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Washington Wine Blogs

Amy Rootvik - Walla Walla
Grape Expectations
Justin Vajgert
Northwest Wine Insider
Seattle Wine Blog
The Walla Walla Wine Charlatan
The Wine Commentator
The Wine Knows
The Wine Offensive
The Wine Wall
Through The Walla Walla Grapevine
Washington Wine Report
Wine Foot
Write for Wine

Oregon Wine Blogs

Élevage
The Inspired Imbiber 2.0
The Oregon Wine Blog
The Pinotguy's Wine Blog
The Wine Commentator
West Hills Wine Blog
Willamette Valley Guide
The Wine Camp Blog
Wine & Food Experiences

State Organizations

Oregon Wine Site
Oregon Grape Growers
Washington Wine Site
Washington Grape Growers

Regional Associations

Columbia Cascade Wineries
Columbia Gorge Winegrowers
Columbia Valley Wineries
North Sound Wineries
Puget Sound Winegrowers
Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail
South Seattle Artisan Wineries
Southern Oregon Wineries
Spokane Wineries
Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance
Willamette Valley Wineries
Wine Yakima Valley
Woodinville Wine Country

Other Wine Blogs

Dr. Vino
Fermentation
Good Grape
Jamie Goode's Wine Blog
oenoLogic
The Pour
Vinography
Vivi's Wine Journal
Wine Cast

Main

August 20, 2008

Looking for a good Oregon wine?

According to the Oregon Wine Board, there are 393 wineries and 792 vineyards in the state, most of which focus on Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Riesling, and Cabernet Sauvignon varieties. There are over 17,000 acres planted in Oregon, producing about 39,000 tons of grapes, which result in 1.7 million cases of wine. What makes Oregon unique relative to its northern and southern neighbors is the disproportionate number of smaller wineries, with most producing less than 5,000 cases of wine. The state has also distinguished itself by focusing on sustainability, with 23% of the vineyards certified sustainable, organic and...

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Posted by Thad at 10:43 PM | | Comments (0)

August 14, 2008

Looking for a good Washington wine?

According to the Washington Wine Commission, our state is now home to over 540 wineries, producing wine from more than 20 varieties of grapes cultivated on over 31,000 acres of vineyards. This adds up to a lot of bottles, which represent an ever expanding selection of wine for the consumer. It is easy to become overwhelmed by it all, as evidenced by the confused and confounded faces I often see at the grocery or wine store. There is hope for those needing help in choosing a Washington wine that suits their personal taste, for there are several bloggers who...

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Posted by Thad at 11:39 AM | | Comments (2)

July 03, 2008

4th of July in Walla Walla

Tomorrow, I make the five hour journey east from Seattle to Walla Walla for our annual Fourth of July gathering with family and friends. Kari and the girls flew out on Tuesday, therefore I am looking forward to seeing them again as well as spending time with my extended family. To celebrate our nation's birthday, we gather at my brother-in-law's place southeast of downtown Walla Walla, in the heart of wheat country. After an afternoon of the kids swimming and adults playing bocce ball, we come together around a long table outside to celebrate local food and wine. I...

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Posted by Thad at 09:32 PM | | Comments (0)

May 25, 2008

Robert Mondavi: Lasting Connections

Of all the recent blog posts and news articles on the passing of Robert Mondavi, it is the personal stories that recount connections made by meeting Mondavi or experiencing his wines that are the most captivating and inspiring. These stories demonstrate the rewards that come in getting to know the people behind the wine they craft. They also show how certain wines can create connections to periods and places in our lives that will remain with us for decades to come. As to understanding the person behind the wine, two bloggers on opposite coasts described similar experiences when meeting Robert...

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Posted by Thad at 01:40 PM | | Comments (0)

May 20, 2008

The Logos of Thor Iverson

Even though I subscribe to dozens of wine blog feeds, there are but a handful of sites that provide truly meaningful learning experiences helping to further my wine knowledge. Thor Iverson of oenoLogic is one of those few wine bloggers whose writings grab my attention, invite me to read, and encourage me to study. His recent posts on alcohol levels in wine are terrific examples of how Thor can take a current blog topic and expound on it in a way that takes you beyond what has already been stated, resulting in a deeper understanding of wine. Thor is...

