Author: Cila Warncke
A Journey into Oregon Wine
A peek into the origins of Oregon Wine Pioneers, as told by author Cila Warncke. Driving through Willamette Valley wine country on a spring day is a revelation of abundance. Everything grows in dense profusion. Grass greener than the Emerald City ripples in fields, closely packed as water drops in a pond. Great arcing vines… Read More A Journey into Oregon Wine
Innovators: Abacela
The only thing rarer than original thought is, perhaps, the courage to act on it. “One of the criteria for doing a harebrained thing like starting a winery is you have to be a romantic idealist,” Earl says.… Read More Innovators: Abacela
Adrian Chitty Artist in Residence
Adrian Chitty spent over a year at A to Z Wineworks as an artist-in-residence… a personal transformation as radical as the journey from blossom to bottle.… Read More Adrian Chitty Artist in Residence
Buy More Wine
There isn’t much we wine consumers can do about this except… consume. To the extent we can, we need to support our favorite wine businesses now, otherwise we won’t have the chance to later. … Read More Buy More Wine
Connections: Landlines Estates
We have tasted a lot of wine together over the years, often hopping into a car on a Saturday afternoon to head to some fairy-dust sprinkled corner of the Willamette Valley to drink bliss-inducing Pinot Noirs and hedgehog-spiky Pinot Gris. This time, my husband and I were in our living room…… Read More Connections: Landlines Estates
Small is Beautiful: Celler Gurgu
Against the backdrop of a world turning itself into a Dali canvas, there is reassurance in connecting with handcraft, labor, the senses. Wine is, more than ever, more than a diversion; it is a link to the past and future.… Read More Small is Beautiful: Celler Gurgu
A Blooming Hill Vineyard
“It was like Mad Men,” Holly Witte says with a smile, recalling the era when she and Jim Witte first met. It was the 1960s. He was a TV producer working with stars like Barbara Streisand, Merv Griffin and the denizens of Sesame Street. … Read More A Blooming Hill Vineyard
Vinelands: Whistling Dog Cellars
One of the most beautiful vineyards I have had the pleasure of visiting was Whistling Dog Cellars just outside of Salem. … Read More Vinelands: Whistling Dog Cellars
Why Vineyard Aspect Matters
One thing I learned in the WSET Level 2 course is the significance of location. Minor differences in altitude, aspect (vineyard orientation) and soil type can be the difference between successful harvest and bust. In a cool spot on the northern hemisphere, for example, an ideal location would be a south-facing, steep slope with stony… Read More Why Vineyard Aspect Matters