Posts Tagged "Washington winery"


Quiddity Wines: Essential Elements

Quiddity Wines: Essential Elements


Posted on Aug 7, 2024

Quiddity Wines, a small production winery located in Woodinville, Washington, represents the fulfillment of a lifelong passion for its winemaker and proprietor Greg Peiker.

Greg Peiker.

After years of adhering to the traditional route of success—earning good grades, obtaining the right degree, working diligently, and climbing the corporate ladder—he found himself questioning the destination of this path and ultimately decided to pursue his true passion: winemaking.

Establishing Quiddity Wines was his way of taking control of his destiny, focusing on what brings joy and satisfaction. His mission is simple: to create excellent wines that bring smiles to people’s faces, all while having fun and not taking life too seriously. He eschews the pretentiousness often associated with wine culture, opting instead for a straightforward approach to winemaking.

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Darby Winery: Heart of Rhône

Darby Winery: Heart of Rhône


Posted on Jun 19, 2024

Darby English’s journey in winemaking is as complex as the wines he produces each year. After more than two decades of honing his craft, his Winery has rightfully earned its place in conversations regarding the best wines coming out of Washington State.

Darby English & his faithful companion Ash.

Darby’s passion for wine was ignited in his early 20s while he was playing golf for Oregon State University. Like many college students, he was more familiar with beer than wine, typically the more affordable, mass-produced kinds. The turning point came during a dinner at his then girlfriend’s parents’ home. Her mother, an excellent chef, and her father, a serious wine collector, introduced him to the world of fine wine.

In their cellar, he received an impromptu education on wines from California, Bordeaux, and the Rhône Valley. The experience of enjoying a special bottle of wine with a meticulously prepared dinner left an indelible impression on him. “Something just clicked…it was like ‘wow, ok I get this now—a special bottle of wine that tasted so different…I was fascinated by what just happened.”

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Linn Scott at Sparkman’s new winery facility.

For nearly two decades, we’ve made frequent trips to Woodinville, Washington. Initially, our plans to cross the border and visit a small town 30 minutes northeast of Seattle for wine tasting were largely met with confusion and blank stares. Woodinville has rapidly transformed over the years, now boasting more than 130 wineries and tasting rooms, and the reactions have since shifted to enthusiastic requests to join us.

Among these wineries, Sparkman Cellars has distinguished itself as a must-visit destination, renowned for its consistent quality and outstanding visitor experience. With a new state-of-the-art facility and the expertise of winemaker Linn Scott, Sparkman is clearly committed to continually elevating both.

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Elentone: Rising to the Challenge

Elentone: Rising to the Challenge


Posted on Mar 6, 2024

Miguele (Miggy) de Quadros-Sherry & Chris Sherry [Source: Elentone]

Many of the winemakers we’ve encountered would likely agree that making wine for a living requires a touch of madness. Chris Sherry & Miguele (Miggy) de Quadros-Sherry take it a step further, as some might deem them downright certifiable for attempting to produce sparkling wine in a region known for its warm climate and still wines. However, those who achieve success often diverge from the usual path, and based on the wines we sampled at Elentone, Chris and Miggy are demonstrating that their daring approach will lead them to great success.

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woodinville washington winery

Jason Gorski.

We have closely followed the development of Washington’s DeLille Cellars since near its beginning. We will always remember a stunning 1998 DeLille Chaleur Estate Red, a Cabernet Sauvignon dominated Bordeaux blend that not only thrilled, but helped cement our love of Washington State wine; a love that has endured ever since.

Since that first encounter, DeLille has grown in both size and in stature. We think they might have only made two wines when we first tasted DeLille, that Chaleur Estate Red and their Merlot dominated D2. Today their portfolio has over a dozen wines and has gone beyond just Bordeaux style blends and includes whites, Rhone style wines and even a sparkling. What has remained constant throughout this time is their focus on quality.

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