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Posted by Thad at 09:00 PM | | Comments (2)

March 22, 2008

WineFoot.com is off to a sprint

Slowly but surely, there are more folks in our state blogging about Washington wine. This is something very much needed when you think about the lack of coverage our state receives in the blogosphere. Which is why I am so excited about WineFoot.com, a new wine blog that literally burst onto the scene last month and has been running at a fast pace ever since. In just two months, WineFoot.com has been covering a variety of wines, tasting events, winemakers, industry news, and other related topics. And there's a growing library of videos and photos making this blog unique through...

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Posted by Thad at 07:27 PM | | Comments (0)

February 18, 2008

The Dysfunctional House of Mondavi

I couldn't finish this book. I was halfway through and just couldn't bring myself to reading any more pages detailing the dysfunction of the Mondavi family. The sibling rivalries, the raw greed, the marital affairs, and the suffering children who repeated this dysfunctional cycle across several generations. What a sad, pitiful tale Julia Flynn Siler has crafted in "The House of Mondavi: The Rise and Fall of an American Wine Dynasty". If you can get past Siler's overlapping sequence of events from chapter to chapter, you'll find a story that leaves little to be desired. The book clearly validates...

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Posted by Thad at 01:53 PM | | Comments (0)

December 20, 2007

VinMaps: A gift of place

If you're looking for a last minute gift for someone who enjoys wine, I suggest giving them something that will provide a sense of place: a VinMap. VinMaps are the creation of Suzi Surbey, a cartographer who has transformed wine producing countries, states, and regions into beautiful expressions of wine geography. Suzi has recently released an updated map of Washington, detailing the state's AVAs and 500 wineries. If your interests extend beyond the Pacific Northwest, then Suzi has maps of specific wine regions and the major wine producing countries around the world. About a year ago, I purchased individual maps...

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Posted by Thad at 08:01 PM | | Comments (2)

December 06, 2007

Breaking the Unspoken Code

In a recent Seattle Times wine column, Paul Gregutt made an interesting statement regarding his colleagues in the wine press: "There is a sort of unspoken code among many in the wine press not to be too critical of specific wines or wineries. The logic is that it's better to point out the successes and let the failures slide." I would have enjoyed hearing Gregutt expound on the logic underlying this "unspoken code". I believe there is a clear reason for its existence: incentives compel reviewers to remain focused on writing only about successes, with those calling out failures risking...

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Posted by Thad at 03:08 PM | | Comments (4)

November 19, 2007

The Fruits of Paul Gregutt's Labors

Fall is always a busy time for wineries, with harvest bringing in the new vintage and the previous years' bottlings being released. It seems Paul Gregutt, wine columnist for The Seattle Times, has been just as busy crafting some enjoyable and insightful pieces on the Pacific Northwest wine scene. Terroir Is Not A Small Dog! - an excerpt from Paul's new book, "Washington Wines & Wineries", which should be a good read considering the witty approach he takes with this piece about Washington state vineyards. Acquiring A Taste - a recent cover story for the Pacific Northwest magazine's annual wine...

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Posted by Thad at 01:43 PM | | Comments (1)

November 06, 2007

Newly Discovered Northwest Wine Bloggers

During the last month, I have discovered a number of wine bloggers who are based in the Pacific Northwest. Many of these folks focus exclusively on Washington or Oregon wine, while others extend their writing to cover other regions in the US and rest of world. In general, I find it much more interesting and insightful to read about the local wine scene from folks who actually live here and experience it firsthand, rather than the multitude of folks who merely blog about how our wines taste and should be scored. Besides their common geography, these local wine bloggers share...

