BENTON CITY, Wash. — Amy Lagler-Johnson, winemaker at Purple Star, Muret-Gaston Wines and Native Sun, has spent a lot of time as a “woman in a man’s job” and has stories to back it up. Lagler-Johnson graduated from Washington State University with a bachelor’s degree in animal science production management and planned to return home and join her brothers as the third … [Read more...] about Blending ag, science and wine with Amy Lagler-Johnson of Purple Star, Muret-Gaston
Rising Star: Stephanie Cohen shines atop Red Mountain at Col Solare
BENTON CITY, Wash. — Stephanie Cohen had a sense back in eighth grade that her career would be tied to fermentation. She remembers thinking during a tour of a Belgian brewery that the brewing process was “the coolest thing.” It led to thoughts of becoming a winemaker and starting down the path that’s taken her near the top of Red Mountain. That vision as a teen growing up … [Read more...] about Rising Star: Stephanie Cohen shines atop Red Mountain at Col Solare
Rising Stars: Queer Wine Fest rainbow continues to grow in Dundee Hills
DAYTON, Ore. — Remember the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon game? The theory was that everyone in Hollywood was connected to Kevin Bacon via six connections. When I worked for Hope Moore at her Heaven’s Cave Cellars in Prosser, Wash., we had a Barbera named Two Degrees because a shared love of wine reduced the degrees of separation between people to two steps. I was … [Read more...] about Rising Stars: Queer Wine Fest rainbow continues to grow in Dundee Hills
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
Rising Stars: Ellie Zeron’s path to wine began in Venezuela, led to Red Mountain
BENTON CITY, Wash. — During my time as the wine program director at the Walter Clore Center, we staged an annual tasting for consumers called “Rising Stars,” at which some of Washington’s promising young wineries poured their wines. My column will now take a similar path, providing a platform for rising stars who don’t fit the traditional perception of winemakers. Ellie … [Read more...] about Rising Stars: Ellie Zeron’s path to wine began in Venezuela, led to Red Mountain