Sean P. Sullivan Northwest Wine Report

02/09/2024

Happy September! A special long weekend edition! What’s everyone opening up tonight?

For people who took the 2024 Northwest Wine Challenge, I’m going to hold off asking what wine everyone had last month until later in the week.

01/09/2024

Saturday night folks! End of ! What’s everyone opening up this evening?

Reminder to to people who accepted the 2024 Northwest Wine Challenge, last night for that August bottle. Tomorrow night I’ll post asking what wine everyone had.

31/08/2024

Friday night folks! Washington wine month is winding down. What’s everyone opening up this evening?

People who accepted the 2024 Northwest Wine Challenge, second to last night to taste your August Rhone-style blend. Early next month, I’ll post asking what wine everyone had.

Make sure to check out my articles from this week if you haven’t already, including:

Harvest begins in Washington

Washington growing season markers

Articles at northwestwinereport.com.

Ok, go!

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29/08/2024

At Northwest Wine Report, I've created a table of growing season markers for 2013 to present. This includes dates for bud break, bloom, veraison, and the start of harvest. An example for 2024 is shown here. Link with full explanation in the comments. Enjoy!

27/08/2024

Harvest is my favorite time of year, particularly the start of harvest. Everything seems full of possibility.

Chardonnay harvest at French Creek Vineyard courtesy of Damon Lalonde Harvest has begun in Washington’s Columbia Valley. Charles Auclair of Woodinville’s Auclair Winery kicked things off Saturday August 24th, picking Sauvignon Blanc from Artz Vineyard on Red Mountain. Auclair reported that the g...

25/08/2024

Saturday night folks! continues. What's everyone opening up tonight?

24/08/2024

Friday night folks! continues! What's everyone opening up tonight?

Make sure to check out my articles from this week:

Seattle’s Eight Bells Winery to move to Lake City neighborhood

Update from Ste. Michelle Wine Estates: Part I

Update from Ste. Michelle Wine Estates: Part II

Link in the comments. Go!

23/08/2024

On Wednesday in Northwest Wine Report’s exclusive interview with Ste. Michelle Wine Estates CCO David Bowman, he talked about the future of Ste. Michelle’s Woodinville property. Today Bowman talks about the current state of the wine market, how SMWE is adjusting to industry changes, new investments at the company, points of future emphasis, advantages that Washington has over competitors, and other matters, including potential acquisitions.

David Bowman, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates This is the second in a two-part interview with David Bowman, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at Ste. Michelle Wine Estates (SMWE). In Part I, Bowman discussed potential changes to the Chateau Ste. Michelle property in Woodinville. Here, Bowman talks about the...

21/08/2024

Earlier this month, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates submitted the first step of a site plan review for its Chateau Ste. Michelle property to the city of Woodinville. Today, in the first part of a two-part interview, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) David Bowman discusses potential changes to the property that might include a hotel, renovations to the chateau, the addition of restaurants and other retail, alternations to the concert venue, and the addition of residential housing on portions of the property already zoned for it. This plan would be subject to review and approval by the City of Woodinville and is currently in its earliest stages. Interview at Northwest Wine Report.

Earlier this month, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates (SMWE) submitted the first step of a site plan review for its Chateau Ste. Michelle property to the city of Woodinville. Here, in the first part of a two-part interview, David Bowman, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at SMWE, discusses potential

20/08/2024

More news in Northwest wine today, with Seattle's Eight Bells Winery announcing that the winery will relocate to the Lake City Neighborhood in 2025. Full story at Northwest Wine Report.

Artist rendering, Eight Bells Lake City exterior Eight Bells Winery, which has been in Seattle’s Roosevelt/Ravenna neighborhood since 2009, is relocating. The winery will move its tasting room and production facility to Seattle’s Lake City neighborhood in 2025. “It's been 16 years in the makin...

18/08/2024

My contribution to the evening. Shrimp sandwich with chipotle mayo on sourdough bread. Paired with Jean Vullien 2022 Jacquère from Full Pull Wines. I love this wine, and this is as good of a vintage as I've had of it, full of alpine flowers, tart acidity, and mineral notes.