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Posted by Thad at 12:57 PM | | Comments (2)

November 05, 2007

A Toast to Pappa Rosso

You may recognize Bob, aka Pappa Rosso, from a Washington wine event or the tasting room at Isenhower Cellars in Walla Walla. I wanted to write about Bob for several reasons, all of which focus on how he celebrates wine in a way that clearly distinguishes him from others. First, I believe Bob is the benchmark when it comes to tasting room managers. He is truly unique when it comes to connecting folks to the wine he pours. Second, Bob's been a terrific teacher and mentor to me. Over the last decade, my knowledge and appreciation for wine has...

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Posted by Thad at 12:22 PM | | Comments (4)

October 19, 2007

Review: The Emperor of Wine

I am no fan of Robert Parker, but am better off as a wine enthusiast for having read Elin McCoy's biography, "The Emperor of Wine: The Rise of Robert M. Parker, Jr. and the Reign of American Taste". As the title suggests, McCoy's book is divided into two parts: the incredible rise of Parker as a wine reviewer and then his role leading the American influence over the global wine industry. In addition to educating me about the man, I also learned a ton about the wine industry in general, especially the history and culture of the Bordeaux and...

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Posted by Thad at 12:16 PM | | Comments (0)

October 06, 2007

Where are the Washington-based wine bloggers?

I've been blogging about wine for over five months now and am surprised that there aren't more folks like me based in Washington state doing the same. There are plenty of bloggers around the country (especially in California) who blog about Washington wine, but it seems there are only a handful of us in the state doing this on a regular basis. Based on my latest count, these bloggers include: Andy of The Wine Knows; Catie of Through the Walla Walla Grapevine; Gene of Seattle Wine Blog; Margot of Write for Wine; and Paul of Northwest Wine Insider. Again, these...

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Posted by Thad at 11:36 AM | | Comments (8)

October 01, 2007

Why I like the 3 Wine Guys

It was with some reluctance that I first subscribed to the 3 Wine Guys podcast on iTunes, as I didn't know what to expect with the "explicit" label and all. But after noticing that they had done two shows focused on Washington blends and Oregon pinot noir, I just had to download and listen. Boy, am I glad to have experienced what these guys are doing, for they have set themselves apart from the rest of the podcasting crowd by connecting you to the who, what and where of what they are drinking. First of all, the 3 Wine Guys...

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Posted by Thad at 06:33 PM | | Comments (2)

July 22, 2007

Seattle Magazine's 2007 Wine Guide

When this month's Seattle Magazine arrived in the mail, I noticed a cover feature entitled, "Washington Wines: 24 Hot New Releases". Opening the magazine, I expected yet another "best of" article on Washington wine, complete with ratings and reviews. To my pleasant surprise, the feature really went beyond the bottle by focusing on the history, people and places behind Washington wine. I really enjoyed seeing the group photos identifying some of the state's wine pioneers and families, as well as the next generation of folks involved in growing, making and selling wine. The insightful articles on new viticulture areas, the...

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Posted by Thad at 02:17 PM | | Comments (1)

June 07, 2007

Why I'm Glad Craig Camp Blogs

I'm glad Craig Camp blogs. I have never met Craig nor have I ever spoken to the guy. But I've been following his blog for almost a year now and am better off for it. You see, I believe Craig is changing the way folks approach, drink, think, and talk about wine. He's a counter-balance to the ongoing trend of wine critics/reviewers/bloggers taking a glass of wine and distilling it into a number, usually on a 100 point scale, and just leaving it at that, a score. I am a huge fan of Craig writing about wine in a broader...

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Posted by Thad at 07:41 PM | | Comments (0)

May 16, 2007

Andy Perdue's Video Quest

The other day while searching on the term "northwest wine" in the podcast section of the iTunes online store, I was pleasantly surprised to find a collection of wine videos produced by Andy Perdue of Wine Press Northwest. Andy is editor-in-chief of Wine Press Northwest and has been a fixture in the Pacific Northwest wine industry since the quarterly magazine's launch in 1998. He also writes a blog called The Wine Knows, which appears to be a more personal extension of his work at the magazine. Here's what I like about Andy's videos: they easily connect you to the people,...

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Posted by Thad at 07:50 PM | | Comments (0)

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