For those of us that live in the Pacific Northwest, there’s a certain indescribable vibe that’s virtually impossible to explain if you’ve never spent time in this region. Often stereotyped as ‘tree-huggers’ or ‘hippies’, we have an obsessive-like relationship with our natural surroundings and an unmistakable pride around how we connect with it. We have the luxury of a milder climate and take advantage every chance we get to hike up a mountain, bike along a seawall, or slip into a kayak. This reverence for Mother Nature also extends to the bounty she provides for our consumption as we make it a priority to appreciate and enjoy all things grown locally and used in season. The epicentre of this vibe appears to be Portland, Oregon where daily farmers markets, numerous craft breweries and an innovative foodie scene is being replicated along the Pacific Northwest and beyond at an astonishing rate.
The roots of New Zealand’s Kumeu River wines extend back almost 80 years to 1937 when the Brajkovich family first left their Croatian home to settle near Auckland. Maté and Kate were the first in the clan to arrive and began working in the vineyards near their new home. By 1944 they had saved enough to buy their own small vineyard and San Marino Vineyards was born, growing grapes and making small amounts of wine. Successive generations of the Brajkovich family continued to run the winery, changing its name to Kumeu River Wines in 1986 to reflect the local region. By now the emphasis on quality Chardonnay was set and the reputation of this small winery was on its way up. Today Melba, Michael, Marijana, Milan and Paul continue the family tradition and are now producing world class Chardonnay.
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àMaurice Cellars is a recent discovery of ours. The winery flies somewhat under the radar as most of its annual production of 5,000 cases is sold direct from the winery or to select restaurants. The list of restaurants that carry their wines includes the likes of the French Laundry and Per Se. You are unlikely to find a bottle of àMaurice at your local bottle shop, but if you do, grab it!
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Delamotte is the fifth oldest House in Champagne. Founded in 1760 by vineyard owner Francois Delamotte, the winery stayed within the family and was managed by various heirs and relatives of Francois for 70 years. In the 1830s it was sold to Lanson who later started producing a Lanson label. A Lanson heir, Marie Louise de Nonacourt (nee Lanson) acquired the House in the 1920s and, in a transformational decision, moved the operations from their original home in Reims to Mesnil sur Oger where the winery sits today.
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Outside of Washington State residents, not many people have heard of Woodinville, a small suburb approximately 25 minutes North of Seattle. But one of the Pacific Northwest’s best kept secrets is quickly being discovered by anyone looking for a spectacular weekend getaway where great wine, terrific food and absolute relaxation is the objective.
Viader Vineyards & Winery
Viader (pronounced Vie-ya-DARE) is a single vineyard winery on the Eastern slopes of Howell Mountain in California’s Napa Valley. It was created by Delia Viader in 1986 and has risen to something of a cult status wine: limited production and highly sought after by the cognoscente.
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