BLAINE, Wash. — The roots for Van Vino Vineyard reach back to 1988 when Dave Van Wingerden and his wife Annemiek bought 80 acres just a mile south of the Canadian border. And with a family history rich in growing outdoor and greenhouse flowers, the couple used their land to launch a wholesale plant nursery — Pacific Growers. Pacific Growers has expanded into a large, … [Read more...] about Van Wingerden family grows beyond nursery empire into Van Vino Vineyard
Washington wine
My long, strange trip with Viognier
I had become a real fan of many of the Rhône varieties that had been produced in Washington state, so my dislike of Viognier was confusing. For sure, I had tasted delicious examples of the wine. While judging in Dallas one year, I adored a Texas version of Viognier. I thought it strange that I had this love/hate relationship with a variety that seemed to garner so much … [Read more...] about My long, strange trip with Viognier
Rising Stars: Even Johansen turns dream into Sylvi Wines, Dalset label
Even Johansen’s road to the Washington wine industry began in Scandinavia, was inspired by South America and led him to Sylvi Wines. His father’s work with a Seattle-based fishing company meant trips to Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, and that meant Sverre Johansen would return home with high-quality wines, including Tannat and Malbec, from small producers. In 2010, Even … [Read more...] about Rising Stars: Even Johansen turns dream into Sylvi Wines, Dalset label
L’Ecole N° 41 Winery develops lesson plan in history for Walla Walla
LOWDEN, Wash. — Forty years ago, L’Ecole N° 41 first rang the bell as a winery in the historic Frenchtown schoolhouse where Jean Ferguson made the wine for her husband, Baker, to take to market. They teamed up to produce one white wine — a Sémillon — and a single red wine. That 1983 Merlot would go to the head of the class at the Enological Society of the Pacific Northwest … [Read more...] about L’Ecole N° 41 Winery develops lesson plan in history for Walla Walla
A historical tasting of L’Ecole N° 41 Winery’s first 40 years at the Schoolhouse library
LOWDEN, Wash. — As L’Ecole N° 41 Winery commemorates its 40th anniversary, owner Marty Clubb and winemaker Marcus Rafanelli invited Great Northwest Wine to taste the winery’s history via select landmark wines that proved key to the winery’s success. Each section features comments by Clubb and Rafanelli on the significance of the wine, some notes for the wine nerdy, and ends … [Read more...] about A historical tasting of L’Ecole N° 41 Winery’s first 40 years at the Schoolhouse library