18/08/2024

Saturday night folks! What's everyone opening up this evening?

17/08/2024

My contribution to the evening. Chablis paired with snow crab from Pike Place Fish Market along with corn from Frank's Produce (also Pike Place).

17/08/2024

This wine is nuts. Very highly recommended. Review published today on my site.

New to Muscadelle? Have you ever tasted a 100% Muscadelle from Washington? It's pretty rare!

Muscadelle is a white grape variety typically used as a blending component in white Bordeaux wines, which are predominately Sauvignon Blanc & Sémillon. It is normally a sweeter wine, but Winemaker Matías Kúsulas made ours dry, deliciously unusual and extremely layered. We like to push the envelope around here!

2022 Gård Muscadelle (Wine club exclusive)
100% Muscadelle – Conner Lee Vineyard | 119 cases produced | $42
Grapefruit, sweet lime, and honeysuckle. Swirling brings caramelized pineapple, key lime pie, nutmeg, and citrus peel. The mouthfeel is light to medium bodied with outstanding acidity. Citrus mixed with brioche, and hints of sweet oak spice on the palate. Fresh and long finish. Barrel fermented and aged in new and neutral 500L puncheons for 16 months.

Pairing suggestions: Mussels, scallops, pan-roasted chicken, brie

Available in tasting rooms and at gardwine.com🥂

17/08/2024

Friday night folks! continues! What's everyone opening up tonight?

Make sure to check out my articles from this week if you haven't read them already:

Auction of Washington Wines raises $4.25M for charitable causes

The Year of Ackley Brands continues with Charles Smith Wines acquisition

Wine Reviews August 16th 2024

Link in the comments. Go!

16/08/2024

75+ new reviews at Northwest Wine Report, including the latest from Alta Cellars, Aquilini Winesi, Block Wines, Contact, DeLILLE CELLARS, Gard Vintners, Hyatt Vineyards, Long Shadows Vintners, Métier by DeLille, Nine Hats Wines, Planet Oregon, Roza Ridge, Saviah Cellars, Slope Life, Soter Vineyards, Succession Wines, and The Walls.

The reviews below the first red wines that Gård head winemaker Matîas Kúsulas made end-to-end. Kúsulas took over winemaking at Gård in 2021. He is also head viticulturalist at Lawrence Vineyards, which provides the fruit for the Gård wines. This makes Kúsulas the rare Washington winemaker who manages his own fruit.

As the reviews show, Kúsulas is exceptionally talented. These wines, and the wines reviewed July 30th, are the best I have ever had from Gård. Moreover, the wines are notable for their diversity, both stylistically and varietally.

The wines include high-quality examples of Bordeaux-style blends, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Pinot Noir (yes, high-quality Pinot Noir), red blends, Syrah, Grenache, Tempranillo, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle, Bordeaux blanc, Albariño, Riesling, a white Cabernet Franc, and more. That is a diversity few Washington wineries can match.

Kúsulas is also head winemaker at two new projects from the Lawrence family, Contact Natural Wines and Slope Life Wines. The former, as it sounds, focuses on skin contact wines made with minimal intervention. They are delicious. The latter offers wines in the $22-26 range. Wines from both projects are reviewed below. Kúsulas also has his own brands, Valo and Massalto. (See the review database for previous reviews.)

I’ll write more about Valo and Massalto as well as Kúsulas’ background in a subsequent article. He has one of the more fascinating stories in Washington wine. Suffice to say that all of the wines Kúsulas is making are well worth exploring. They are impeccably made, show their location, and have a voice. Kúsulas is just getting started in Washington but has already made a mark.

75+ wines reviewed below, including the latest from Alta, Aquilini, Block Wines, Contact, DeLille, Gård, Hyatt, Long Shadows, Métier by DeLille, Nine Hats, Planet Oregon, Roza Ridge, Saviah, Slope Life, Soter, Succession, and

13/08/2024

Ackley Brands is at it again! The company has purchased Charles Smith Wines and its six labels: Kung Fu Girl, The Velvet Devil Merlot, Boom Boom! Syrah, Eve Chardonnay, Band of Roses Rosé, and Chateau Smith. The acquisition comes after the winery purchased, Hogue, Columbia, Betz, and SuNu earlier this year. Full story at Northwest Wine Report.

