The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

The national wine press unfortunately branded the 2020 vintage as a failure in Oregon due to wildfire smoke. But as the wines have emerged, and I've tasted hundreds of them, it's clear that the 2020...

Always a reliable budget bottle, this version of The Jack draws upon some well-known Walla Walla and Columbia Valley vineyards (notably Lewis!) for its fruit. In the blend are small amounts of... Full story

The Abondante blend changes significantly from vintage to vintage and this year it is essentially a 50/50 Zinfandel/Merlot (Zinlot? Merfanndel?) sourced from vineyards on the Oregon side of the...

Dineen is a family-owned and operated Zillah winery that offers a range of estate-grown wines. Among a solid lineup of red varietals, this Syrah/Cab Franc/Cab Sauv blend offers a low-cost look at the...

One of a pair of Chards from Jay Somers, this is a blend of grapes from the Anahata Vineyard (Eola Hills) and the Corrine Vineyard (Chehalem Mountains). Fermented and aged in 600 liter barrels,...

King Estate is best known for being Oregon's leading producer for Pinot Gris. But the winery portfolio has expanded to include a lineup covering almost every fine wine style made in our neighboring...

The casual label reader might easily miss the layers of puns and jokester references scattered on the wine labels and throughout this winery's highly entertaining website. Here the name puts the...

Maybe it's all the hot weather we've been locked into, but my Wine of the Week choices keep flipping back and forth between Chardonnay and Riesling. Riesling – you're up again, this time from...

The talented team of winery co-founder Trey Busch and production winemaker Keith Johnson have elevated all of the SoH wines in recent years, while expanding production capacity and opening up new...

Gärd 2019 Chardonnay Chardonnay two weeks in a row? Why not! I’ve been researching a deep dive into Chardonnays from Washington, Oregon and California and this beauty from Gärd is one of the...

I’ve been drinking a lot of Chardonnay during the recent hot weather, and if you put a slight chill on the bottle (about 20 minutes in the fridge) it can be a most refreshing choice. This...

Pacific Rim makes a wide range of affordable Rieslings in a variety of sweetness levels. The Dry Riesling featured here is richly fruity with a luscious blend of peach, apricot, and papaya fruit....

The first vintage of Cymbal was in 2018, and it has quickly become a tasting room favorite. The 2021 was sourced from Gamache, Boushey, and Bacchus vineyards – a terrific trio. It's an ideal summer...

Pinot Noir rosés are abundant in Oregon, and this outstanding example charms from the first sniff with its heady mix of watermelon, strawberry, and cherry lifesaver fruit. The winery calls it...

The Horse Heaven Hills AVA (American Viticutural Area) is home to many of Washington's oldest and finest vineyards, not the least of which is Champoux. Famous for its red wines, especially Cabernet,...

Acquilini owns a lot of Red Mountain acreage and offers several different brands from their expansive vineyards. Since we're heading into BBQ season, with the 4th of July right around the corner, it...

By the time you read this note, actual summer weather may be back. There's no better way to celebrate that happy occasion than with a nicely-chilled bottle of rosé. The Mercer family goes back a...

For a number of reasons, the best dry rosé wines have gotten more expensive, especially those Oregon rosés made exclusively from Pinot Noir grapes. Pinot Noir is costly to grow and turning it into...

Tranche and its Blue Mountain Vineyard occupy a spectacular setting on the eastern edge of Walla Walla. The focus is on Rhône-style varietals and blends that may be enjoyed picnic-style on the...

Force Majeure is one of the most important producers in Washington yet remains under the radar for most wine drinkers. Now relocated to just outside the western boundary of the Rocks District, it's...

The Ciel du Cheval vineyard was among the first planted on Red Mountain. Today it's in the hands of second generation winegrower Richard Holmes, who has begun experimenting with these two...

Apart from the intriguing name, there is much to admire here. This is a sister brand to Walla Walla's Corliss and Tranche wines. It features estate-grown fruit from Columbia Valley vineyards and is...

The first NV (Non-Vintage) Brick House Red was introduced last year in response to the 2020 smoke taint issues that affected some Oregon vineyards. In this second release, the winery has blended...

L’Ecole No. 41 2021 Old Vines Chenin Blanc Celebrate Walla Walla Wine Month with a bottle of this splendid old vine Chenin Blanc. I know of no one making new plantings of the grape other than a... Full story

Quady North 2021 GSM Rosé This is one of a trio of superb dry rosés from Quady North, a winery in Southern Oregon’s Applegate Valley. The blend is principally Grenache and Syrah with a splash of...