Are you interested in spending a relaxing day enjoying outstanding food and wine? Or wondering where to road trip? My latest writing projects offer insight into some of the best places to explore Washington wine country. Spend a Weekend at Red Mountain Hedges Family Estate on Red Mountain Pack your bags! One of my articles for Explore Washington State shines light on some of the top boutique and family-owned wineries in the magnificent Red Mountain AVA, places to eat, and intriguing places to stay among the vines. Although the destination is home to some of the state’s most prestigious vineyar ..read more

This recipe calls for yogurt in place of cream to create an easy and healthy sauce. It’s unctuous mouth feel enhances fish as well as some delightful white wine pairings.   Yogurt Sauce Recipe 1 leek (white and light green parts), diced 1 zucchini, diced 2 teaspoons olive oil 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup water 1/2 cup Greek yogurt (I use 2%) 1/4 cup chopped chives Zest of 1-2 lemons Warm olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the diced leek and zucchini along with the salt and sauté until the vegetables start to soften about 3 minutes. Add water to the pan and raise the heat to medium h ..read more

Did you know that the Georgetown neighborhood is part of Seattle’s current urban wine scene? As a volunteer board member for Seattle Urban Wineries I’ve enjoyed traversing across town and exploring the different neighborhoods in which the wineries and tasting rooms are located. My latest day trip took me to this historic area where the town’s first railroad began, Rainier beer originated, and the city’s first municipal airport opened. Discover why this neighborhood is a terrific destination to explore Seattle’s charming architecture of a bygone era while taking in some wine tasting and cravea ..read more

If you’re part of the “Anything But Chardonnay” crowd, grab a glass and take a journey through an exotic landscape filled with flourishing blossoms and their enticing perfume, along with captivating textures. Close your eyes, tip your head back, then surrender to the bright flavors swirling around. Without further ado, here are seventeen of Washington’s white wines for the adventurous along with some reliable producers. Why not make a game of it? Give yourself one point for each Washington grown variety you’ve tasted in a blend. Or, since these wines are such rare treasures, earn three points ..read more

There’s a winemaker in Woodinville who says, “Not all damsels are in distress.” That vintner is Mari Womak of Damsel Cellars. For nearly two years I’ve had the great pleasure of working with her. The truth is, a lot of winemakers relish days hiding out in the cellar. However, that’s not the case with Mari. In fact, keeping up with Damsel Cellars and all that Mari is doing can be a challenge. Winemaker Mari Womak, photo courtesy of winery friend Wen (@grnlakegirl on Twitter) Regardless, she’s still accessible to Damsel’s wine club and consumers. Perhaps that’s the secret to her success. Somehow ..read more

I still recall my first encounter with Elsom Cellars wine years ago. It was a malbec, and a distinctive one at that. It exuded a spicy, black pepper nuance. Is there a spice more popular than pepper? It adds abundant flavor to life. As do the wines coming out of this woman led business. While Malbec is still considered the signature variety of Elsom Cellars, the winery is about so much more than that. Especially to me personally. I am a member of the board of Seattle Urban Wineries as a result of Winemaker Rebecca Weber’s outreach. Even if it weren’t for that, I find it admirable that the peop ..read more

How about a glass of wine to celebrate Earth Day? In keeping with the theme, be sure it’s from an eco-friendly producer. How do you know whether a winery uses sustainable practices? If you ask Esther Mobley, Senior Wine Critic of the San Francisco Chronicle, “The best resource I can recommend is the Slow Wine Guide.” It was my privilege to conduct 17 interviews in Washington and Oregon for the Slow Wine Guide USA 2023. Each winery entry provides a snapshot of the people, the vineyards, and wines. Top Slow Wine Awards When I received my author’s copy it was a thrill to see that two of the wine ..read more

Look up “Colorado wine” and Google suggests people want to know, “Is Colorado good for wine?” and, “Does Colorado have good wineries?” Up until last week, I had no idea. Enter Colorado winery, The Ordinary Fellow. The labels on the samples I received are anything but commonplace, splashed with colorful artwork. A small peel off tab enables an outer sleeve to rotate around the bottle. With each turn of the clever wrapper, cutouts highlight different images below along with clever sayings. The innovative approach is something perfectly playful and enchanting for those who feel that stodgy wine l ..read more

Isn’t shopping for wine a bit like visiting Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory? Pass through the entrance and sense feelings of wonder and awe. How could there be so many choices? The wine, like a seemingly endless river of chocolate, brings on conflicting feelings of childlike joy and overwhelm! Caution should be exercised so that a lack of self-control doesn’t lead to catastrophe. It’s a lot to cope with, I know. In order to maintain a sense of decorum AND not overspend, it’s a good idea to have a plan and stick to your mission. To that end, here is a simple guide to buying wine. Begin with a ..read more

They’re here! If you’re curious about wineries with a sustainable focus, or interested in Seattle’s wine scene, my recent writing projects are now published. Slow Wine Guide 2023 The secret is out! How do you find wines that are crafted with sustainable practices such as using grapes that are farmed without synthetic pesticides & herbicides? Get a copy of the Slow Wine Guide USA! The 2023 edition is now available.⁠ ⁠ I had the pleasure of interviewing 17 winemakers in Washington and Oregon for this edition, helping to grow the Pacific Northwest’s presence in this outstanding resource. It ..read more