POMONA, Calif. - Nearly 40 Pacific Northwest wines earned gold or better at one of the oldest wine competitions in the United States. Nine Northwest wines earned best in class and another 27 were gold at the 75th annual Los Angeles International Wine Competition in Southern California. Ste. Michelle Wine Estates' Eroica Rieslings took home two of the best-in-class awards, … [Read more...] about Northwest wines fare well at granddaddy of wine competitions
Bob Betz reflects on a most interesting life in wine
WOODINVILLE, Wash. - One of the finest gentlemen in the Washington wine industry also is one of its most talented winemakers. Bob Betz of Betz Family Winery has been an integral part of the state wine industry for nearly 40 years, having started at Chateau Ste. Michelle before the chateau was built - when the winery was on East Marginal Way in Seattle. We recently sat … [Read more...] about Bob Betz reflects on a most interesting life in wine
Veraison comes early to Washington wine grapes
With one of the earliest reports ever of grapes beginning to change color in Washington state, 2013 is shaping up to be one of the warmest vintages on record. On Monday, a grape grower reported to Ste. Michelle Wine Estates that it was seeing berries starting to turn purple in a Malbec block on the Wahluke Slope, said Kevin Corliss, vineyard operations director for Ste. … [Read more...] about Veraison comes early to Washington wine grapes
Washington’s J. Bookwalter continues to evolve
RICHLAND, Wash. - One of Walla Walla's most acclaimed winemakers has moved west to take over the cellar at one of the state's oldest producers. Caleb Foster is now the head winemaker for J. Bookwalter in Richland, about an hour west of Walla Walla. For Bookwalter, it was a necessary decision. "I finally recognize I needed to fire myself from one of my jobs, and this one … [Read more...] about Washington’s J. Bookwalter continues to evolve
The art of blending with DeLille’s Chris Upchurch
WOODINVILLE, Wash. - Back in the early 1990s, four men got together to start a winery. The result was DeLille Cellars, which has gone on to become one of Washington's most cherished and revered producers. Greg Lill got together with friends Jay Soloff and Chris Upchurch and his father, Charles, to launch DeLille at a property Charles owned just a couple of minutes' drive … [Read more...] about The art of blending with DeLille’s Chris Upchurch