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Adega Northwest Alvarinho 2018

Adega Northwest Alvarinho 2018
Adega Northwest Alvarinho 2018 Click here for tasting notes.
Adega Northwest Alvarinho

When most of us think of a winery, what usually comes to mind is the romantic stereotype of a rustic but exquisite barn situated halfway up a mountain in the western U. S. overlooking a bucolic valley below; a fabulous hundred-years old chateau surrounded by ancient vines somewhere in France; or perhaps even a charming azienda agricola in Italy with a view of Roman ruins. But that’s not the only way to do it.  Adega Northwest of Portland, Oregon, is very much an urban winery.  There are vineyards, of course, you just won’t see them if you pay the winery a visit (by appointment only).  And because they are not tied to an estate, Adega Northwest can and does draw on sources throughout the region.

It doesn't get much more urban than this.
It doesn’t get much more urban than this.

Continue reading “Adega Northwest Alvarinho 2018”

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Adega Northwest Eremita White Blend 2018

Adega Northwest Eremita White Blend 2018
Adega Northwest Eremita White Blend 2018 Click here for tasting notes.

 

Adega Northwest Eremita

When most of us think of a winery, what usually comes to mind is the romantic stereotype of a rustic but exquisite barn situated halfway up a mountain in the western U. S. overlooking a bucolic valley below; a fabulous hundred-years old chateau surrounded by ancient vines somewhere in France; or perhaps even a charming azienda agricola in Italy with a view of Roman ruins. But that’s not the only way to do it.  Adega Northwest of Portland, Oregon, is very much an urban winery.  There are vineyards, of course, you just won’t see them if you pay the winery a visit (by appointment only).  And because they are not tied to an estate, Adega Northwest can and does draw on sources throughout the region.

It doesn't get much more urban than this.
It doesn’t get much more urban than this.

Continue reading “Adega Northwest Eremita White Blend 2018”

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Adega Northwest Weinbau Vineyard Block 10 Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Adega Northwest Weinbau Vineyard | Block 10 Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Adega Northwest Weinbau Vineyard Block 10 Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 Click here for tasting notes.

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Adega Northwest Cabernet Sauvignon 

When most of us think of a winery, what usually comes to mind is the romantic stereotype of a rustic but exquisite barn situated halfway up a mountain in the western U. S. overlooking a bucolic valley below; a fabulous hundred-years old chateau surrounded by ancient vines somewhere in France; or perhaps even a charming azienda agricola in Italy with a view of Roman ruins. But that’s not the only way to do it.  Adega Northwest of Portland, Oregon, is very much an urban winery.  There are vineyards, of course, you just won’t see them if you pay the winery a visit (by appointment only).  And because they are not tied to an estate, Adega Northwest can and does draw on sources throughout the region.

It doesn't get much more urban than this.
It doesn’t get much more urban than this.

Continue reading “Adega Northwest Weinbau Vineyard Block 10 Cabernet Sauvignon 2015”

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Adega Northwest Tempranillo 2015

Adega Northwest Tempranillo 2015
Adega Northwest Tempranillo 2015 Click here for tasting notes.
Adega Northwest Tempranillo

When most of us think of a winery, what usually comes to mind is the romantic stereotype of a rustic but exquisite barn situated halfway up a mountain in the western U. S. overlooking a bucolic valley below; a fabulous hundred-years old chateau surrounded by ancient vines somewhere in France; or perhaps even a charming azienda agricola in Italy with a view of Roman ruins. But that’s not the only way to do it.  Adega Northwest of Portland, Oregon, is very much an urban winery.  There are vineyards, of course, you just won’t see them if you pay the winery a visit (by appointment only).  And because they are not tied to an estate, Adega Northwest can and does draw on sources throughout the region.

It doesn't get much more urban than this.
It doesn’t get much more urban than this.

Continue reading “Adega Northwest Tempranillo 2015”

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Adega Northwest Double Canyon Vineyard Syrah 2016

Adega Northwest Double Canyon Vineyard Syrah 2016
Adega Northwest Double Canyon Vineyard Syrah 2016 Click here for tasting notes.
Adega Northwest Syrah

When most of us think of a winery, what usually comes to mind is the romantic stereotype of a rustic but exquisite barn situated halfway up a mountain in the western U. S. overlooking a bucolic valley below; a fabulous hundred-years old chateau surrounded by ancient vines somewhere in France; or perhaps even a charming azienda agricola in Italy with a view of Roman ruins. But that’s not the only way to do it.  Adega Northwest of Portland, Oregon, is very much an urban winery.  There are vineyards, of course, you just won’t see them if you pay the winery a visit (by appointment only).  And because they are not tied to an estate, Adega Northwest can and does draw on sources throughout the region.

