From the soil to the labels and in the tasting room, WillaKenzie Estate Winery views itself as a textural journey from vine to glass. Situated in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA of the Willamette Valley, it encompasses 400 acres, with 100 planted, forming a mosaic of textures within the vineyard’s six distinct neighborhoods. Let’s delve into the
It is that time of the year for me to share my list of the best wine 2024, my year in review. In addition to the various in-person and Zoom tastings I attended here in Los Angeles, I traveled to Paso Robles to delve into the wineries of the CAB Collective. I ventured to Oregon
Ghost Hill Cellars‘ name invokes a haunted or spooky past. The legend is part of the history of the Bayliss family’s 234-acre property and its land stewardship. The property is located in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA and has been in the family since 1906. The Legend of Ghost Hill Cellars With the purchase of the Donation
Often, we compare winemaking to a chef’s spice rack or an artist’s palette of colors. At Bells Up Winery, Dave Specter uses music define to define his wine.
What makes a winery or winemaker unique and stand out? When visiting a winery, I try to look for something different. It could be a unique variety used to produce wine, the region, or looking to the winemaker, their take on the wine, his path to winemaking, or something different in the winemaking process. In
As the Thanksgiving Holiday approaches, many contemplate the best wine to serve to make our Thanksgiving feast memorable. Halleck Vineyard, a small Sebastopol winery, comes to mind. Many of their wines lend themselves to creating a unique and excellent accompaniment to the Thanksgiving dinner. Not only does the wine lend itself to the cuisine, but
When thinking about New Zealand wine, one typically thinks of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. My mind immediately goes to the grassy and grapefruit aromas of the Sauvignon Blanc and the minerally character of the wine. Such was the case when I had the privilege of meeting Winemaker Natalie Christensen and tasting Yealands
Many people are unaware that there is an AVA on the East Bay of San Francisco. The Lamorinda AVA, a hidden gem, is part of the Central Coast and San Francisco Bay AVAs. Located in Contra Costa County, the Lamorinda AVA encompasses the cities of Lafayette, Moraga, and Orinda. Let’s discover more about this little-known
Each glass of wine we drink takes us on an excursion to some of the most incredible wine destinations worldwide. We live vicariously through the glass. For this article, let’s travel to Burgundy to discover a six-generation family that has made their mark on Burgundian wine, Albert Bichot. The Albert Bichot Family Family roots go
From grandfather to grandson, Piedra Creek Winery represents one of the smallest bonded wineries in the Edna Valley. Today, the winery is known primarily for producing Lagrein, a red grape variety from the Alto Adige region of Italy. The production might be small, but the wines are mighty in their own right. Romeo Zuech Founder