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December 2003

From Vine to Wine
Part 5: As the Hobby Grows
Over the last few months, we followed the home wine making journey of Club members Steve and Dana Trabun. Here’s an update on the fruits of their labor, and a look at their increasing involvement in the enticing world of wine making.

Re-Evaluating Kendall-Jackson
Let's be blunt: Call it wine-snobbery if you must, but for many "serious" wine enthusiasts, this giant Sonoma County producer - particularly its ubiquitous "Vintner's Reserve" line - has gained a reputation for bland, sweet and one-dimensional mass-market wine.  But "times are changing."

November 2003

From Vine to Wine
Part 4: Waiting for Wine--The Aging Process
We have followed the Trabuns as they went from "Catching the Bug" to using "Kits" and then to the "Vineyards and Beyond." Here is the final chapter of their story...

New Walla Walla Valley Wineries Full of Flavor
Bob Woehler visits four of Walla Walla Valley's new wineries: Nicholas Cole, Abeja, Amavi and Saviah Cellars...

Oxidized, Maderized
Two glasses, each has a golden tinge and a scent of nuts and caramel that makes us think of Sherry. One is bad. One is good. Enter the Wine Twilight Zone!

Sublime Wine
A certain level of education to the palate must occur before one can begin to appreciate the truly sublime experiences that are available through wine. My recent (and greatest) "sublime wine" experience was a bottle--well, actually, two bottles...

Portalis Opens its Doors
After only three months, Portalis is known as Ballard’s newest hot spot. This European style venue features a carefully selected list of over 400 wines from around the world. More than thirty wines are available at any one time in the wine bar by the glass...

October 2003

From Vine to Wine
Part 3: To the Vineyard and Beyond
As harvest time quickly approached, I called the vineyard owners every week to establish the perfect time to pick up our grapes. It was hard to wait-we were very eager to get our grapes...

Gewürztraminer Always a Favorite
What's not to like in a well-made Gewürztraminer? It has aromas that wake up the senses and flavors that tickle the palate. It's a great wine with spicy foods, especially Asian dishes, and a terrific cocktail drink...

Rediscovering Riesling
On the rare occasions when I think about it at all, I wonder why wines made from the Riesling grape aren't more popular outside Germany and the few other places where the variety thrives.

September 2003

From Vine to Wine
Part 2: From Kits to Vineyards
And so it began: the idea and the discussion to make our own wine, not from kits, but from actual grapes...

Hot Summer News
It’s been a hot summer in much of our world, and hot weather often breeds weird beverage news. Aside from the obligatory drunken elephants going on murderous rampages in India, we have also seen the following stories cross our news desk...

Popularity of Syrahs on the Rise
"It's on everyone's lips." The sudden popularity of Pacific Northwest Syrahs is easy to understand. The lush, jammy fruitiness makes this red wine an attractive step into reds for newer wine drinkers and I find Syrah so pleasurable that I have a hard time salting away any in my wine cellar.

What's a Table Wine?
"Table wine" is wine for the dinner table. Duh! Well, not quite. The term "table wine," is a bit more complicated than you might think.

August 2003

From Vine to Wine
Part 1: Catching the Home Winemaking Bug
Steve Trabun and his wife Dana have discovered home winemaking.  It's a hobby that is hard to beat when it comes to sharing the fruits of your labor with friends and family. We invite you to follow along on the trip as we present the first installment of this ongoing series.

How to Taste Wine
Become a pro, judge wine with the snobbiest of wine critics…and learn the secrets of why a wine is good! Do you know how to properly drink a wine? Here are the secrets of the professionals.

Many Bottle Prices a Steal During Wine Month
It's that time of year when I can recommend plenty of inexpensive wines, many of them really good.

High or Low?
Remember last winter's publicity flurry over "Two Buck Chuck?"  The fallout continues...

July 2003

Eiswein
I must admit that I have found very few ice wines that I do not like! Much like pizza or chocolate, there are simply various levels of how much I like, love or adore each one.

Exploring Southern Italy
From Apulia (Puglia), the "heel" of the Italian "boot," to the scenic seacoast of Campania around Naples and Mount Vesuvius, many of the top wines of the South stand comparison with any other world wine region.

Washington Cabs Shine in Competition
The tasting of 76 wines costing $25 or more by Wine Press Northwest was a beauty contest for wine lovers. We'll concentrate on most of the outstanding rated wines in this column.

June 2003

Robert Mondavi Turns 90!
From the highly acclaimed and limited production Opus One, to Woodbridge which sells millions of cases each year, Robert Mondavi has brought the entire spectrum of quality and value at every price to the wine drinkers of the world.

