Twenty years ago, a 3.5-acre vineyard named Elle Reve was planted with Dijon clones 115, 114, 667, 777, and Pommard. The winery was called Laura Volkman Vineyards, and Laura was part of a dynamic husband-wife…
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When we hear about a new winery opening, there is always a backstory of the who and the why. There are many stories where the backstory consists of a lifelong dream of wanting to own…
View PostWhen we hear about a new winery opening, there is always a backstory of the who and the why. There are many stories where the backstory consists of a lifelong dream of wanting to own…
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It is heartbreaking to hear the story of Jimi Brooks passing away suddenly during harvest leaving his legacy to his eight-year-old son Pascal. However, to hear how 12 winemakers stepped up to the plate to…
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Jimi Brooks, the founder of Brooks Wine, grew up in Oregon, went to Beaverton High School, and graduated Linfield College in 1989. He is a man who traveled the world, spent ten years in Europe while doing a harvest in Beaujolais. In doing some research, people describe Jimi as “a restless world traveler with a magnetic personality, who had a weakness for Moto Guzzi motorcycles, Unimog lorries, and vintage Land Rovers.” Jimi moved to Oregon in the late 90s, where wine was starting to boom. Before Brooks Wines was created, Jimi was taken under the wing of Mo Momtazi, the vineyard owner of Maysara Winery
View PostJimi Brooks, the founder of Brooks Wine, grew up in Oregon, went to Beaverton High School, and graduated Linfield College in 1989. He is a man who traveled the world, spent ten years in Europe while doing a harvest in Beaujolais. In doing some research, people describe Jimi as “a restless world traveler with a magnetic personality, who had a weakness for Moto Guzzi motorcycles, Unimog lorries, and vintage Land Rovers.” Jimi moved to Oregon in the late 90s, where wine was starting to boom. Before Brooks Wines was created, Jimi was taken under the wing of Mo Momtazi, the vineyard owner of Maysara Winery
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Dan Warnshuis from Utopia started in wine by converting a laundry room into a wine cellar to opening a wine shop in Napa. But, his dream and vision didn’t stop there. He wanted his vineyard,…
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There are many differences between being a judge and being a volunteer, the first being arrival time. I was instructed to show up between 7:30 and 8:00. I have zero issues getting up early, but dang, my morning routine starts at 5:00, and I usually am not done walking Globgor until 8:00. Side note: I was nervous as all got out like last year wearing deodorant. Trying to find an effective non-scent deodorant is next to impossible! Zero difference this year. I was still worried as all get out. My arrival was ten minutes past 8:00. Nobody noticed my tardiness.
View PostThere are many differences between being a judge and being a volunteer, the first being arrival time. I was instructed to show up between 7:30 and 8:00. I have zero issues getting up early, but dang, my morning routine starts at 5:00, and I usually am not done walking Globgor until 8:00. Side note: I was nervous as all got out like last year wearing deodorant. Trying to find an effective non-scent deodorant is next to impossible! Zero difference this year. I was still worried as all get out. My arrival was ten minutes past 8:00. Nobody noticed my tardiness.
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What surprises me the most about Lundeen Wines is nobody in my immediate circle knows of these wines. It’s not like Michael is a newcomer to the scene. In 2001 he graduated from U of O with a journalism degree. He sold one story to a magazine and only used his degree one other time for a story about wine and architecture. It begs the question, how in the world does one go from getting a degree in journalism to wine for the better part of 20 years?
View PostWhat surprises me the most about Lundeen Wines is nobody in my immediate circle knows of these wines. It’s not like Michael is a newcomer to the scene. In 2001 he graduated from U of O with a journalism degree. He sold one story to a magazine and only used his degree one other time for a story about wine and architecture. It begs the question, how in the world does one go from getting a degree in journalism to wine for the better part of 20 years?
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Wynne Peterson-Nedry is the daughter of Harry Peterson-Nedry, who is Oregon Wine Royalty in many regards. Harry is responsible for the first vineyard in Oregon’s Ribbon Ridge AVA over 30 years ago and just last…
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The last 23 months have been ferocious for so many of us. We all have that one pandemic story we will never forget. Piper from Prive Vineyards is no different. She not only bought a…
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I want to introduce you to a fascinating man by the name of Andy Lytle, he has his hands in so many different projects inside Oregon wine country. It is absolutely mind blowing his sense…
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I had the pleasure to chat with Mac and Sid Heinze of Kings North. They recently opened their tasting room in March of 2021. Kings North is all about family through and through. There is…
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The number of bottles I don’t want to open is increasing, leaving me with a perception of having nothing to drink. The 2018 Orientate is no exception, and I will not open the other bottle…
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This is how I came about buying three bottles of Drew Bledsoe Wine, a 2018 Doubleback Cab. When they were delivered, I was excited and scared at the same time. I knew they were young and I should wait, like many years, but how can one wait when you’ve never had them before. I needed to see if I liked Doubleback or not.
View PostThis is how I came about buying three bottles of Drew Bledsoe Wine, a 2018 Doubleback Cab. When they were delivered, I was excited and scared at the same time. I knew they were young and I should wait, like many years, but how can one wait when you’ve never had them before. I needed to see if I liked Doubleback or not.
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What catches my attention about this wine is the internal struggle between bright and dark fruits. I first observed this in the glass with medium to almost dark reds with twinges of bright reds wanting…
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