Seattle-based Ackley Brands continued its aggressive growth in Washington with the purchase of Charles Smith Wines from The Wine Group. The purchase closed on August 8th and included the brand and inventory. The sale was first reported by the Puget Sound Business Journal. “We love the fact

12/08/2024

Last week was a big one in Washington, with the Auction of Washington Wines raising $4.25M. Money raised will support viticulture and enology research at Washington State University, uncompensated care at Seattle Children’s, and an industry grant for Vital Wines. Congratulations to all!

Full story at Northwest Wine Report.

The Auction of Washington Wines, Washington’s longest-running charity wine auction, raised $4.25M at a series of events this past week. (Full disclosure: My wife contracts with the Auction.) Money raised will support viticulture and enology research at Washington State University, uncompensated ca...

10/08/2024

Friday night folks! continues! What's everyone opening up tonight?

If you haven't read them already, check out my articles from this week:

Moonbase Cellars purchases Walla Walla Valley vineyard

Tastry will change the way the world makes wine

Link in the comments. Go!

08/08/2024

At Northwest Wine Report, reviews of new releases from Aquilini, Balsall Creek, Block Wines, Cymbal, Dance, DeLILLE CELLARS, Devison Vintners, Domaine Lumineux, Forget-Me-Not, Gard Vintners, L'Ecole No 41 Winery, Long Shadows Vintners, Métier by DeLille, Nine Hats Wines, Saviah Cellars, and The Walls.

65+ wines reviewed below and in the database, including the latest from Aquilini, Balsall Creek, Block Wines, Cymbal, Dance, DeLille, Devison, Domaine Lumineux, Forget-Me-Not, Gård, L’Ecole No. 41, Long Shadows, Métier by DeLille, Nine Hats,

07/08/2024

“We say we taught a computer how to taste,” says Katerina Axelsson, CEO and co-founder of Tastry, a California-based sensory sciences company. “But really we figured out how to look at the flavor matrix and relate it to human palate perception.”

The results make Tastry poised to forever change how wine is made, purchased, and perceived. Full story at Northwest Wine Report.

Tastry, a San Luis Obispo, California-based sensory sciences company, has a bold claim. “We say we taught a computer how to taste," says Katerina Axelsson, CEO and co-founder. “But really we figured out how to look at the flavor matrix and relate it to human palate perception.” The results

06/08/2024

At Northwest Wine Report, a summary of articles from July, including:

Summary of Articles June 2024

A look at O’Neill Vintners & Distillers’ acquisition of Wines of Substance

On wine serving temperature (Wine Reviews July 8th 2024)

Don Mercer, pioneering Horse Heaven Hills grape grower, dies at 87

Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto partners with Washington’s Treveri Cellars

Bartholomew, Mercer open tasting rooms in Walla Walla

Emergency wine review: Avennia 2022 Parapine Grenache Columbia Valley

Grenache Fest returns to Walla Walla

Cool spring, warm summer: Northwest weather update

Veraison begins in Columbia Valley

DeLille to open restaurant, tasting room in Seattle’s University Village

Wautoma Springs to open tasting room in Woodinville

Idaho’s Colter’s Creek Winery destroyed by fire

B.C. government outlines initial relief plan for local wineries

Whither Washington Bordeaux blanc? (Wine Reviews July 30th 2024)

O’Neill details plans for Washington’s Wines of Substance

Below is a summary of articles for July 2024. Enjoy! Summary of Articles June 2024 A look at O’Neill Vintners & Distillers’ acquisition of Wines of Substance On wine serving temperature (Wine Reviews July 8th 2024) Don Mercer, pioneering Horse Heaven Hills grape grower, dies at 87 Iron

05/08/2024

More news from the Northwest today. Walla Walla Valley's Moonbase Cellars has purchased a vineyard in the valley. The vineyard has a structure that will be used in the future for a tasting room and for barrel storage. Full details at Northwest Wine Report.

