Crowley Wines: Just Honest Farming and No Shortcuts in Oregon’s Willamette Valley
Credit: Crystal Williams Step into the world of Crowley Wines, and you encounter a winery defined not by growth or flash, but by deliberate restraint, deep reverence, and a patient connection to the land. […]
‘This Aggression Will Not Stand, Man’: Napa Wineries Challenge Regulatory Overreach in Federal Court
In the heart of Napa Valley, a significant legal battle is underway as three family-owned wineries—Hoopes Vineyard, Summit Lake Vineyards & Winery, and Smith-Madrone Winery—take on Napa County in federal court. […]
Everything Happens for a Riesling: Discover Sheldrake Point in the Finger Lakes in the New Year
Credit: Sheldrake Point Winery As the world welcomes 2025 with cheers and champagne toasts, let’s raise a glass to the perfect blend of tradition and innovation, just like Sheldrake Point Winery, which has been cultivating excellence in the Finger Lakes for nearly three decades. […]
A Very Italian Holiday Season: Exploring Guglielmo Winery in Santa Clara Valley
Credit: Guglielmo Winery As the rain drops gently fall upon the rolling vineyards of Santa Clara Valley’s wine country, the Guglielmo family gathers to celebrate the magic of the season. It’s a time-honored tradition that echoes the warmth and love of their Italian heritage. […]
How a D.C. Beer Guy Became an Oregon Pinot Noir Pioneer
Credit: Chris Lindemann Erin Nuccio’s journey to becoming a renowned winemaker in Oregon’s Willamette Valley was far from straightforward. Growing up in the Washington D.C. area, Nuccio’s early passion for microbrews and artisanal foods was fueled by a family member’s obsession with European imports. While his friends were content with the lightest, cheapest beer they could find, Nuccio was drawn to the complex, often dark brews that sparked a fascination with flavor and craftsmanship. […]
Designing Excellence: Ralph Hertelendy’s Napa Valley Ascension
Credit: Bryan Gray Rooted in a rich heritage, Ralph Hertelendy’s winemaking journey began long before his own time. Tracing his family’s ancestry through the Ottoman Empire, he discovered his forebears had been crafting wines for 300 years. The Hertelendy name, steeped in Hungarian nobility, echoes through history– from the storied Hertelendy Castle– to his father’s escape from Europe in 1940. With this storied legacy as his foundation, Ralph’s destiny was all but certain: to revive and redefine the family tradition in the Napa Valley. […]
The Legacy Lives On: Janell Dusi’s Enduring Passion for Paso Robles’ Zinfandel Tradition
Janell Dusi. Credit: J. Dusi Wines In Paso Robles’ golden light, a century-old Zinfandel vineyard stood watch, its ancient vines telling a story of hard work, heritage, and devotion. Janell Dusi’s connection to this hallowed ground ran deep. Summer days spent exploring the vineyard alongside her brothers ignited a burning passion, forging an unbreakable bond between her heart, the land, and its enduring legacy. […]
Beneath the Contra Costa Skies: Viano Vineyards’ Journey Through the Seasons
Credit: Viano Vineyards In 1920, the winds of fortune carried the Viano family from the rugged shores of Alaska to the vibrant heart of California, but not without hardship. After Conrad Viano contracted rheumatic fever, the family sought refuge in Martinez, where the air was drier and the promise of renewal awaited. As they settled into this new land, the undulating terrain stirred memories of the lush vineyards they had left behind in Italy, a bittersweet reminder of home. […]
A Vision Sparkles: The Enduring Legacy of Argyle Winery in Dundee in the Heart of Willamette Valley
Credit: Argyle Winery In the late 1970s, Rollin Soles, discovered the untapped potential of Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Entranced by its cool-climate terroir, ideal for crafting exceptional sparkling wines, Soles founded Argyle Winery in 1987. […]
Where Every Sip Feels Like Home: The Oregon Wine Story of Dobbes Family Winery in Downtown Dundee
Credit: Dobbes Family Winery In the lush heart of Oregon's Willamette Valley, a passion for wine and pioneering spirit converged, giving rise to Dobbes Family Winery. Founder Joe Dobbes' journey began with an unlikely detour through medicine, but his true calling lay in the vineyards of Germany and France, where he honed his craft and fell deeply in love with the art of winemaking. The rolling hills, rustic charm, and promise of Oregon's burgeoning wine industry drew Dobbes back to his home state, where he worked alongside esteemed producers like Elk Cove Vineyards and Willamette Valley Vineyards, absorbing [...]
