Sean P. Sullivan - Washington Wine Report Note: Site has moved to www.northwestwinereport.com

In the offseason, resident photographer Richard Duval selects certain images and moves into fine art mode. Using various software tools (but not Photoshop), he experiments with tone, light, symmetry, and shadow to create a new image that is then printed on metallic-coated paper and fused to a sheet of aluminum for display. This month’s Pic of the Vine - titled “Blue Vine” - is a recent addition to that collection.

“My intent is to illustrate the wine world we see every day in a different fashion,” Duval said. “I’m always drawn to the natural beauty of the vineyard, but I’m also intrigued by what I might uncover by deliberately and carefully altering the photo’s elements. Blue Vine conjures the stark cold of the winter season but also underscores the precision of the rows, carefully tended throughout the year.”

Click on the picture for a larger image. Enjoy!

A round-up of stories on Northwest wine from January 15^th to 21^st. Read previous round-ups here.

From around the country…

Wines & Vines writes that Oregon winery wages outpace employment.

Wine Business writes about Helen Keplinger joining Force Majeure as a consultant.

The Lowell Sun writes about the new direct shipping law in Massachusetts with a callout to Drew Bledsoe at Doubleback.

The Sacramento Bee writes about Southern Oregon.

The Rochester Democrat Herald writes about the Columbia Crest 2012 Grand Estates Merlot.


From the blogosphere…

Great Northwest Wine writes about Chateau Ste Michelle kicking off its Sessions concerts. They also write about the women stars of food and wine event and Pinot Noir driving Oregon wine economics.

Write for Wine writes about the Alexandria Nicole Quarry Butte.

West Seattle Blog writes about the passing of Joe Fine.

Lucha Vino writes about a Washington Malbec vs. Mendoza.

Woodinville Wine Update writes about weddings in Woodinville. Shona also writes about Davenport Cellars new location, and upcoming events.

Table Talk Northwest writes about Eye of the Needle.


From the locals…

The Bellingham Herald writes about Northwest wines at the San Francisco Chronicles wine competition.

Eugene Daily News writes about the prohibition rosé. They also write about the J. Scott Sauvignon Blanc.

The Walla Walla Union Bulletin writes that an early freeze nips valley crops.

The Seattle Times writes about Tannat.

Seattle Metropolitan recommends the Two Vintners Syrah (article by yours truly).

The Yakima Herald Republic writes that local farmland is rising in value.

Woodinville Weekly writes that underage viticulture students may get wine sipping privileges.

Portland Business Journal writes that the Oregon wine industry is worth $3.5B.

The Reflector writes that Clark County’s wine region is ready to explode.

Good Fruit Grower writes about predicting coldhardiness for grapes.


That's all folks! 

A round-up of stories on Northwest wine from January 8^th to 14^th. Read previous round-ups here.

From around the world…

The Courier Islander (Campbell River, BC) writes about the Kung Fu Girl Riesling.


From around the country…

The Capital Gazette (Maryland) writes about the Horse Heaven Hills.

The Napa Valley Register writes about Ken Wright Cellars Pinot Noir named wine of the year by Wine Enthusiast.


From the blogosphere…

Great Northwest Wine writes about the upcoming grape growers conference. They also write about Northwest wines at a California judging, Hard Row to Hoe, and that Northwest Malbec keeps on growing.

Seattle Dining writes about the women of wine.

Write for Wine writes about the Seattle Wine and Food Experience.

Zinfandel Chronicles writes about the 1999 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Wild Walla Walla Wine Woman asks if wineries are family friendly or friendly families.

The Examiner.com writes about the perfect wine to drink while watching the Seahawks.


From the locals…

Seattle Magazine writes about Avennia.

The Tri-City Herald writes about Red Mountain’s $19.2M water system.

The Seattle Times writes about Charles Smith.

Table Talk Northwest writes about the Yakima Valley.

The Bellingham Herald writes about favorite wines from 2014. They also write about Jones of Washington.

The Good Fruit Grower writes about a new executive director of the Washington Wine Institute.

Capital Press writes about a discussion of winery waste water at the upcoming grape growers meeting.

Seattle Metropolitan writes about the 2012 Cadence Coda Red Wine (article by yours truly).

The Yakima Herald writes about positive buzz about the Yakima Valley.

Eugene Daily News writes about Merlot.

The Spokesman Review writes about a bill that would allow wine tasting at classes at four year colleges.

The Daily Barometer (Corvalis) writes that 2012 was a great year for Oregon wine.


That’s all folks!

The January-February issue of Vineyard & Winery Management contains five articles I authored, including the cover story on the top 40 viticulture and enology advances of the last 40 years. The issue also includes an article looking at the effects of the liquor privatization in Washington; issues regarding the current supply of American oak; and harvest reports for Washington and Oregon (yes, this was why this site was so quiet last fall).

Additionally, the January-February issue of Edible Seattle contains an article on Ballard’s Captive Spirits titled, “Making Big Gin: Ballard's Captive Spirits - the little distillery that could". See a list of newsstand locations.

See other recent articles, most with web links or .pdf downloads.

Enjoy!

As we start off the New Year, I want to write about plans for 2015 and what you can expect to see in this space. Without further ado.

1. All Washington wine reviews and scores will be now published in Wine Enthusiast magazine

Now that I have posted reviews for all of the wines that were received at Washington Wine Report prior to October 1^st when my responsibilities at Wine Enthusiast changed, all formal reviews and scores of Washington wines will now be published in Wine Enthusiast as opposed to in this space (see my list of Wine Enthusiast coverage areas). I encourage you to subscribe to the magazine. However, these reviews are also freely available at winemag.com, the magazine’s website.

