Category: wine

• Forbes Article: Willamette Valley Wineries Take Action on Social Justice Issues

  

  Lack of diversity and inclusion plague so many industries, including the wine industry. As Willamette Valley celebrates 50 years of successful wine making, the region is asking itself some difficult questions about diversity, equity, belonging, and inclusion.

  Michelle Williams

  May 1, 2021

  Willamette Valley, wine, wine travel, winegrowing, winetastiing, Winetasting

  belonging, Business Diversity Pledge, Channing Frye, Chosen Family Wines, diversity, diversity and inclusion, equity, inclusion, Maurice Lucas Foundation, One Barrel Challenge, social justice, Willamette Valley, Willamette Valley Winery Association, wine region, wine tasting, wine tourism

• Maison M. Chapoutier: Expressing Terroir Through Biodynamics

  

  “Anyone who creates wines must be generous and festive. Without such qualities the creative act is doomed, sterile and vain.” Michel Chapoutier I just returned from a remarkable week in Chile. The focus of the week was terroir: climate, weather, soil. In the Rhone Valley Michel Chapoutier is the benchmark for terroir driven wines. Embracing […]

  Michelle Williams

  March 16, 2018

  #Winophiles, Food, Food and Wine Pairing, French Wine, French Winophiles, Rhône Valley Wines, Rhone Valley, Wine, wine and food pairing, wine review, Winetasting

  #Winophiles, 2015 M Chapoutier Chateauneuf-du-Pape “La Bernardine” Rouge Rhône France, 2015 M Chapoutier Crozes-Hermitage “Les Meysonniers” Rouge Rhône France, 2016 M Chapoutier Luberon “La Ciboise” Blanc Rhône France, biodynamic farming, biodynamics, food, food and wine pairings, French Winophiles, Maison M. Chapoutier, Michel Chapoutier, Rhône Valley Wines, wine, wine and food pairings, wine review

• Crusing the Rhône River, Sipping Cru Wine

  

  Wouldn’t it be great to take a river boat cruise down the Rhône River? There are many quaint towns with world-class restaurants and festivals happening throughout the year. Best of all, great views of the vineyards and changing topography from northern to southern Rhône. I have written many articles about Rhône Valley wines. I have […]

  Michelle Williams

  January 24, 2018

  Rhone Valley, Rhone Valley, wine, wine education, wine review, wine tasting, Wine Tour, wine travel

  2015 Domaine de Beaurenard Red Rasteau AOC Rhône Valley France, 2015 E. Guigal Condrieu AOC Viognier Rhône Valley France, 2015 Jean-Luc Colombo ‘Les Fees Brunes’ Syrah Crozes-Hermitage Rhône Valley France, 2015 Paul Jaboulet Aine ‘Le Paradou’ Beaumes-De-Venise Rhône Valley France, France, French Wine, Rhône Valley Crus, Rhone Valley, Teuwen Communications, travel, wine, Wine 101, wine education, wine review, wine-searcher

• It’s Time to Rediscover Australian Shiraz

  

  What is the first grape that comes to mind when you hear Australia? Shiraz is as synonymous to Australia as vegemite. However, Australian Shiraz has experienced an identity crisis. The US wine market was flooded with inexpensive, over-ripe Shiraz that was initially well received and highly consumed, yet overtime spawned questions as to whether Australian […]

  Michelle Williams

  January 12, 2018

  Aussie Wine, Australia, Shiraz, Wine, wine, wine education, wine review, wine tasting, Wines of Australia

  2005 Penfolds RWT Barossa Valley Shiraz, 2012 Tahbilk Nagambie Lakes Shiraz, 2013 Campbells Bobbie Burns Rutherglen Shiraz, 2013 Henry’s Drive Magnus Padthaway Shiraz, 2013 Leeuwin Estates Art Series Margaret River Shiraz, 2013 Wakefield St Andrews Clare Valley Shiraz, 2013 Wirra Wirra RSW McLaren Vale Shiraz, 2014 Henschke Mount Edelstone Eden Valley Shiraz, 2014 Shaw + Smith Adelaide Hills Shiraz, 2015 Giant Steps Tarraford Vineyard Yarra Valley Syrah, Australia, Shiraz, wine, Wine 101, wine education, wine review, wine tasting, Wines of Australia

• Every Wine Lover Should Drink Syrah

  

