Over spring break, my wife and I met up with our extended family from Oregon and ventured down to Sonoma for a weeklong excursion amongst the vines in one of the country’s most known wine destinations. Truth be told, like many who want the long-standing champs to fail, I too wanted to visit Sonoma and dislike everything compared to my home state of Washington’s wines (playfully of course). But while I have an extreme loyalty to my northern grape growers, I have to say, I gained a new appreciation for California grapes and the awesome people who do magical things with them. This article is an all too short summary of the places we visited and some spots you need to check out if you find yourself in Sonoma County!

The Grand Tasting, Taste WA’s premier food and wine event was as always, incredible, and the setup of the event even better than years past. With 350+ wineries and restaurants in attendance, patrons had their fill of sampling the best of what Washington has to offer, which I already knew, was the best food and wine scene in the country. Amongst the amazing wineries present, I was particularly impressed by the Red Mountain producers and growers, whose wine’s have exponentially improved over the last decade, and in my opinion, are becoming the powerhouse of Washington like Russian River Valley or Moon Mountain are to California. This article will talk about some of the best places representing Red Mountain this year and some must haves from their wineries.

The Grand Tasting is an annual event that transforms the Lumen Field Event Center into a vibrant showcase of the state's most renowned wineries and restaurants. With over 200 wineries and 75+ restaurants participating, attendees are invited to indulge in an array of exquisite wines paired with culinary delights that highlight the local cuisine's diversity and innovation

Unless you track the yearly wine holidays as nerds like me do, you probably didn’t know that December 20th is “National Sangria Day”! If you are looking for a refreshing and fruity drink to enjoy on a sunny (or even winter) day, you might want to try sangria, the popular Spanish wine punch. But do you know the history of sangria and how it became a symbol of Spain? In this article, I’ll explore the origins, variations, and recipes of this delicious drink.

If you are a wine lover, you might be wondering what the best wines of 2023 are. Well, look no further than The Enthusiast 100, the annual list of the most exciting wines of the year compiled by Wine Enthusiast magazine. This list is not based on scores or prices, but on the quality, diversity and originality of the wines that impressed the reviewers the most.

Wine is more than just a beverage. It is a product of culture, history, and nature. It is also a source of economic activity, tourism, and innovation. While we commonly think of California, Oregon, or Washington as wine destinations, there are quite a few states in the US that contribute to a very large market, and having family in the mid-west has given me an opportunity to travel and explore some lesser known areas. In this article, I explore the wine industry in Missouri and Arkansas, two states that have a rich and varied wine heritage.

Guardian Cellars is a winery located in Woodinville, Washington that produces award-winning wines from some of the best vineyards in the state. Founded in 2004 by Jerry Riener, a former police officer and forensic chemist, and Jennifer Sullivan, a former journalist and public relations specialist, Guardian Cellars combines their passion for wine and crime to create wines with intriguing names and labels, such as Gun Metal, Entrapment, The Alibi, The Rookie, and The Informant.

So what do you think? Are non-winery memberships an easy sell or a hard pass? If you weren’t/aren’t a member at a specific winery, or live in a part of the country where Vineyards are not close by, what would you want in a wine store/bar driven club?

The main reason I started Anchored Vines was a passion for wine/winemaking and to make wine more approachable to those who are intimidated by the vast world of prices, varietals, and fun labels.

If you are looking for a unique, memorable, and “naughty” wine tasting experience in Lake Chelan or Leavenworth WA, you should visit Hard Row to Hoe Vineyards. This family-owned and operated winery is located on the north shore of the lake/downtown Leavenworth and offers exuberant wines from organically farmed and certified sustainable grapes. The winery has a fascinating history and a cheeky name that reflects the local lore of the area. I recently spent some time with David and his fun and spicy tasting room crew at the Leavenworth location and left with not only some exceptional wine, but a fun history lesson and lots of fun (if not inappropriate) conversation and laughs!

As the weather is getting nicer here in the Pacific Northwest, people are asking where they can spend an afternoon tasking wine without having to leave their dog at home. If you're a wine enthusiast who also happens to be a dog lover, you're in luck! Woodinville boasts several dog-friendly wineries where you can enjoy a glass of wine while spending quality time with your four-legged friend. In this blog, we'll explore the top 11 dog-friendly wineries in Woodinville, ensuring you and your furry companion have a memorable experience.

If you are looking for a unique and memorable wine experience in Utah, yes I said Utah, it’s time to check out Spanish Valley Vineyard & Winery in Moab. This family-owned winery specializes in single-vineyard estate-bottled wines, meaning they grow, ferment, and bottle their own grapes on site. The winery is in a scenic valley on the south end of Moab, surrounded by the gorgeous red rocks of Moab Valley to the west and the La Sal Mountains to the east, offering stunning views and a relaxing atmosphere.

If you are a wine lover, you might be wondering what the best vintages are to look for in 2023. Whether you want to enjoy a bottle now or save it for later, knowing the quality and drinkability of different regions and varieties can help you make the best choice. That's why I have compiled this 2023 wine vintage guide, based on the ratings and reviews from Wine Enthusiast magazine.

If you're a wine lover like me, you probably have a collection of fun corkscrews in your kitchen drawer. You know, the ones that look like a twisted metal snake, or a pair of scissors, or a medieval torture device. But have you ever heard of an ah-so wine opener? Until recently I hadn’t either, so let me be the first to introduce you to the tool that will prevent you from ruining a bottle of wine or champagne ever again!

If you are looking for a versatile and delicious red wine, you might want to consider Merlot from Washington State. Known commonly from its mention in the movie “Sideways”, Merlot took a huge dip in sales after the popularized quote was spoken and immediately made Merlot undesirable overnight. Regardless, Merlot is one of the founding grapes in so many delicious red blends that we love and deserves respect as a stand-alone varietal. Washington is one of the best regions in the world for this grape, producing wines that combine ripe fruit, velvety texture, and balanced acidity.

“Do you want sizzle or steak?” Marv Crum asked me when we sat down to taste his reds from the aptly named Red Mountain AVA. A rhetorical question for any wine enthusiast, but for those unfamiliar with the phrase, it essentially means, do you want a high-quality product or simply the “idea” of one, and I am here to tell you, Marv is making the real deal.