Taste

A peek at the 2014 harvest plus a review of what's trending in Washington's wine industry Washington State growers and winemakers saw their second straight warm growing season in 2014.  For many vineyard sites in Eastern Washington, it was their warmest growing season on record.  Growers appreciated the relatively stress-free year which was without frosts, freezes and other … [Read more...] about 2014: The Year In Wine

If you enjoy wines from Italy, France, Spain and California, try our featured Top Wine Picks from our "Washington State Vs. The World" series. Below we review 16 Washington-produced wines crafted in four different worldly styles: Barbera, Grenache, Albariño and Petite Sirah. BARBERA What You Should Know: Barbera is the #1 grown red grape in the Piedmont region of Italy, … [Read more...] about Featured Wine Picks: Fall 2014

America's #1 varietal is finding renewed appreciation among Washington winemakers who are getting it right—and thirsty consumers eager to fall back in love again. Chardonnay occupies an unusual place in the hearts and minds of U.S. consumers.  On the one hand, many turn their nose up at the grape, so much so that there was a vocal ‘Anything But Chardonnay’ (ABC) movement a … [Read more...] about Chardonnay Revival

August 25, 2014 — Featuring 120 elite wineries and an army of chefs preparing over 80 dish tastings, the Taste of Tulalip promises new elements of surprise for its 6th anniversary A lot of Northwest casinos may sing praises about their in-house food and wine, but the Tulalip Resort Casino is a sure bet when it comes to a bona fide international culinary experience and … [Read more...] about Taste of Tulalip Pushes Creativity To The Limits

Like wine, hard ciders range from light and fruity to complex, full-bodied and dry. Give your adventurous palate a treat with these mouth-watering craft libations. Hard cider was more popular than water when it came to quenching the thirst of Europeans from the 12th to 17th century. So it was only natural that the first pilgrims who made the Atlantic crossing on the … [Read more...] about 5 Ciders for Wine Lovers

Hearty and satisfying, Island Brebis is an award-winning artisanal sheep milk tomme homegrown on a Whidbey Island farm Glendale Shepherd farm owners Lynn and Stan Swanson, along with their son Erik, wouldn’t dream of making cheese with milk from anybody’s sheep other than their own.  They honor the farmstead tradition of raising and milking their own animals and … [Read more...] about Whidbey Island Farmstead Cheese

Spearheaded by the Marcus Whitman Hotel, Walla Walla's inaugural Friends of James Beard Benefit Weekend showcases the region's rich food and wine culture. The Marcus Whitman Hotel presented their inaugural Friends of James Beard Benefit Weekend in Walla Walla on July 18-19, 2014, providing guests with a world-class food and wine experience. The two-day benefit was an … [Read more...] about Friends of James Beard Benefit Celebrates Food and Wine in the Walla Walla Valley

If you like wines from Italy, Spain and France, try try these featured Top Wine Picks from our “Washington Vs. The World” series.  Below we review 16 Washington State wines crafted in 4 worldly styles: Super Tuscan, Super Rioja, Petit Verdot and Rosé.  SUPER TUSCANS What You Should Know:  In the early 70’s, Chianti-designated wines were of such poor quality that Tuscan … [Read more...] about Featured Wine Picks: Summer 2014

Cheering for their local Super Bowl Championship team this season, noshing Seattle football fans might also become victors in the fight against hunger in Washington State. “We want to give the 12th Man something to take to the game as well as give back to the community,” says Bob Bullock, who along with his wife Lauren have created a fundraiser to benefit the statewide … [Read more...] about 12th Blend Launches ‘Bottles For Bread’ Fundraiser to Fight Hunger in Washington State

Chefs and winemakers roll up their sleeves at these winery-based restaurants to deliver a full service dining experience. Ranging from delicious casual fare to elegant culinary creations, wine country travelers can count on a perfect symbiosis between food and wine at Tasting Room Magazine’s top choices of winery restaurants. Click here to view the actual pages as … [Read more...] about Top 10 Winery Restaurants of Washington State

If you like wines from France, Italy and Oregon, try these featured Top Wine Picks from our "Washington Vs. The World" series.  Below we review 16 Washington State wines crafted in 4 different styles: GSM Rhônes, Dolcetto, Pinot Noir and Viognier. GSM BLENDS What You Need To Know: “GSM” is an acronym for Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre, a classic red blend of three … [Read more...] about Featured Wine Picks: Spring 2014

Interview by John Vitale An interview with artist Kerry Siderius, whose paintings chronicle Central Washington’s wine region … [Read more...] about The Apple Orchardist’s Daughter

January 2, 2014 — Founded in 1962 by ten friends, six of whom were University of Washington professors, Columbia Winery has been a landmark in Woodinville since it first opened its tasting room doors in 1988.  The venerable winery today unveiled a rebranding effort that coincides with the release of four new signature wines that will represent the mainstay of their 80,000 case … [Read more...] about Columbia Winery Enters 2014 with New Wines & Bold New Look

Wine blending is more than a skill, it’s an art form; a winemaker’s blends are as unique as a signature. Join the fun action and learn from the pros how to blend your own personal bottle Winemakers long ago realized the creation of beautiful wine sometimes meant bringing different juices together to make a whole that was greater than the sum of its parts. Traditional … [Read more...] about Blend Your Own Wine

A look at year-end trends emerging on Washington State's evolving wine scene. Click here to view the actual article pages as published in Tasting Room Magazine. WASHINGTON GROWERS and winemakers have been on a roller coaster ride the last few vintages. The 2011 vintage was the coolest growing season to date, and 2012 ran just about average.  However, 2013 marks one of … [Read more...] about Tasting Room Magazine’s: 2013-14 Year in Wine

Written by John Vitale Theo handcrafted chocolate confections will turn a bottle of red wine into a fanciful celebration JOE WHINNEY'S calling is about saving the planet as much as it is crafting richly sublime chocolate.  Early in his career he traveled to Belize as a conservation volunteer where he worked on cocoa farms.  His love for the rainforests and the … [Read more...] about Theo Chocolate & Red Wine Pairing

Wine storage expert Patrick Gilroy explores a few of the perks that comes with renting your own personal wine locker The majority of wine purchased in America is a current vintage that is consumed within one to two days after purchase, but for the occasions in life worth celebrating, a fine, aged wine can be the perfect complement. Special occasions happen more often … [Read more...] about A Cellar For Special Occasions

Artist Gary King captures calming moments in wine country that soothe the soul Click here to view the article as it appeared in the Spring 2013 issue. Gary King's scenic watercolor paintings of Champoux Vineyards in the Horse Heaven Hills appellation of Washington State capture “a sense of calm and peace,” describes the Tacoma-born artist.  “The patterns of the … [Read more...] about Natural Strokes: Artist Gary King

    CLICK HERE TO PRINT THE RECIPE Symbiotic ties seem to flourish naturally between chefs and winemakers, and executive chef Bobby Moore of Willows Lodge has long fostered successful relationships among many of Woodinville’s wineries. He joined Willows in 2001, one year after the hotel opened the Barking Frog, and quickly applied his talents to help … [Read more...] about Willows Lodge: Recipe and Interview With Chef Bobby Moore & Sommelier Matt Davis

Attend a Spring Barrel Tasting event and get ready for a glimpse into the future SPRING BARREL TASTING is a time of hope, of anticipation to what the future holds—and winemakers are excited to show their fans a small glimpse into what the last harvest has yielded and what they might be able to look forward to in the future. A Snapshot In Time Of course, what you are … [Read more...] about Barrel Tasting Fun