With just one day left in June, I am suddenly realizing what little has been done in the way of my getting out and exploring the places producing wine in the Pacific Northwest. To be fair, a couple of trips took me away to Colorado for vacation and then Oklahoma for a family visit. But even still, the rest of month seemed to have slipped away.

Fortunately, I have been able to travel virtually to wine country by following the posts of a couple of fellow Washington wine bloggers. Both Gene of Seattle Wine Blogger and Catie of Through the Walla Walla Grape Vine have written lately about terroir.

I have enjoyed reading Gene's commentary on the subject, especially his approach at explaining the influences on wine that occur in the vineyard and at the winery. I have also enjoyed reading about his trip to Walla Walla and look forward to hearing more about his experiences meeting winemakers and visiting vineyards there.

Catie takes the topic of terroir even further by offering us a guided tour through some of Washington's new appellations and the vineyards that distinguish them. Her writings on "a sense of place" provide an excellent guide for anyone planning a trip to eastern Washington. And even if you're unable to visit wine country, Catie offers one of the best ways to experience wine beyond the bottle.

In July, I am looking forward to making a trip out to Walla Walla to visit more wineries and vineyards. My hope is to also visit some of the local wineries in Woodinville. Regardless of where my travels take me, I am looking forward to sharing wine experiences that go beyond the bottle with you in the weeks ahead. In the meantime, please let me know if there are places (e.g., wineries, vineyards, restaurants, etc.) you feel are worth visiting in Washington and Oregon.

Hope to see you out there this summer discovering new wines and exploring new places!