One of California's largest and most successful wineries is dipping its toes into Washington wine. Trinchero Family Estates in St. Helena, Calif., is teaming up with Charles Smith of K Vintners in Walla Walla, Wash., and Charles Bieler of New York to manage sales, marketing and distribution of Charles & Charles, a joint venture of Smith and Bieler. Smith owns K … [Read more...] about California giant adds Washington wine to portfolio
Largest wine competition in U.S. begins today
The first major U.S. wine competition begins today. It's also the largest judging of American wines in the nation. The San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition takes place in the northern Sonoma County town of Cloverdale (it's so close to Mendocino County, you can smell the marijuana). The Chron judging is formerly known as the Cloverdale Citrus Fair Wine Competition and … [Read more...] about Largest wine competition in U.S. begins today
Book review: The Makers of American Wine
In "The Makers of American Wine: A Record of Two Hundred Years," author Thomas Pinney brings into focus the evolution of the American wine industry. And it has been an evolution, as post-Revolutionary War viticulture and winemaking was nothing short of an adventure and a lengthy series of frustrating events. American winemakers had to battle not only phylloxera and a … [Read more...] about Book review: The Makers of American Wine
In search of Washington Pinot Noir
On occasion, we are asked about Washington Pinot Noir. It's a question that is becoming easier to answer, though examples remain scarce. Salishan Vineyards More than a decade ago, we would have had just a couple of choices, the best of which was the now-defunct Salishan Vineyards near the town of La Center. On a visit there around 2002, Joan Wolverton (a former Seattle … [Read more...] about In search of Washington Pinot Noir
Hyland honors pioneers and an unusual Pinot Noir clone in Oregon
One of the least-understood appellations in Oregon Pinot Noir country is McMinnville. Many wine lovers associate it with the city of McMinnville, which is nearby but is not inside the American Viticultural Area that was approved in 2005. In fact, the McMinnville AVA is on a hillside west of town and is home to such vineyards as Meredith Mitchell, Yamhill Valley and … [Read more...] about Hyland honors pioneers and an unusual Pinot Noir clone in Oregon