Sabar Wine Estate – ‘A small hill of great wines’
Founded in 2009 by Gábor Ádám, Sabar Wine Estate is a small producer – only 7 hectares – located on Sabar Hill (hence the name) in the Badacsony wine region, part of the Lake Balaton area. […]
TILIA Estate – House of Pinots and More
TILIA Estate in Potoče, Vipava Valley – in Slovenia’s Primorska region – was founded in 1996. […]
Don Melchor – ‘One story, one terroir, one wine’
As Viña Don Melchor celebrates the release of its 2021 vintage – its 35th – I had the opportunity to meet, taste with, and interview Enrique Tirado, the technical director (director of winemaking) and CEO of this iconic, singular wine for the past 27 years – at Napa’s Compline restaurant in January 2024. […]
Cliff Lede Vineyards: The Winery Where Music, Art, and Wine Collide in Napa Valley
Credit: Bob McClenahan Cliff Lede’s journey to Napa Valley winemaking began rather unexpectedly, sparked by his grandmother’s home winemaking hobby in Edmonton, Canada. A transformative visit to Napa Valley on a business trip in the 1990s during his construction career sealed the deal. […]
Press Release: Information, Research and Discussions Highlight Wine and Winegrape Industry’s Largest Gathering GalleryPress Release: Information, Research and Discussions Highlight Wine and Winegrape Industry’s Largest Gathering
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Press Release: Information, Research and Discussions Highlight Wine and Winegrape Industry’s Largest Gathering
SACRAMENTO, CA, JANUARY 25, 2024 From every corner of the world, wine and winegrape professionals convened at the 30th annual Unified Wine & Grape Symposium this week in Sacramento. […]
Nicholson Vineyards Winery: Where Tradition Meets Passion in the Santa Cruz Mountains
Credit: Nicholson Vineyards Winery With a deep passion for winemaking steeped in a legacy of eleven generations of farming, the Nicholson family has been producing wines since 1995 on their estate vineyards in California’s Santa Cruz County. Renowned for their Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, they also source grapes from around the state to create specialty wines that reflect the diverse terroir of California. […]
Get Your Winery Website Ready for E-Commerce
Below is a quick guide to help you get your website e-commerce ready as we work to make our Craft Wine online sales network as robust as possible.
USDA Outlines Economic Development for Rural Businesses
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it has provided a record-breaking amount of support for rural working capital and other business capital needs in fiscal year 2021. The department has invested $1.2 billion in loan guarantees to help rural businesses in 41 states, Guam and the Virgin Islands, according to a press release. “Under the leadership of President Biden, Vice President Harris and Agriculture Secretary Vilsack, USDA is expanding access to capital to prioritize rural economic development,” said Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Justin Maxson, in a press announcement. “As we continue to respond to the COVID-19 [...]
Planning a Virtual Tasting? Read This First
Virtual tastings took off during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, and to the surprise of many vintners, they worked!
5 Things to Consider as You Prepare to Reopen
Tasting rooms are reopening across the country, and early signs indicate that consumers are ready to visit. But it’s clear that visits to wine country won’t be the same as they were before the Covid-19 pandemic arrived. With heightened sanitation protocols to social distancing measures, it’s imperative to maintain an atmosphere of relaxation and fun alongside the need to protect the health and safety of winery team members and guests.