaf Restaurant & Bar at Cedarbrook Lodge in SeaTac. The visiting winery was Ambassador Wines of Washington, a Woodinville-based boutique winery proud to be “one of the few 100% estate-grown wineries in the state.” They grow their fruit in Red Mountain AVA, a Washington wine region known for its high-quality red…
RED SCHOONER VOYAGE 12, Wagner Family of Wine Red Schooner is a distinctive red wine produced by the Wagner family, renowned for their flagship label, Caymus. What sets Red Schooner apart is its unconventional approach: Malbec grapes are grown in the high-altitude vineyards of the Andes Mountains in Mendoza, Argentina, then carefully chilled and shipped by sea to Napa Valley. This maritime journey—referred to as a “voyage” and denoted on each…
ALVEARE BEE & BARREL 2022 Alveare is a wonderful winery run by a young couple in Carnation, Washington. This Bordeaux-style red blend pays homage to the pollinators they care for on the property. Consisting of 30% Cabernet Franc, 25% Merlot, 25%…
Summer is my favorite time of the year for white wine, and my favorite is from Brian Carter Cellars in Woodinville. This Washington winery is known for its exceptional blending of WA wine and this one is my favorite during the summer months when I want a rich,…
So rarely does flavor erupt from a glass as with Ameztoi’s Rubentis rosé, a 50/50 blend of Hondarrabi Zuri and Hondarrabi Beltza. These Basque varietals are co-fermented and bottled with limited carbon dioxide, lifting aromas…
PRODUCER: Niccolo Coturri WINE: High Diving Sparkling 2023 GRAPES: Madeleine Angevine and Siegerrbe from Lopez Island Vineyards We love this wine from our friends at Piquenique and Niccolo Coturri Wines—they’re some of the only natural wines being made in Washington state. Nic and Tess farm this organic vineyard themselves on Lopez Island, using no preservatives or chemicals in the winery and doing everything as sustainably and regeneratively as possible. This wine is sparkly, aromatic, and zesty, with notes of grapefruit and elderflowers….
ABEJA “BEEKEEPER’S BLEND” | COLUMBIA VALLEY, WASHINGTON Drinking this wine in April makes perfect sense—spring is in full bloom. A perfect day for me is bringing this wine out to the Semiahmoo Spit right…
KEVIN WHITE 2023 “BLUE LABEL” YAKIMA RED, $20.99 Big Blue is back and we’re so happy! We have been enamored with this Woodinville producer since its inception. Kevin brings the true sense of Rhone Valley-style wines to Washington. This is an annual spring release and we…
COMELUNA ROSSO New all-time favorite! Deep cherry notes come through on the nose, joined by notes of dried bark, earth and hints of cinnamon and licorice. Intense cherry notes on the palate that are balanced by nicely integrated acidity. Earth and dried bark notes sneak out on the mid palate into the complex and long…
SONDER X SAGE RAT CARBONIC NEBBIOLO Keep the winter celebrations going with this rose-colored stunner! Winemakers Sonder and Sage Rat made their Carbonic Nebbiolo in collaboration here in Washington State, from 100% Nebbiolo grapes grown right here in Washington—which is somewhat rare because Nebbiolo is a temperamental grape that is especially sensitive to the weather. There’s a…
November Van Vino Vineyards 2021 GRENACHE As a writer who represents the wine industry in our region, I must crumple and toss out the complaint of, “Oh, you’re covering too much local!” After all: We Speak to Where You Live. So yes, I will write about Van Vino a second…
France’s Rhone Valley produces some of the most highly coveted (and consequently expensive) wines in the world, so it’s no wonder Washington winemakers have looked to this area for inspiration and to follow…
Sometimes we forget about our very own backyard, living in Washington with such abundant, delicious, vibrant, and varied wine options. But, lest you forget! I am here to remind… Some beautiful iterations are a hop, skip, and a jump away. Among them is Bellingham’s own Dynasty Cellars, this…
I had the tremendous honor of judging Whatcom Beer and Wine Foundation’s 8th Annual Pacific Northwest Wine Competition (formerly Bellingham Northwest Wine Competition) this past July in its new location: Walla Walla. The weather…
