Oh Summer 2026! On these warm afternoons and evenings, white wines and bubbles pair perfectly with our deck. And certainly, our enjoyment of them increases every year. These super sippers also pair with a picnic, happy hour, poolside, or lakeside. Moreover, they also complement fish, crab, scallops, oysters, shrimp, prawns, sushi, or a tasty summer salad. We love white wine and bubbles. So, when Vineyard Brands sent us four bottles, we could not wait to open them. All four are wallet-friendly ($13-$19). Miguel Torres Chile NV Estelado Brut Pais Rosé and 2025 Andica Sauvignon Blanc. Marqués de Cáceres NV Cava Brut and 2025 Verdejo Rueda. Read on for details.
Woodward Canyon Wines
Woodward Canyon wines are Washington state classics. The second-oldest winery in Walla Walla consistently produces premium, age-worthy wines. In 1981, Rick and Darcey Small founded this pioneering winery on land that Rick’s family farmed for multiple generations and is now the estate vineyard. We’ve been writing about Woodward Canyon wines since this website launched in 2007. Consequently, I was delighted to recently talk to Jordan Small, their daughter and current general manager and co-owner (with her brother Sager), and taste a number of their standout wines. Earlier, we tasted and wrote about Old VInes Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 and 2023. Here are the remaining wines we sampled.
R|A Family Wines
We attended the launch of R|A Family Wines in Seattle last week, and all we can say is wow. Well no, actually, there’s a lot more to say about this exciting new collaboration in Washington winemaking, with its roots in The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater. R|A stands for Reynvaan and Andrews – representing a friendship spanning generations between the two co-founding families. Matt Reynvan is the acclaimed winemaker of Reynvaan Family Vineyards, while entrepreneur Rob Andrews comes from a family with a long-held connection to the land.
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Woodward Canyon
A few months ago, we were delighted to hear that excellent winemaker Marcus Rafanelli is now crafting wine at Woodward Canyon Winery, a longtime favorite of ours. Marcus moved to the second oldest winery in Walla Walla, after six years leading the winemaking team at L’Ecole 41. Shortly after the news came out, Marcus told me he is really excited about working for Woodward Canyon. And last week, Jordan Small, general manager and co-owner of the esteemed winery, told me the feeling is mutual. Over the years, we raved about Woodward Canyon wines, and we know Marcus will add his skillful flare to future vintages. Continue reading