Todd Alexander
Our second visit with the team at Force Majeure took place at their beautifully renovated new tasting room, housed in an old schoolhouse in Milton-Freewater. There we met and tasted with Carrie Alexander, Head of Sales and marketing and her uber-talented husband, Todd Alexander, Force Majeure’s winemaker.
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The renown Kimmeridgian soil in Chablis
Preparing for our first visit to Chablis, we’d been told by many in the wine industry that there is a shared mindset amongst wine makers and growers in the region that is so intrinsically focused on terroir, it borders on obsession. The result of that devotion is a long history of producing among the very best wines in the world.
Domaine Laroche stands both as an esteemed institution in Chablis, as well as a custodian of tradition in the world of Chardonnay. Though the winery itself was ‘only’ established in the mid 19th century, winemaking at the ‘Obédiencerie’ (the church where the wine was originally produced) has a history dating back 1,000 years. The name Laroche has become synonymous with wines that reflect a pure expression of Chablis terroir.
Read MoreWe have been to more wine tasting rooms around the world than we can count.
Avennia Red Mountain tasting room.
Some are functional, simply providing a sample of new & library releases for purchase. Others are an extension of an estate winery offering up vineyard views and world-class chefs to enhance the overall tasting experience. And finally, there are those that offer up something experiential—sometimes related to wine, sometimes not—as added incentive to entice visitors; think art galleries, Formula 1 racing simulators, and even an ice rink (in Canada of course!).
For us, the wine is always our priority. Even better if we can sip those wines at the vineyards where the fruit has been sourced. In the case of Avennia’s tasting room at Red Mountain, its wines, views, and talented staff have put it among our very favourite stops when visiting Washington wine country.
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The view of Chablis from the top of the Grand Cru hill.
Chablis is the northern most wine growing region in the appellation of Burgundy. The name has become synonymous with great white wine. Our recent visit to the region taught us a great deal more about the area, reaffirmed our love for its wines, and showed us what a truly beautiful place it is to visit.
Read MoreIn the ever-evolving world of wine, trends are like fine vintages—they come and go, leaving a distinct mark on the palate of the industry.
Mari Womack.
Lately, two prominent trends have been swirling through the wine culture challenging traditional notions and reshaping the way we approach the world of wine: the increasing demand for low or no-alcohol alternatives and the rise of ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails. These trends not only signify a shift in consumer preferences but also pose new challenges for winemakers as they navigate an increasingly competitive market.
Mari Womack, owner and winemaker of Damsel Cellars has been bucking these and other trends since she began her odyssey by doing one thing: staying focused on producing high quality wine.
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The entrance to the vineyards.
A recent discovery for us was Yellowhawk Resort & Sparkling Winery located in Walla Walla in southeastern Washington State. We had a terrific visit on their beautiful property and loved hearing their fascinating story.
Yellowhawk was brought into existence by the creativity and drive of chef and hospitality business owner Dan Thiessen. Dan got his initial training at the Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park (NYC), graduating in 1992. After stints in Switzerland and Aspen Colorado, he returned to his roots in the Pacific Northwest and took a job as executive chef at the restaurant in the Space Needle, Seattle’s highest volume restaurant. That’s when fate intervened in the form of a telephone call from a successful entrepreneur who had sold his cell phone business and was creating some new restaurants.
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