All posts by Eric Degerman

About Eric Degerman

Eric Degerman is the president and CEO of Great Northwest Wine. He is a journalist with more than 30 years of daily newspaper experience and has been writing about wine since 1998. He co-founded Wine Press Northwest with Andy Perdue and served as its managing editor for 15 years. He is a frequent wine judge along the West Coast.
  • ‘Slow and steady harvest’ forecast for Northwest grapes in 2019

    The 2019 vintage has entered the homestretch in the Pacific Northwest, and the weather forecast seems to indicate that vineyards are positioned for essentially an uneventful hand-ride through harvest. Greg Jones, a professor at Linfield College in...

    • Posted September 4, 2019
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  • Koenig wins Idaho Wine Competition for new owners

    CALDWELL, Idaho – Greg Koenig recently sold his showpiece winery in the Snake River Valley to James and Sydney Nederend, yet the awards continue to pour out of Koenig Vineyards, the latest being best of show at...

    • Posted August 23, 2019
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  • Bledsoe Family Winery set to open tasting room in Oregon

    Drew Bledsoe and his wife, Maura, decided to raise their four children near Bend, Ore., before the Walla Walla standout announced his retirement as a National Football League quarterback in 2007. On Thursday, the Bledsoes will sink...

    • Posted August 12, 2019
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  • Northwest vineyards track along 2017 vintage after cool July

    Portions of the Pacific Northwest saw wildfire smoke waft in during July and ahead of scorching summer temperatures as growing degree days for the 2019 vintage are tracking similar to 2017 in many vineyards. Climate researcher Greg...

    • Posted August 5, 2019
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  • Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance hires Robert Hansen as executive director

    Robert Hansen, a longtime leader of the Portland Rose Festival Foundation, was named Tuesday as executive director for the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance. He will be the third person to serve in that role since Duane...

    • Posted July 31, 2019
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  • Amelia Wynn 2016 Grenache wins Washington State Wine Competition

    GRANDVIEW, Wash. – A year ago, self-taught winemaker Paul Bianchi earned best-of-class awards at the storied Washington State Wine Competition for his Cabernet Franc and Tempranillo. Last week, the vintner at tiny Amelia Wynn Winery on Bainbridge...

    • Posted July 1, 2019
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  • Zerba Cellars 2016 Wild Z wins Walla Walla wine competition

    WALLA WALLA, Wash. – It’s been an emotional year for Zerba Cellars, so the 20-employee company welcomed the news that its 2016 Estate Wild Z Red Wine was voted as best of show at the seventh annual...

    • Posted June 25, 2019
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  • Maryhill, Gehringer Bros. stand tall at INDY International judging

    WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Richard Batchelor of Maryhill Winery repeated as Winemaker of the Year and Barrister Winery received a trio of double gold medals as Pacific Northwest producers again proved their mettle at the 28th annual...

    • Posted May 31, 2019
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  • Koenig Vineyards in Idaho stays local with sale to Nederends

    CALDWELL, Idaho – In a stunning yet feel-good move for the Idaho wine industry, Greg and Kristen Koenig have agreed to sell Koenig Vineyards on the Sunnyslope of the Snake River Valley to James and Sydney Nederend...

    • Posted May 17, 2019
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  • 2019 vintage off to warm start in Northwest vineyards

    The Pacific Northwest wine industry won’t soon forget the snow and cold of February, and yet the 2019 vintage is off to a warm start, according to data gathered by climate researcher Greg Jones. As the month...

    • Posted May 6, 2019
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