In the last few years, I’ve tasted delicious examples of Pinot Blanc, and I wish more of them came across my panels at the competitions I judge across the country. Pinot Blanc, a common vitis vinifera variety, is often overlooked. It’s a white mutation of Pinot Noir, which helps explain why Oregon winemakers have achieved success with it. This decade has seen increased … [Read more...] about Pinot Blanc earns attention in Oregon, British Columbia
Wine
Turning the Tables on Rebecca Murphy
Rebecca Murphy’s rise within the U.S. wine industry began by becoming the first female wine steward in Texas and included launching The Dallas Morning News Wine Competition, which was immediately recognized as one of the country’s most important judging and evolved into the prestigious TEXSOM International Wine Awards. As a writer, Murphy has contributed regularly to The … [Read more...] about Turning the Tables on Rebecca Murphy
2023 Platinum Award honor roll, reviews
Best of the Best / Double PlatinumReustle-Prayer Rock Vineyards 2022 Estate Selection Hefeabzug Grüner Veltliner, Umpqua Valley $34.00 — 99 pointsBest Red / Double PlatinumSigillo Cellars 2020 Carménère, Wahluke Slope $40.00 — 98 points Double PlatinumBarnard Griffin 2022 Albariño, Columbia Valley $25.00 — 98 pointsBenedetto Vineyards 2021 Shipman Vineyard Gamay Noir, … [Read more...] about 2023 Platinum Award honor roll, reviews
Despite wine industry doomsayers, 24th Platinum Awards lead to 230 delicious stories
As someone who has followed, written and tasted some of the best that the Pacific Northwest wine industry has offered in the past 25 years, it is disappointing and occasionally maddening to read some of the headlines written recently. That’s why it is uplifting — albeit time-consuming — to share the delicious news from our 24th annual Platinum Awards, which dominates the … [Read more...] about Despite wine industry doomsayers, 24th Platinum Awards lead to 230 delicious stories
Reustle-Prayer Rock Vineyards tops Platinum Awards with 99-point Grüner Veltliner
A year ago, Stephen Reustle won a trio of Platinums Awards for Grüner Veltliner, as both the 2021 Green Lizard and the 2021 Hefeabzug earned Double Platinums and received 97 and 96 points, respectively, followed by the 2020 Hefeabzug. Acclaim and gold medals for his interpretations of the Austrian grape he grows in Oregon’s Umpqua Valley are consistently achieved across the … [Read more...] about Reustle-Prayer Rock Vineyards tops Platinum Awards with 99-point Grüner Veltliner