CheckMate Artisanal Winery, a luxury brand in British Columbia, crafts gorgeous, super-premium Chardonnay and Merlot in the Okanagan Valley. Regular readers know that neither of those two grapes is our first choice of wine. But wow, CheckMate had us hooked from the minute we walked into their beautiful Oliver tasting room last month. Their wines can proudly stand side-by-side with any world-class Chardonnay and Merlot. Read on for details of the spectacular wines, the winery, winemaker Phil McGahan, and our excellent visit. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Chardonnay
Big Table Farm
Big Table Farm is one of the hottest wineries in Oregon. They are so popular, all tasting appointments at their Carlton Atelier are already booked through the end of the year. They sell out most wines within 3-6 months of each release. And after tasting through their lineup this summer, we understand why. Thankfully, some of the outstanding Fall 2021 releases are still available, although you’ll have to move quickly. Read on to learn about talented winemaker Brian Marcy, his artist wife, farmer and co-founder Clare Carver, and their beautiful wine.
Youngberg Hill Visit
Our recent Youngberg Hill visit with winemaker/owner Wayne Bailey was both educational and fun, as we learned about his 31-year-old biodynamically farmed vineyard and his non-intervention winemaking process. Back in March, we tasted some of his wines and were so enamored, we just had to take a road trip to Oregon wine country. Just 10 minutes from downtown McMinnville, Youngberg Hill sits on a 50-acre hilltop with spectacular views. Read on to find out about their story, wines and beautiful inn. Continue reading
Domaine Serene
Of course, we know about Domaine Serene, the gorgeous Oregon winery renowned for world-class Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. But we had never visited before. So when we arrived in June, we reveled in spectacular views, stunning wines and exceptional hospitality. We immediately understood why the Domaine Serene brand is synonymous with luxury, elegance and quality. And our experience was epic, thanks to our passionate, knowledgeable and friendly sommelier Pao Morgenstern. Read on for details.