Inside Trisaetum Winery: Two Decades of Willamette Farming and Family Vision
Credit: Trisaetum Winery After the 2025 harvest, James Frey finally had a moment to reflect on the journey that transformed steep, rocky land near McMinnville into Trisaetum Winery, a family operation in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. His path to winemaking was far from conventional. The first in his family to attend college, Frey built a career in corporate America. But long hours and frequent travel kept him away from his young children. He realized he wanted a life where he could be home every night for dinner while pursuing a passion rooted in family and the land. Leaving a [...]
Sealionne: Born From Motion and the Wild Hills of Ribbon Ridge
When the world shut down in 2020, Piper Underbrink and her husband, Ben Stalker, found freedom in motion. With public spaces closed and human contact reduced to waves through car windows, they’d climb into their restored 1977 Volkswagen Bus, Blizzard cups sweating in their hands, and drive Oregon’s quiet backroads. The hum of the engine, the smell of fir trees, the rare comfort of open space — those nights became their escape. […]
Family, Patience, and Pinot at Winter’s Hill in the Dundee Hills
Credit: Winter’s Hill Estate The road to Winter’s Hill Estate twists through oak and vine into Oregon’s Dundee Hills, where red volcanic soil and cool coastal breezes set the pace of life. For three generations, the Gladhart family has worked this land not for fame, but to let its voice come through in the glass. […]
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. […]
Jingle Bell Pinot: A Holiday Wine Wonderland in the Dundee Hills of Oregon
Credit: Durant Vineyards As the holiday season casts its warm and cozy glow over the Dundee Hills, the region’s wineries and vineyards are abuzz with festive cheer. December has arrived in Oregon’s wine country, and Durant Vineyards is at the heart of the celebrations. With its picturesque vineyards, olive groves, and rustic charm, Durant Vineyards is an ideal destination for those seeking a festive and unforgettable wine country experience. […]
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. […]
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. […]
Bells Up Winery – The End of the Beginning
In August 2021, I met Sara and Dave Specter of Bells Up Winery for the first time during a media visit that was a bit more formal – a sit-down tasting and interview with them both.
Youngberg Hill’s Wayne Bailey – Farmer First
In late October 2022, I visited Youngberg Hill in Oregon’s McMinnville AVA. It is a gorgeous 50-acre property with a historic inn atop the hillside, surrounded by astounding views and meticulously farmed, organic and biodynamic vineyards planted to Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Gris.
Lenné Estate – Going in Blind
Lutz, an Oregonian, began his career in Napa Valley in 1984, when he developed a taste for wine shortly after college. He worked at several well-known wineries, including Robert Mondavi. It was at Mondavi where Lutz and the Mondavi team would participate in staff blind tastings led by Robert himself.
Willamette Valley: Small Producers Reflecting Back and Looking Ahead
This year was an interesting growing season for wine producers in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. As wineries continue to adjust to the new normal of COVID and appointment only reservations becomes the norm, the region experienced a heat dome this summer resulting in record temperatures hovering around 115 degrees for several days. Quick and decisive decision making is becoming a necessity for grape growers. With harvest happening usually in the September to October time period, growers are always potentially faced with early rain, and now the threat of wildfires, that can quickly determine or alter how a grower approaches a harvest.