2. All published Wine Enthusiast reviews will be re-published to this space

Once Wine Enthusiast reviews have been published on-line, I will post a summary listing of these reviews in this space. My intention in doing so is to make these reviews readily accessible in a single location.

3. Impressionistic notes on Washington wines to be posted here

Going forward, for some Washington wines I sample for Wine Enthusiast, I will be posting impressionistic notes here if the reviews of the wines have not already been published in the magazine. These notes will differ from those that will be published in Wine Enthusiast and they will not have any type of score or rating attached to them. Again, all scores and reviews for Washington wines will now be in Wine Enthusiast. The intention of these notes will be to provide some information about wines I found particularly interesting and/or to accompany relevant articles.

4. Wines from other regions will be rated using the five star system

Wines from regions outside of Washington, such as Oregon, will continue to be reviewed here using the star rating system I have used previously. Wine Enthusiast reviews will, of course, use the 100-point system.

5. ‘Northwest Wines of the Week’ post

I will be writing a new, regular column titled ‘Northwest Wines of the Week’. This will be a listing of wines from recent tastings that have stood out using impressionistic notes as described above. This is intended to be a weekly listing but it may be less frequent depending on wine submissions, time, etc.

6. Articles on Northwest wines and wineries

I intend to continue to write articles about Northwest wineries in this space as I have in the past, both to provide information about new wineries as well as to give updates on existing wineries. These articles may (or may not) have impressionistic notes on wines or may include Wine Enthusiast scores if they have already been published.

7. Northwest wine round-ups

I will continue to provide regular round-ups of Northwest wine articles published elsewhere as I have done in the past.

8. Blog redesign?

I have long wanted to do a redesign of this site. I hope to make that happen this year if possible.

* * *

Of course, as I make no money directly from this site, all of this will be done as time permits. I had previously written about my intention to charge a subscription for the site but postponed doing so for a variety of reasons. It’s possible I might revisit this in the future but for now all content will remain freely available.

Finally, as this space undergoes some changes, I encourage you to follow the Washington Wine Report Facebook page. I post regularly on wines I am particularly excited about there as well as on other matters. You can also follow me on Twitter.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

A round-up of stories on Northwest wine from January 1^st to 7^th 2015. Read previous round-ups here.

From around the country…

Scene (Wisconsin) writes about Washington wine.

Forbes writes about ten ways to love wine in 2015, with shout outs to Washington and Oregon. They also write about the Four Graces Pinot Gris.

The Washington Post writes about the Washington Hills Merlot.

WGBH writes that Massachusetts can now ship wine direct.

New Hampshire.com writes about a holiday sampling of Pinot Noir.

The Pensacola News Journal writes about Domaine Serene.


From the blogosphere…

WineEYak writes about Washington’s first Syrah.

Great Northwest Wine writes about a new director for the Washington Wine Institute. They also write about changes at the Auction of Washington Wines, top Northwest wine stories (part two here), and Steve Warner of the Washington Wine Commission.

Wild Walla Walla Wine Woman gives a rant, a report, and a recommended read.

Woodinville Wine Update writes about upcoming events.

Wagon Wine writes about wine economics.

Examiner.com writes about Warehouse District wine events.


From the locals…

The Bellingham Herald writes about wines from the Platinum judging. They also write about the Clore Center.

The Daily Astorian writes about wines of the year.

Good Fruit Grower remembers Robert Andrews.

The Statesman Journal writes about Honeywood Winery.

Wine Press Northwest writes about a label change for Barnard Griffin.

The Yakima Herald writes about charity efforts at Mercer Estates. They also write about crop gains in wine.

Eugene Daily News writes about Erath.

The Corvalis Gazette Times writes about a winery owner getting a zoning change.


That’s all folks!

Happy New Year folks! Starting off the year, a round-up of stories on Northwest wine from December 22^nd to 31^st. Read previous roundups here.

From around the world…

The Montreal Gazette recommends the Kung Fu Girl Riesling.

The Windsor Square (Toronto) asks whether Burgundian Pinot Noir is a fool’s game.


From around the country…

Wine Enthusiast writes about Oregon Pinot Noir.

Forbes writes about the nine best wines to start drinking in 2015, with a shout out to Washington.

Slate writes about Pinot Noir.

Wine Spectator pairs roasted chicken with Washington Syrah.

The Sacramento Bee recommends the Bergstrom Sigrid Chardonnay.

Huffington Post writes about December Party wines with a shout out to the Pacific Northwest.

The Sioux Falls Argus Leader writes about inexpensive wines that deliver, with a shout out to Snoqualmie’s Whiste Stop Red.

Hampshire Review writes about Columbia Crest.

The Winona Daily News (Minnesota) writes about the Michelle Brut.

The Boston Globe writes about Massachusetts change in wine shipping laws which Drew Bledsoe (Doubleback) helped bring to fruition.


From the blogosphere…

Vinography writes about Brittan Vineyards.

Northwest Wine Anthem writes about the Horse Heaven Hills.

Great Northwest Wine names Maryhill’s 2011 Marvell its wine of the year. They also write about the passing of Bob Andrews, Swiftwater Cellars, and Northwest winemakers on the ‘most admired’ list.  

Cinema Blend writes about Nocking Point.

Write for Wine writes about wines to remember.

Wild 4 Washington Wine writes about Silvan Ridge.


From the locals…

The Yakima Herald writes about the passing of Horse Heaven Hills grapegrower Bob Andrews.

KOMO News writes about award-winning wines from Woodinville.

Wenatchee World writes about North Central Washington wines.

The Eugene Daily News gives a holiday wine guide.

The Olympian writes about hearty reds that pair with holiday dishes.

The Statesman Journel writes about Brooks.

The Bellingham Herald writes about sparkling wine.

The Herald writes about the Wine Press Northwest platinum judging.


That's all folks!