We have been to more wine tasting rooms around the world than we can count.
Avennia Red Mountain tasting room.
Some are functional, simply providing a sample of new & library releases for purchase. Others are an extension of an estate winery offering up vineyard views and world-class chefs to enhance the overall tasting experience. And finally, there are those that offer up something experiential—sometimes related to wine, sometimes not—as added incentive to entice visitors; think art galleries, Formula 1 racing simulators, and even an ice rink (in Canada of course!).
For us, the wine is always our priority. Even better if we can sip those wines at the vineyards where the fruit has been sourced. In the case of Avennia’s tasting room at Red Mountain, its wines, views, and talented staff have put it among our very favourite stops when visiting Washington wine country.
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The view of Chablis from the top of the Grand Cru hill.
Chablis is the northern most wine growing region in the appellation of Burgundy. The name has become synonymous with great white wine. Our recent visit to the region taught us a great deal more about the area, reaffirmed our love for its wines, and showed us what a truly beautiful place it is to visit.
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In the ever-evolving world of wine, trends are like fine vintages—they come and go, leaving a distinct mark on the palate of the industry.
Mari Womack.
Lately, two prominent trends have been swirling through the wine culture challenging traditional notions and reshaping the way we approach the world of wine: the increasing demand for low or no-alcohol alternatives and the rise of ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails. These trends not only signify a shift in consumer preferences but also pose new challenges for winemakers as they navigate an increasingly competitive market.
Mari Womack, owner and winemaker of Damsel Cellars has been bucking these and other trends since she began her odyssey by doing one thing: staying focused on producing high quality wine.
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The entrance to the vineyards.
A recent discovery for us was Yellowhawk Resort & Sparkling Winery located in Walla Walla in southeastern Washington State. We had a terrific visit on their beautiful property and loved hearing their fascinating story.
Yellowhawk was brought into existence by the creativity and drive of chef and hospitality business owner Dan Thiessen. Dan got his initial training at the Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park (NYC), graduating in 1992. After stints in Switzerland and Aspen Colorado, he returned to his roots in the Pacific Northwest and took a job as executive chef at the restaurant in the Space Needle, Seattle’s highest volume restaurant. That’s when fate intervened in the form of a telephone call from a successful entrepreneur who had sold his cell phone business and was creating some new restaurants.
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Ashley Trout.
Some people are born into the world of wine, some people are drawn to it later in life, and in Ashley Trout’s case, some are simply destined for it. Ashley established her two brands Brook & Bull Cellars and Vital Wines in 2016, 10 years after founding her first winery. The former is staking its place among Washington’s elite, and the latter is a non-profit winery in which 100% of its proceeds are donated toward improving access to healthcare for local vineyard workers.
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4 new BC wineries worth visiting.
BC’s wine industry is going through a tremendous growth spurt and as of March 2023, there are now 341 licensed wineries in the province. With all that competition and the quality level being pushed to new heights, it takes a lot to decide to start a new winery in BC. Our latest article for the Daily Hive takes a look at 4 of BC’s newest wineries: Garnet Valley Ranch, Solvero Wines, Red Barn & Frind Estate Winery. Click HERE for the full story.
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Red Barn Winery [source: Red Barn]
Red Barn is the newest winery in the Iconic Wineries of British Columbia (IWBC) umbrella that also includes Mission Hill, CheckMate, Martin’s Lane, Cedarcreek, Road 13 and Liquidity Wines. It stands in stark contrast to the group’s flagship winery Mission Hill. Where Mission Hill is grand in every sense of the word, Red Barn quietly produces just under 1,000 cases and is very much on the other end of the spectrum; very small production using fruit solely from Jagged Rock Vineyard.
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Caprio’s Hospitality Center.
Washington State is home to some of our favourite wines anywhere in the world. It remains shockingly under the radar given the level of quality it produces year after year. For close to a decade, Washington wines have averaged the highest percentage of 90+ point rated wines versus every major wine producing region in the world. While we have several tried and true favourites that we regularly visit, our most recent trip south uncovered a genuine hidden treasure. Caprio Cellars is a winery not only crafting excellent wines, but they’re also using their exceptional hospitality to elevate the wine and food experience, all while helping to transform lives.
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