Moonbase Estate Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley Moonbase Cellars, a small, family-owned winery in Walla Walla Valley, has purchased a vineyard in the valley. The site will provide estate fruit and will eventually be used for the winery’s tasting room. “We were pretty excited to find some land,” s...

04/08/2024

Saturday night folks! Washington Wine Month! What's everyone opening up tonight?

For people who took the 2024 Northwest Wine Challenge, make sure to comment about what Rhône-style blend you had in July on last night's post about the challenge if you haven't already.

03/08/2024

Friday night folks! Washington Wine Month is here? What's everyone opening up tonight?

If you accepted the 2024 Northwest Wine Challenge, look for my post from earlier tonight asking what wine you had in July.

Also, if you haven't seen them already, check out my articles from this week:

B.C. government outlines initial relief plan for local wineries

Whither Washington Bordeaux blanc? (Wine Reviews July 30th 2024)

O’Neill details plans for Washington’s Wines of Substance

Summary of Articles July 2024

Link in the comments.

Okay, go!

03/08/2024

All right everyone who took the 2024 Northwest Wine Challenge, July. Is. History! What Rhône-style blend did you open up last month?

I missed last month, so I'll have some make up to do in August.

Give it up? What Rhône-style blend did you have in July?



1. Adam Dirkes
2. Adrienne Dahlin
3. Andy Plymale
4. Archipelago Winery
5. Aunt Mina
6. Bacchus & Barley Tours and Transportation
7. Barb Cary
8. Barbara Blankenship
9. Bobbi Haven Webster
10. Brenda Durr Collons
11. Brett Alkan
12. Brian Carter
13. Brian O'Connell
14. Brian Vargas Haskell
15. Brooks Davis
16. Bryan Zagar
17. Cairdeas Winery
18. Camas Cellars
19. Chaitanya Bangur
20. Chanel Coates
21. Charlie Lybecker
22. Cheryl Nolan Booth
23. Chris Cary
24. Chris Loeliger
25. Chris Martin Makiva
26. Chris Messina
27. Christopher Carlson
28. Christopher Chan
29. Christopher Marshall
30. Cindy Wambean
31. Coyote Canyon Winery
32. Cynthia Sanderson
33. Dale Hebert
34. Dan Jost
35. Dane Lussig
36. Danielle Boyd
37. Dave Rice
38. Dawn Loeliger
39. Erik Larsen
40. Erin Thomas
41. Erin Walsh
42. Fortuity Cellars
43. Gary Wulkowicz
44. Greg Lovell
45. Hazel Lynn Singer
46. Jack Colby W
47. James Stripes
48. Jeff Tryka
49. Jenise Stone
50. Jennifer Cochran
51. Jennifer Robbins Armstrong
52. Jerry LaRocca
53. Joe Devera
54. John Glas
55. John Vodopich
56. Josh Dooley
57. Josh Larson
58. Jules Gardner
59. Julianne Mitchell
60. Julie Richard
61. Kathryn Johnson
62. Keith Porter
63. Kelin Waltman-Westlund
64. Kelly Pettiss Ibe
65. Kent Waliser
66. Kevin Valley
67. Kim Cook
68. Kris Leisten
69. Kris McKinney
70. Kristi Porter
71. Ky Huggins
72. Larry Vail
73. Larry Vail
74. Lenny Rede
75. Les Abercrombie III
76. Lisa Stevens
77. Liz Krening Winn
78. Lori DeVore, Sotheby’s Realty
79. Lydia Voorhees
80. Lynette Kozuma
81. Marty Sparks
82. Michael Stumpf
83. Michelle Johnson Crowell
84. Mount Si Winery
85. Natella Lourenćo
86. Noelle Harman
87. OMD Wines
88. Patricia Butterfield
89. Phil McCone
90. Rich Estrin
91. Robert Frost
92. Robert Morken
93. Sam Bateman
94. Sarah Cohen
95. Sarah Ness
96. Scott Greenberg
97. Scott Pysher
98. Sean Horrigan
99. Sharon Swan
100. Shaun Ibe
101. Sirpa Peacock
102. Stephanie Guasch
103. Stewart Winter
104. Storr Nelson
105. Susan Allen Murray
106. Susan Bunnell
107. Susan Kelly
108. Teresa Schoenfeld
109. Tom Nelson
110. Tony Farina
111. Trent Dawson
112. Trevor Moon
113. Tricia Williams Boyd
114. Vicki Collette Heimark
115. Victor de la Luz
116. Virginia Waddell Buford
117. Watoshna Lynn Compton
118. William Muñoz-Aponte
119. Wine Done Well
120. Wine Flights With SueAnn
121. Zippy Cat