  Syrah is a versatile grape that is grown in every major wine region in the world. Depending on the climate and winemaking techniques, Syrah offers a range of expressions, appealing to a wide variety of palates. If you like Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir, Syrah is a wine for you. It is also the sole […]

  Michelle Williams

  August 18, 2017

  Rhone Valley, Syrah, TexSom, Wine, wine education

  2010 Yarra Yering Vineyards Underhill Shiraz Yarra Valley Australia, 2013 Jean-Luc Colombo Cornas Les Terres Brulees Rhône France, 2014 De Martino Legado Reserva Syrah Choapa Valley Chile, 2014 Domaine Marc Sorrel Crozes-Hermitage Rhône France, 2014 Donelan Family Wines Cuvee Christine Syrah North Coast USA, 2014 Gramercy Cellars Forgotten Hills Vineyard Syrah Walla Walla Valley USA, 2014 Jamesheed Seville Shiraz Yarra Valley Australia, 2014 Wind Gap Sonoma Coast Syrah California USA, 2015 Duncan Savage The Girl Next Door Syrah Western Cape South Africa, 2015 Pierre Gaillard Ampuis Côte Rôtie Rhône France, Côte-Rôtie, Charles Curtis, Dureza, Greg Harrington, Laura DePasquale, Mondeause Blanch, pepper, Pinot Noir, Pliny the Elder, Rhone Valley, Rotundone, Shiraz, Syrah, TexSom, wine aroma, wine review, wine-searcher

• #Winophiles Showdown: Madiran vs Applegate Valley

  

  This month our French Winophiles group is exploring a more obscure region of France: Sud Ouest, aka Southwest France. Although it is the 5th largest wine producing region in France, its location, tucked away between the Pyrénées Mountains and Spain to the south and Bordeaux to the north, results in a sparsely populated area. Sud Ouest […]

  Michelle Williams

  July 15, 2017

  Applegate Valley AVA, Madiran, wine

  #Winophiles, 2009 Brumont Chateau Montus Madiran France, 2014 Troon Vineyard Blue Label Estate Tannat Applegate Valley USA, Applegate Valley, Craig Camp, France, French Paradox, French Wine, Gascony, Madiran, Malbec, Oregon, Southwest France, Sud Ouest, Tannat, The Wine Diet, Troon Vineyards, wine, wine health benefits, wine review

• 5 Rhône Valley Wines Perfect for Summer

  

  As much as I enjoy exploring the historical convergence of wine and religion that is evident all over the world, the Rhone Valley is possibly my favorite wine region to excavate historically. Hopefully someday I will have the opportunity to explore it in person. However, the Rhone Valley is not only home to religious history, […]

  Michelle Williams

  July 12, 2017

  Rhone Valley, summer, wine

  #Rosédallday, #thinkpink, 2015 Domaine De La Bastide Côtes du Rhône Villages Visan Rhône Valley France, 2016 Domaine De Fondreche Ventoux L’Instant Rosé Rhône Valley France, 2016 Domaine Le Colombier Vacqueyras Blanc Rhône Valley France, 2016 Ferraton Pere & Fils Côtes du Rhône Samorëns Blanc Rhone Valley France, 2016 Ferraton Pere & Fils Côtes du Rhône Samorëns Rosé Rhône Valley France, Côtes du Rhône, Cinsault, Clairette, food and wine pairings, France, French Wine, Grenache, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Rhône Valley Wines, Rhone Valley, Rose, Roussanne, summer, Syrah, Viognier, wine, wine and food pairings, wine review, wine-searcher

• Getting Real with Hacienda de Arínzano

  

  Spain is a vast country comprised of 13 wine regions with over 2,000 vineyard acres and 200+ grape varieties. Situated in the north-eastern region of Spain between La Rioja and Navarra, near the town of Pamplona lies Hacienda de Arínzano. Arínzano is not just another Spanish winery, they are the first winery in northern Spain […]

  Michelle Williams

  June 14, 2017

  Navarra, wine

  2008 Hacienda de Arinzano Gran Vino Vino de Pago Spain, 2008 Hacienda de Arinzano La Casona Vino de Pago Spain, 2010 Hacienda de Arinzano Gran Vino Blanco Vino de Pago Spain, 2011 Hacienda de Arinzano Tinto Vino de Pago Spain, 2014 Hacienda de Arinzano White Vino de Pago Spain, Chardonnay, food, Grandes Pagos de España, Hacienda de Arínzano, Navarra, Spain, Stoli Group USA, Tempranillo, wine, wine review, wine-searcher, Wines of Spain