Washington wine

Margaret River Shiraz kicks off virtual trip Down Under (#WorldWineTravel)

In the last couple of years, I’ve developed a real hankering for Syrah. As so often happens, I became a fan of Syrah while tasting northern Rhône wines. Then I moved to Washington state, home of highly prized Syrah, and experienced the intense, savory wines made from Yakima Valley and Walla Walla Valley grapes. All […]

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Wine or chocolate on your gift list? Why not pair them?

Until recently, I played my wine and food pairing cards conservatively. Rarely did I attempt to pair a red wine with poultry, for example. As for chocolate, which I love nearly as much as wine, I avoided pairing the two in fear sweetness in the chocolate would cause my dry wine to taste bitter. I

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In Walla Walla, stars align for Bordeaux-style blends

Washington state grows more Cabernet Sauvignon than any other grape. Merlot is the second most-planted variety. The stars seem aligned for Bordeaux-style blends. East of the Cascade Mountains, warm summers and dry harvest seasons favor late-ripening grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon, the foundation for Bordeaux-style blends that showcase Washington state’s characteristic high acidity and aromatic fruit.

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