The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

The entry-level Pinot from Stoller is as good or better than many of the top Pinots of 25 years ago. That's a measure of state-wide progress as well as a reflection of the many good grape sources...

This is pure Walla Walla Syrah – rich and loaded with black fruits, along with notes of coffee, chicory, graphite and baker's chocolate. Without the usual co-fermention with Viognier there is l...

Troon's history dates back to the 1970s, and new ownership wanted to honor that past by reviving this blended red. The spiral on the label expresses the Druid's connections to the mysteries, energy,...

This southern Oregon winery is a bit under-the-radar but well worth a visit if you are traveling through the Ashland area. All of their wines are well-made and fairly priced, and they do especially...

Founded in 1987, Argyle jump-started the current trend for Champagne-caliber sparkling wines in Oregon. Nothing is more festive on a holiday table than a bottle of great bubbly. There’s nothing w...

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...

Pike Road is a sister label to Oregon's Elk Cove. The wines are finished with a screwcap which provides extra protection from potential cork taint and is easy to open and reclose. It's perfectly fine...

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 p...

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 sta...

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 W...

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 w...

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 r...

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...