We first met Briana Clark, co-owner of Amos Rome, at Taste Washington a couple of years ago, and became instant fans of their Grüner Veltliner. We knew at that time that we’d stop by their Manson winery, when we next visited the Lake Chelan AVA. Well, that time finally came last month. Briana and her co-owner and talented winemaker husband, Travis Clark, hosted us and our good friends, Patty and Jim Jenkins, and we were impressed with his entire lineup. Travis kindly poured eight wines for us to taste. Read on for details. Continue reading
Category Archives: Albariño
Top 40 Wines 2025
As always, we found it difficult to narrow down a list of our Top 40 wines in 2025, but ultimately we chose those wines that made a lasting impression. Not surprisingly, we tasted hundreds of wines last year. Some, we bought at wineries and retail outlets. Others, we tasted at wine events such as Taste Washington and Swirl Around B.C. Likewise, some fine folks shared their bottles with us, while others kindly sent us samples.
Overall, our 2025 list features 11 sparklers, 13 rosés and whites, and 16 reds, from Washington, British Columbia, Oregon, California, England, France, Italy, Spain, Argentina, South Africa, and New Zealand. Some are on the list because of their exceptional quality (with a matching high price point). On the other hand, others are simply excellent value wines. Moreover, we waited until the beginning of the new year, so we could also include wines we adored over the holidays.
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Wonderful Whites
Wonderful whites enhance a warm summer afternoon or evening. And certainly, our enjoyment of them increases every year. Typically, our go-to summer white is Sauvignon Blanc. Of course that preference continues. But these days, we also appreciate Albariño, Bacchus, Grüner Veltliner, and more. Most importantly, there are so many wonderful whites to discover. For example, here are 20 that we have opened from Washington (6), British Columbia (5), Italy (1), France (2), South Africa (3), Chile (1), and New Zealand (2). Many are good-value porch pounders or deck wines, but some shine with an elegant meal.
Folded Hills Wine
Folded Hills produces outstanding Rhône-style wine from their certified organic estate vineyards. The team has also adopted biodynamic principles “to promote wine quality and set an example for environmental stewardship.” But this San Ynez Valley winery is much more than that. Folded Hills is a love story between Andrew Anheuser Bush and his lovely wife Kim, their family, especially their children, their land, their animals, and their “incredible” team. Folded Hills is also about a love for hospitality and creating a remarkable experience for everyone who visits. We recently talked about all of this with co-owner Kim Busch and her general manager, Kylie Enholm. In addition, we were delighted to taste eight wines, including a sparkling Rosé, a stunning Syrah, and more. Read on for details.
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