Category: Vineyard Visit
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Southern Oregon’s Iberian Surprise: Amazing Tempranillo
Unlike Willamette Valley to the north, Southern Oregon’s warmer and drier Rogue River and Umpqua Valleys do not have a “signature” grape. Over 20 different wine grapes grow in the region. That provides an unique wine tasting experience — something for everyone at one winery. As I tasted wine from a variety of wineries in…
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Viticultural Dreamin’: The Farmers of Rogue Valley AVA
The landscape of Rogue Valley is filled with rows of deep green fir trees, flat valleys with fields of vineyards and other crops, and overlapping mountain ranges on the horizon. Surrounded by three mountain ranges — The Cascades, the Siskiyou, and the Coast Range — southern Oregon is the site of highly skilled farmers, who…
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Getting to Know You: Petit Manseng
A rare variety, Petit Manseng originates from southwest France, most famously, the Jurançon region, at the base of the Pyrenees Mountains. Often undergoing desiccation, the grape’s sugars and flavors concentrate on the vine, producing a sweet nectar once used to baptize a king. It is often blended with other rare varieties, notably Gros Manseng, to…
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East of Rutherford, Chiles Valley AVA
On my last trip to Napa, I wanted to visit an AVA I had never tasted before. From Rutherford on the Napa Valley floor, my husband and I followed Highway 128 east for about 25 minutes in a narrow and winding path passing Lake Hennessey on the left (cover photo) and the Vaca Mountains on…
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What to Drink from Washington State: Rattlesnake Hills AVA
When I stepped out of the Tri Cities Airport in Pasco, Washington, I noticed right away the vast openness of the countryside. Looking out as far as your eyes can see, you view multiple mountain ridges and often have a 360 degree view. The Yakima Valley Wine Association arranged for attendees of the Wine Bloggers…