Category: vineyards
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
Cheese Ploughman’s + Falcata
I had planned the perfect pairing: cheese ploughman’s with a fresh, crispy baguette accompanied by a zingy Albarino or Godello on its lees. The wine’s acidity would cut the fat of the cheese and spar playfully with the pickle. The subtle yeasty-ness of the lees aging would enhance the bread. Perfection on a plate. The… Read More Cheese Ploughman’s + Falcata
Vinelands: Montinore, Willamette Valley
Photos: Richard Duval Images, courtesy: Montinore Vineyards Willamette Valley, May 6, 2014 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 of blackberry, raspberry,… Read More Vinelands: Montinore, Willamette Valley
Montinore Vineyards Then and Now
Then Outside, rhododendrons, lilacs, roses, cypress, oak, weeping willow channel the exuberance of the earth into great bursts of foliage and color. The concrete walls of Montinore’s winery and tasting room are lathered with brilliant green ivy. Chipmunks skitter on tree trunks, scolding the birds that loft saucily towards clouds hanging like puffs of whipped… Read More Montinore Vineyards Then and Now
Vinelands: Bodegas Castaño, Yecla, Spain
Located in the arid interior of the northern tip of the province of Murcia, on the Mediterranean side of the Iberian Peninsula, Bodegas Castaño is the fruit of almost a century of wine making tradition. Dani Castaño, one of the three brothers who — along with their father — run the winery, explained that around… Read More Vinelands: Bodegas Castaño, Yecla, Spain
Plum Hill Vineyards – Then and Now
In 2015, Oregon Wine Pioneers (Vine Lives) was published. It told the stories of 15 ground-breaking Oregon wineries and winemakers. After the strangest year in living memory, it was time to reconnect with this heroic souls and find out how life looks now — and what the future holds. Then Fifty-four inches. That’s the perfect… Read More Plum Hill Vineyards – Then and Now