01/08/2024

Washington has shown for decade that it can make compelling Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon blends. Why aren't there more of these wines in the state? At Northwest Wine Report, a look at Bordeaux blanc-style blends in the state, focusing on DeLILLE CELLARS and L'Ecole No 41 Winery.

65+ wines reviewed below and in the database, including the latest from Aquilini, Balsall Creek, Block Wines, Cymbal, Dance, DeLille, Devison, Domaine Lumineux, Forget-Me-Not, Gård, L’Ecole No. 41, Long Shadows, Métier by DeLille, Nine Hats,

31/07/2024

When California’s O’Neill Vintners purchased Washington’s Wines of Substance at the beginning of the month, there were questions about what would come next. Would O’Neill be making wine in 2024? Where and with what fruit? Who would make the wines? Would O’Neill remain a Washington brand or would it be used for California fruit?

At Northwest Wine Report, answers to these questions and more from O’Neill executive vice president, winegrowing Kryss Speegle, M.W.

O’Neill executive VP, winegrowing Kryss Speegle, M.W. On July 1st, California-based O’Neill Vintners & Distillers purchased Wines of Substance, one of Washington’s largest wine brands. The acquisition was O’Neill’s first foray into the state. Here, O’Neill executive vice president, wineg...

29/07/2024

On July 25th, a massive wildfire, The Gwen Fire, raged through our property in Juliaetta and burned our production facility, warehouse, and equipment. It singed our power supply, main irrigation lines, and a section of our vines. Though the vineyard survived, with a near-complete loss in wine inventory and infrastructure, the business was destroyed within minutes.

At this time, everyone and our homes, and the majority of homes, in our immediate area are safe thanks to the badass volunteers of the Arrow Junction Volunteer Fire Department. There are no words to express our gratitude for their tireless efforts. Fighting fires with this crew has been one of the most fulfilling adventures of a lifetime. A most heartfelt thank you to our dad, Wes, who helped fight for the winery until the last possible moment.

With that, we have made the heavy-hearted decision to discontinue making wine. We will temporarily open the Moscow tasting room to sell the little inventory we have left (keep an eye out for hours and details).

All proceeds from our sales will go directly to our employees.

For nearly 20 years we have put our life into this business. It would have been ideal to leave on our own terms, but we know this is the right decision for our family. We will now direct our time and attention to our employees and cleaning up the land that has graciously given itself to us for so many years.

We are overwhelmed with the outpouring of love and support from our community, customers, friends, and colleagues in the wine industry throughout the Northwest. We have read each one of your emails, texts, and comments, and appreciate your kind words.

Many have asked how they can help, and we thank you. At this time the greatest thing you can do is to continue to support our friends in the Idaho wine and grape industry. Grab a bottle of Idaho wine and enjoy the hard work of so many. Thank you all for the ride, and we look forward to enjoying a glass with you down the road.

Cheers,
Mike & Melissa
Colter’s Creek Winery & Vineyards
2007-2024

29/07/2024

In January, British Columbia wine country experienced punishing cold temperatures. The government estimates that 15% of grape vines were killed by the freeze. Production is expected to be down as much as 90% this harvest.

Last Thursday the British Columbia government outlined a relief plan for impacted wineries. The relief plan will have implications for B.C. wineries looking to source grapes and juice from Washington and Oregon in 2024.

At Northwest Wine Report, I delve into what the government is offering and where the initial plan appears to fall short.

Okanagan Valley vineyard in Osoyoos, British Columbia, Nalida Sukprasert In a memo dated July 25th, the Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) outlined a relief plan for British Columbia (B.C.) wineries impacted by the January 2024 freeze event. The LDB intends to provide temporary tax relief in the