In My Backyard

Five Takeaways from the Wine Media Conference

I just returned from a weekend at the always entertaining, yet still educational, Wine Media Conference.  This conference was put on the backburner in 2020 because of Covid restrictions.  This year, we saw a smaller conference, but it wasn’t scaled down in terms of quality content. I *loved* the slower pace of this conference.  After […]

In My Backyard

Invading the Southern Willamette Valley: Wine Media Conference 2021

*Disclaimer* In exchange for a discounted registration fee, I agreed to write a set number of posts in regards to WMC content. Hear ye, hear ye!  Wine Media “Summer Camp” is back! This year, members of the wine trade and media will take over the Southern Willamette Valley and the city of Eugene, OR.  I […]

In My Backyard

Takeaways from the Wine Media Conference

So I’ve had some time to fully digest what was presented at the Virtual Wine Media Conference.  I had a few key takeaways that I’m going to summarize here.  I need to up my photo game.  From lighting to composition, I need to up my game.  Period.  I spent a fair amount of money on […]

Oregon

Quarantine Diaries: Wine Media Conference, Corona, and Life

So 2020 was supposed to be my grand return to the Wine Bloggers…errr…now Wine Media Conference.  It was going to be 2 hours away from me.  How could I *not* go?  I was going to go down to Eugene, hang out, drink some wine, go see My Favorite Bitch who lives a mere 20 minutes […]

One Glass

The Universal Language of Wine:  Fullerton Wines

“Great wine speaks profoundly, a universal language transcending any one culture.”  ~The Fullerton Family Have you ever heard of Fullerton Wines? If you haven’t, they are a small producer of elegantly crafted Pinot Noir and Chardonny based out of Beaverton, OR. The story of Fullerton Wines goes back to 1969. When 14 year old Eric […]

Beautiful Life

My Personal Playground: Oregon Wine Country

During my incarceration, I was often asked, “What do you do for a living?”  When I said I was a wine writer and educator, people often started picking my brain, or go “Oh, that’s cool!” (see this post for my reply to people who say that) One of the gentlemen (yes, there are gentlemen in […]

Columbia River Gorge

It’s Complicated: Naked Winery “Complicated” Viognier

So I’ll let you in on an inside joke between my cousin and I. Quite often, we end up saying, “We need to go get Naked!” or “We need to get Penetrated!” We don’t mean it in a sexual manner, either. What it really means is that we are itchin’ to go to Naked Winery. […]

Oregon

Travel Tuesday: Argyle Winery

Note: Well this has been fun. Technical difficulties have sidelined me, and for that, I profusely apologize. When one thinks Oregon, they immediately think Pinot Noir, and only Pinot Noir. Speaking as a quasi-Oregonian (as the crow flies, I live 5 miles from Oregon, but to drive to Oregon, it’s 22 miles…yep, I live on […]

Clark County

FareStart Dinner in Pictures #IFBC15

In the months leading up to IFBC, the Facebook group for attendees and alumni was buzzing with excitement. And who wouldn’t be excited? IFBC is one of the best conferences there is! One of the topics of conversation was a dinner at FareStart. The idea behind FareStart is really awesome. They train adults who are […]

Eastern Washington

#TravelTuesday: Five Essentials for Travel

This weekend, I’m heading out to the beautiful Walla Walla Valley for wine tasting, testing my new selfie stick I got from Krusteaz while at the International Food Blogger Conference with my cousin, Mom and possibly Grandma, having an “open *that* bottle” night and just having a danged good time. To follow our adventures, make […]