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I Quit My Favorite Wine Job

Last month I left one of my favorite jobs in the Washington wine industry. After 35 months working at Col Solare Winery on the Red Mountain AVA, I have decided to take a break from wine sales and wine education. It was my choice. I remain a huge fan of Col Solare and their talented winemaker and cellar crew. Miss them too.  Twenty years ago I began working in the Washington wine industry. My first wine job was in 2005 working for Barnard Griffin Winery in Richland, Washington. What an amazing time. I learned I loved selling wine and telling stories about wine. This is when I began taking wine far more seriously, and learned more about winemaking, grape varieties, and customer interactions. Also, during this phase I was inspired to create this blog. I was discovering my writing "voice" and the beginning of my teaching voice. Thank you Rob, Deborah, Meagan, Kim, and all those I worked with. Thank you.  Writing about wine, from a wine sales and production winery view, began to...
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Col Solare Cabernet Sauvignon. The style has changed.

“There is something special going on at Col Solare." In mid-June 2022, I began working for Col Solare winery on the Red Mountain AVA in Washington state. The Red Mountain AVA and Col Solare are famous for stunning Cabernet Sauvignon. That I knew going in.  We are not here to make more wine... We are here to showcase place. At the end of June 2022, Col Solare winemaker Darel Allwine retired. Darel had been winemaker since 2013. Prior, he had been Col Solare assistant winemaker for Marcus Notaro. Marcus had been Col Solare winemaker when the Red Mountain facility opened and was winemaker before we had our Red Mountain facility.  On July 1, 2022, Col Solare assistant winemaker, Stephanie Cohen, was promoted to Col Solare winemaker. I was present for this change. It was the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new one. Col Solare is the third winery I have worked for. I chose well.  Often, I am asked by Col Solare guests, as I was last week, “Tell me about Col Solare. Wh...
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Over the Hump | Perspective on my Wine History

"This is a milestone year."  It sure feels like a milestone to achieve 62 revolutions around our sun. Perhaps, it is my age and all the cumulative experiences and memories in my head. This year, I’ve been in a reflective mood. It feels like I finally have some perspective on life, on all my interactions with other human beings.  Col Solare Fall Colors 2023 I’ve also come to the realization that I adore Col Solare Cabernet Sauvignon.  Over the years I have cultivated a perspective on wine. Especially, Washington wine. I’ve been living in Washington wine country since 1986. My wine epiphany happened in 1991 with a bottle of L’Ecole No. 41 Merlot. Working for my first winery, Barnard Griffin 2005 – 2007, opened my mind to really learning about wine.  There is more to wine than just drinking. There’s sales, hospitality, service, storage, production, the people in the vineyards, the cellar crew, bottling line, label design, the many different varieties of Vitis Vinifer...
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Did COVID Alter my Palate?

During the pandemic I followed the procedure of isolating and masking. Once the vaccine was available, I got it. Then I boosted, boosted, boosted. Keeping my immunization records current. While my wife and son did get COVID during the pandemic, I managed to avoid getting COVID. Until it got me in June 2023. How did it affect me? Am I still affected by long-term COVID? It has been on my mind. Let's look at how this started and where I am at today.  "I was a bit shaken. Was this my new life?" June 2023 I Got Sick My son works as an engineer on the western side of the state. My wife is on another international job assignment. I was looking forward to having them home for Fathers Day. Once I tested positive for COVID, I told them not to come over. Neither of them can afford to get sick. For much of June I wallowed in my misery, alone. My recovery was in time for the 4th of July.  July 2023 Negative Test + Lingering Effects Using the at home COVID test kit, I finally tested ne...
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Review | Rediscover New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc 2022 Vintage

New Zealand Wine Puts a Smile on my Face My friends know I am a huge fan of New Zealand wine. In 2012 I became a little obsessed and created a New Zealand wine blog with my friend Julie. We called it " Kiwi Daydreaming " because we could not stop daydreaming about New Zealand wine. Today, I am sharing my thoughts on three Marlborough, New Zealand, Sauvignon Blanc wines. Each wine is distinct. Each is delicious in its own way. If you know me, you know that I cannot review any wine without including wine and food pairings. Those are included as well! About Appellation Marlborough Wine: Appellation Marlborough Wine™ was established in 2018 with a strict certification process that the region’s producers are able to apply for. AMW is trademarked in all key global wine markets and it is the legal recognition that sets it apart from other new world certification practices. Wines bearing the Appellation Marlborough Wine (AMW) quality mark provide consumers the following guarantees: O...
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Easily becoming a Fan of Moscato d’Asti with the 2022 Tenuta Neirano, Pitulè, Moscato d’Asti DOCG

Old dogs can learn new tricks. In another life, prior to the quarantine… we were discussing hosting a sweet Italian wine tasting. One of the wines I wanted to showcase was Moscato. Moscato is a slightly sparkling (frizzante) white wine made from the Moscato Bianco grape. One of the reasons I wanted to feature this wine, is because I do not drink Moscato. Seemed like a good enough reason.  2022 Pitulè, Moscato d’Asti DOCG Recently, I was tempted by the invitation to review a sample of a Moscato d’Asti DOCG. Moscato? My wine writing had been winding down prior to the pandemic, post pandemic I have become recalcitrant, reluctant, less eager to write. After some thought, "Do I still want to write about wine?" I bit. Yes, please send a sample for review. So happy I did.  FYI : Moscato/Muscat grapes are regarded as the oldest grape variety still in production. Because people enjoy sweet. Me too. The sample wine I received: 2022 Tenuta Neirano, Pitulè, Moscato d’Asti DOCG, 100% Mosc...
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My Current State of Wine

"Do I still work in the wine industry?" Like many of you, the Covid pandemic altered my life trajectory. Today, I am going to re-cap where I am in the wine industry. My story will bounce back and forth for context. Remember, I like to connect the dots. The Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center in Prosser, Washington. First, everyone asks me, what happened to the Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center (Clore Center)? Good question. The Clore Center, located in Prosser, Washington, birthplace of Washington wine, opened in 2014 as a not for profit. The primary mission of the Clore Center was to promote " Washington state wine ." I began working at the Clore Center in October 2015. My last title was, Wine Education Coordinator . We finally, sadly, closed our doors in November 2020.  It was my sincerest pleasure to work at the Clore Center for five years. I made many friends in the industry and in the community. I met many people from around the country and from around th...
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