It doesn’t get much more urban than this.

Continue reading “Adega Northwest Double Canyon Vineyard Syrah 2016”

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Ser Graciano

Ser Graciano Bokisch Vineyard 2018
Ser Graciano Bokisch Vineyard 2018. Click here for tasting notes.
Ser Graciano Bokisch Vineyard 2018

In the tradition-bound world of wine, winemaking has, predictably, been dominated by men. For example, there are about 4,800 wineries in California, but only 10 percent have female lead winemakers. (When it comes to winery ownership, the number does jump up to about 19 percent, according to Woman Owned Wineries, a nationwide directory of female wine entrepreneurs.)

Encouragingly, however, greater educational opportunities (as opposed to the historically more usual inheriting a wine operation) have been opening the possibility of becoming a winemaker to more and more women. One of these is Nicole Walsh of Ser Winery in Aptos, California, due east of Santa Cruz. Continue reading “Ser Graciano”

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Ser Cabernet Pfeffer

Ser Wirtz and Silletto Vineyards Cabernet Pfeffer 2015
Ser Wirtz and Silletto Vineyards Cabernet Pfeffer 2015. Click here for tasting notes.

 

Ser Wirtz and Silletto Vineyards Cabernet Pfeffer 2015

In the tradition-bound world of wine, winemaking has, predictably, been dominated by men. For example, there are about 4,800 wineries in California, but only 10 percent have female lead winemakers. (When it comes to winery ownership, the number does jump up to about 19 percent, according to Woman Owned Wineries, a nationwide directory of female wine entrepreneurs.)

Encouragingly, however, greater educational opportunities (as opposed to the historically more usual inheriting a wine operation) have been opening the possibility of becoming a winemaker to more and more women. One of these is Nicole Walsh of Ser Winery in Aptos, California, due east of Santa Cruz. Continue reading “Ser Cabernet Pfeffer”

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Ser Cabernet Pfeffer

Ser Cabernet Pfeffer Central Coast 2016
Ser Cabernet Pfeffer Central Coast 2016 Click here for tasting notes.

 

Ser Cabernet Pfeffer Central Coast 2016

In the tradition-bound world of wine, winemaking has, predictably, been dominated by men. For example, there are about 4,800 wineries in California, but only 10 percent have female lead winemakers. (When it comes to winery ownership, the number does jump up to about 19 percent, according to Woman Owned Wineries, a nationwide directory of female wine entrepreneurs.)

Encouragingly, however, greater educational opportunities (as opposed to the historically more usual inheriting a wine operation) have been opening the possibility of becoming a winemaker to more and more women. One of these is Nicole Walsh of Ser Winery in Aptos, California, due east of Santa Cruz. Continue reading “Ser Cabernet Pfeffer”

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Ser Pinot Noir

Ser Pinot Noir Tondre Grapefield 2016
Ser Pinot Noir Tondre Grapefield 2016. Click here for tasting notes.

 

Ser Pinot Noir Tondre Grapefield 2016

In the tradition-bound world of wine, winemaking has, predictably, been dominated by men. For example, there are about 4,800 wineries in California, but only 10 percent have female lead winemakers. (When it comes to winery ownership, the number does jump up to about 19 percent, according to Woman Owned Wineries, a nationwide directory of female wine entrepreneurs.)

Encouragingly, however, greater educational opportunities (as opposed to the historically more usual inheriting a wine operation) have been opening the possibility of becoming a winemaker to more and more women. One of these is Nicole Walsh of Ser Winery in Aptos, California, due east of Santa Cruz. Continue reading “Ser Pinot Noir”

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Ser Rosé

Ser Rosé of Grenache Loma Del Rio Vineyard 2020
Ser Rosé of Grenache Loma Del Rio Vineyard 2020. Click here for tasting notes.

 

Ser Rosé of Grenache Loma Del Rio Vineyard 2020

In the tradition-bound world of wine, winemaking has, predictably, been dominated by men. For example, there are about 4,800 wineries in California, but only 10 percent have female lead winemakers. (When it comes to winery ownership, the number does jump up to about 19 percent, according to Woman Owned Wineries, a nationwide directory of female wine entrepreneurs.)