Ultimate Oyster Wine Version 2003
Once again the season has come and gone for oyster wine hunting. Even if you’re not a fan of the famous bi-valve, these wines, in addition to being wines of superb quality, will also go with a wide variety of seafood and shellfish.

The Best Little Wine Shop in West Seattle
Philanthropist/musician/computer programmer and Wine enthusiast “Bear” Silverstein owns and runs this oasis of interesting wines. If you want to see the bright future of Washington State wines, visit Bear and pick up a few hard to find gems.

Great Wines Don't Have to be Priciest
In this whirlwind era of new wineries where every new vintage seems to be priced at $25, $50 or more, it's time to step back and remember the good old days when you could buy most wines at under $10 a bottle.

Front or Back?
How can a round bottle have a front or a back? It's the label, obviously, that determines which way the wine merchant will display wine on the shelf. But sometimes, in the wacky world of wine regulations, what you and I would call the back label is legally the front.

May 2003

Cheese
A cheese and wine pairing primer!

Volatile or Vinegar?
In times past, wine left in an open bottle or cask would so quickly turn to vinegar that the word "vinegar" itself comes directly from the French "vin aigre," or "sour wine."

To Cork or Not to Cork – Is That Really the Question?
Every wine publication this past year has made its case for one type of stopper or another, and usually, they have merely served to expose their total ignorance about the subject...

Wines from New Zealand and Australia - Part 2
The wines from New Zealand’s two islands could hardly be more different from those of Australia. Although the countries share a fondness for growing certain grapes, many of New Zealand’s most exciting wines are grown in comparatively small amounts in Australia.

April 2003

Welcoming Spring
Whether your family celebrates Easter or Passover or simply basks in the secular joy of Spring, for many of us the seasonal holiday events call for something special in the way of wine on the table.

Bons Vins, Bonne Vie
Great wines are made from healthy, robust grapes, which are in turn the product of healthy vines, grown in healthy soil. In the big picture, using chemical pesticides and fertilizers is like feeding one's children a diet of antibiotics and steroids — not a recipe for health, body and soul.

The Walla Walla Experience
It’s that time of year again, a time when buds break to reveal beautiful blossoms, a time when days get warmer and longer and a time for the Spring Barrel Tasting in Walla Walla, Washington. This year the event is May 3rd and 4th.

Taste Washington: An Epicurean Extravaganza
Combining 140 of Washington's top wines with 85 of the state's best restaurants guarantees an epicurean's delight. That was the case Sunday at the annual Taste Washington event in Seattle where the best of our regional food is linked with the best of our wines.

March 2003

First Sighting: 2000 Port
It's only in recent weeks that the first 2000 Vintage Port started showing up on retail shelves where everyday wine lovers can have a crack at what experts are calling "one for the ages..."

Wines from New Zealand and Australia - Part 1
Home to almost every possible climatic and soil condition capable of supporting grape vines, Australia and New Zealand produce a dizzying array of wines in every possible style and color...

North-Central Washington Drawing Wine Lovers
The area surrounding the triangle formed by Wenatchee, Leavenworth and Chelan has long been known for its winter and summer sports. Now, it is becoming a destination for wine lovers.

February 2003

Mid-Winter Musings: Valentine's Day-Love for Sale
In the post-post-modern world Valentine’s Day is made for merchandising. It offers ready-to-wear imagery with an irresistible “hook”, an appeal to melt even the coldest of hearts—Love.

Rare Scotch: Drinking your age (or close to it)
I recently had the opportunity to participate in a tasting of some rare single malt scotches. The tasting was held at The Ruins in Seattle and was led by Alastair Robertson, Master Distiller of Talisker.

Dessert Wine: How Cold?
It doesn't take most of us long to learn the basic rule of wine- serving temperature: Red wines at room temperature. White wines cold. But what about dessert wines? These sweet, strong after-dinner goodies don't seem to fit neatly into either category.

Libations, etc.
A crossword puzzle by Tom Allan.

January 2003

The Man Behind Best Cellars
When Joshua Wesson opened the first Best Cellars store in 1996 in Manhattan, New York his goal was a consumer-friendly shop that makes buying wine as pleasurable and exciting as drinking it.

Wine & War: The French, the Nazis, and the Battle for France's Greatest Treasure
If Americans were ever faced with the prospect of occupation by a foreign power, their paramount concern would probably not be protecting the contents of their cellar. But for many French citizens in 1940, protecting their cellars was the top priority after insuring the safety of their families.

When Not to Age a Wine
One of the more enduring myths that surround wine appreciation is the notion that wine always improves (and gains value!) as it ages.

2002 Brought Outstanding Wines Every Month
I had a lot of wonderful wine to write about in 2002. And looking back, I decided to list my favorites, month by month.

Additional Articles

Article Index 2002
Article Index 2001
Article Index 2000

Questions and 
answers about wine.