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 […]

Columbia River Gorge

Dining Al Fresco: A Night at a Classic Steakhouse

**Disclaimer: I was invited to this dinner as a guest of Husum Riverside Bed and Breakfast. As always, my opinions are my own.** When you think steakhouse, what do you think? I often think of a formal atmosphere with blindingly white tablecloths, perfectly set tables, and a rich, dark interior. Well, take that thinking and […]

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 […]

Clark County

Travel Tuesday Destination: Vancouver, WA

“Where are you from?” “Vancouver, Washington.” “Oh. Canada, huh? What’s it like there?” “I wouldn’t know. I’m from Vancouver, Washington. You know, in the state of Washington?” “Huh?” “*insert heavy sigh here* I live just north of Portland, Oregon.” “Oh, so you’re in Oregon, then?” *facepalm* That is a common conversation that happens in my […]

Tasting

Savor the best of Washington with Taste Vacations #traveltuesday

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links through the Taste Adventures affiliate program.  Participation in this program provides this blog with a small commission. Have you ever wanted to taste the best that Washington state has to offer? Have you ever looked at the Washington State Wine Commission site and just felt overwhelmed by your choices? […]

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 […]

Columbia River Gorge

The Figure 8: Analemma Wines

According to Merriam Webster, an analemma is defined as, “a plot or graph of the position of the sun in the sky at a certain time of day (as noon) at one locale measured throughout the year that has the shape of a figure 8; also : a scale (as on a globe or sundial) […]

On The Road

#TravelTuesday: Wine Tourism Day

On November 7th, wineries all over North America will celebrate the third annual Wine Tourism Day. What is Wine Tourism Day, you ask? Wine Tourism Day comes to us from Europe. In 2009, the European Network of Wine Cities decided to promote their members through an organized day. In 2012, the idea to bring that […]

Eastern Washington

#TravelTuesday Destination: Basel Cellars

In 1997, a grand home was built in the Walla Walla Valley. This home, clocking in at a whopping 13,800 square feet, was designed to have the same awe-inspiring reactions that the grand American Lodges, such as Timberline Lodge, have. Double River Ranch was the name given to this grand home just south of the […]