Encouragingly, however, greater educational opportunities (as opposed to the historically more usual inheriting a wine operation) have been opening the possibility of becoming a winemaker to more and more women. One of these is Nicole Walsh of Ser Winery in Aptos, California, due east of Santa Cruz. Continue reading “Ser Rosé”

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Ser Muscat

Ser Dry Orange Muscat 2020
Ser Dry Orange Muscat 2020. Click here for tasting notes.

 

Ser Dry Orange Muscat 2020

In the tradition-bound world of wine, winemaking has, predictably, been dominated by men. For example, there are about 4,800 wineries in California, but only 10 percent have female lead winemakers. (When it comes to winery ownership, the number does jump up to about 19 percent, according to Woman Owned Wineries, a nationwide directory of female wine entrepreneurs.)

Encouragingly, however, greater educational opportunities (as opposed to the historically more usual inheriting a wine operation) have been opening the possibility of becoming a winemaker to more and more women. One of these is Nicole Walsh of Ser Winery in Aptos, California, due east of Santa Cruz. Continue reading “Ser Muscat”

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Ser Vermentino

Ser Vermentino Cedar Lake Vineyard 2019
Ser Vermentino Cedar Lake Vineyard 2019. Click here for tasting notes.

 

Ser Vermentino Cedar Lake Vineyard 2019

In the tradition-bound world of wine, winemaking has, predictably, been dominated by men. For example, there are about 4,800 wineries in California, but only 10 percent have female lead winemakers. (When it comes to winery ownership, the number does jump up to about 19 percent, according to Woman Owned Wineries, a nationwide directory of female wine entrepreneurs.)

Encouragingly, however, greater educational opportunities (as opposed to the historically more usual inheriting a wine operation) have been opening the possibility of becoming a winemaker to more and more women. One of these is Nicole Walsh of Ser Winery in Aptos, California, due east of Santa Cruz. Continue reading “Ser Vermentino”

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Ser Dry Riesling Wirz Vineyard 2017

Ser Dry Riesling Wirz Vineyard 2017
Ser Dry Riesling Wirz Vineyard 2017. Click here for tasting notes.

 

Ser Dry Riesling

In the tradition-bound world of wine, winemaking has, predictably, been dominated by men. For example, there are about 4,800 wineries in California, but only 10 percent have female lead winemakers. (When it comes to winery ownership, the number does jump up to about 19 percent, according to Woman Owned Wineries, a nationwide directory of female wine entrepreneurs.)

Encouragingly, however, greater educational opportunities (as opposed to the historically more usual inheriting a wine operation) have been opening the possibility of becoming a winemaker to more and more women. One of these is Nicole Walsh of Ser Winery in Aptos, California, due east of Santa Cruz. Continue reading “Ser Dry Riesling Wirz Vineyard 2017”

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Boschis Dolcetto de Dogliani

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boschis Dolcetto

Traveling 290 miles southwest from Alto Adige across the top of Italy’s “boot” will bring you to Dogliani, where Dolcetto [dole-CHET-oh] may have originated and was harvested as early as 1593.

The Francesco Boschis estate estate traces back to 1919, when the family — originally starting with Telesforo Boschis — planted vineyards on the hill of Pianezzo, near the town of Dogliani in Piedmont, Italy.

However, they did not begin bottling their own wines until 1968, under the name “Pianezzo.” Previously theirgrapes were sold to other producers in the area. Dolcetto is the main varietal planted, commanding a dominant 80% of the winery’s production.

Today the estate remains family-run, managed by Telesforo’s descendants: Mario Boschis (current head), his wife Simona Boschis, and their children Paolo Boschis and Marco Boschis. The property remains modest in scale: their total vineyard area is roughly 26 acres [10.5 hectares], of which about 17 acres [6.95 ha] is planted to Dolcetto.

They emphasize sustainable / integrated viticulture. Since at least vintage 2022, they are certified under “The Green Experience.” Their winemaking philosophy leans toward minimum intervention. For many of their wines they avoid filtration and cold stabilization, and avoid unnecessary additions — aiming to let the grapes and terroir show themselves.However, they did not begin bottling their own wines until 1968, under the name “Pianezzo.”

Boschis Dolcetto de Dogliani 2005

This Dolcetto is what Boschis terms an ‘autumn wine,’ but I think it is more suitable to late spring or early summer. Although the color is inky dark, the body is remarkably light (rather too much so for my taste in reds).  and refreshing with black cherry overtones. The nose features black fruits (plum, blackberry), and red fruits (cherry). These continue on the palate, with a bit of earthiness, spice, and leather.

This wine will pair nicely with all things Italiano: a nice antipasto platter, pasta, grilled fish, and of course, pizza.

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