Happy New Year! As we begin 2021, it would normally be time for our annual 50 Favorite Washington Wineries List for the previous year. But 2020 was far from normal. Firstly, thanks to COVID, we attended our last wine event on Feb. 29. Secondly, we had to cancel our planned trips to wineries in Walla Walla, Woodinville, Lake Chelan, B.C. and Oregon. As a result, we decided to highlight our favorite 50 wines instead of wineries in 2020. These are the wines we enjoyed at home or with members of our pod on socially-distanced outdoor patios. In addition, we expanded the list to include wines from Oregon, California, B.C., Australia, New Zealand, Italy, France, Spain, Chile and Argentina. Read on for our favorite 50 wines in 2020.
Continue reading
Tag Archives: Villa Maria
Thanksgiving Wines 2020
Thanksgiving is around the corner, and this year looks a lot different than in the past. The pandemic means less travel, with many people, including us, celebrating the holiday at home. Some will have Zoom calls with family and friends. Or some might even brave the cold weather for a social-distancing happy hour outside. What wine will you open to enjoy at happy hour, and with your Thanksgiving turkey and sides? Do you know yet? If not, read on for some suggestions.
Continue reading
Warm Weather Whites
With the warm days easing into summer heat, an array of white wines have caught our attention. Overall, these are super summer sippers to pair with your patio or deck, poolside or lakeside. They also complement fish, crab, scallops, oysters, shrimp, prawns, sushi or a tasty summer salad.
Until recently, our palates preferred Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris/Grigio. However, this year we discovered beautiful wines ranging from the unusual white Cabernet Franc (Blanc Franc) to the wallet-friendly Turbiana grape from Lugana, Italy.
Most importantly, there are so many wonderful wines to explore this summer. For example, here are some that we have tasted from Washington state, Oregon, British Columbia, Italy, France, Iberia and New Zealand.
Thanksgiving Wines 2019
Thanksgiving is around the corner, and we’re trying to decide what wines to pour. Do you know yet? Perhaps you’re looking for a good pairing for your turkey feast, or a special bottle to take to a family dinner or an evening with good friends.
If you love red wine, some good bets are Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Merlot. But if you prefer whites, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay work well. Rosé is also a good option. It depends on the foods you serve. Some wines pair well with turkey or sides, and others are best at parties. Overall, there is no right or wrong!
Here are 20 special wines that we recently tasted or are in our cellar. We are considering some of them for our Thanksgiving festivities. They were crafted in Washington state, Oregon, California, New Zealand and Spain, with prices ranging from $13-$60. Continue reading