Steuben and Traminette? These are grapes, not as familiar as Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Syrah, etc. They are hybrids of French and American vines designed to withstand the climate of the Midwest and the Northeast parts of the United States. Traminette is the State grape of Indiana. I visited Wildcat Creek winery in Lafayette, Indiana, curious…
Category: thewinesketcher
Memorable Winery Visits of 2014
A warm summer evening, a serendipitous encounter, a surprise birthday party, a missed release event, and some much needed winding down, each produced one of five memorable winery visits in 2014. One was in Woodinville in early summer, three were in Eastern Washington in August, and the last was Oregon in December. Torii Mor Winery,…
Four wineries, four different experiences
With our niece from San Diego in town for Christmas it only made sense to hit a couple wineries in Woodenville last Friday. A great time, along with varied experiences. First stop, Long Shadows, our daughter is a club member, and I think this was her first membership. Their concept is a bit different. They…
Wine cellars for the rest of us
For centuries, wine cellars have been dark, windowless spaces with bottles stuffed into cubbies, more function than form. But that doesn’t suit a new generation, for whom wine collecting is as much a social hobby as an investment strategy. For these collectors, the cellar needs to be a showpiece, maybe with single-paned glass, LED lights…
Reflections on Reflection Vineyards and wine clubs
A long snowy drive over the pass was adequately rewarded with a visit to Reflection Vineyards. Holly was as entertaining as ever. The biggest revelation was that their reds are about as good or better than anything we have ever tasted; the Viognier that first attracted me last summer was just as good. There are…
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