Hops and Sips

USA, Washington, Woodinville. Harvest 2020

Northwest Wine: Eye of the Needle Winery closes in Woodinville

After 10 years, owners Bob and Lauren Bullock shut down their Warehouse District operation on Feb. 28.

USA, Washington, Woodinville. Harvest 2020
Owners Kim and Larry Harris at Bayernmoor Cellars on Monday, Dec. 21, 2020 in Stanwood, Washington.  (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

World-class wine, from grapes grown right here

Bayernmoor Cellars makes award-winning pinot noir from grapes grown at its vineyard northeast of Stanwood.

Owners Kim and Larry Harris at Bayernmoor Cellars on Monday, Dec. 21, 2020 in Stanwood, Washington.  (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

Drink This: 5 Snohomish breweries to host Smash and Dash

Each brewery takes the same base IPA recipe and then dry hops the beer with a different hop. Try them all.

Bourbon mash sits at a distillery in Versailles, Kentucky, on July 26, 2020. MUST CREDIT: Bloomberg photo by Luke Sharrett.

Start your whiskey collection with these 10 bottles

Whether you’re new whiskey game or are a veteran collector, it’s hard to know when to store it or pour it.

Bourbon mash sits at a distillery in Versailles, Kentucky, on July 26, 2020. MUST CREDIT: Bloomberg photo by Luke Sharrett.
Scott McEntire and Jim Coe enjoy a drink and lunch in an outdoor seating tent at the Salish Sea Brewing Co. along Dayton Street on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020 in Edmonds, Washington.  (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

Drink This: Salish Sea expands into former American space

The new location will allow the Edmonds brewery to create wider variety of beers at 1.5 times its current capacity.

Scott McEntire and Jim Coe enjoy a drink and lunch in an outdoor seating tent at the Salish Sea Brewing Co. along Dayton Street on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020 in Edmonds, Washington.  (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Matt and Jill Wurst opened Audacity Brewing in December 2020 and are now managing to stay open, with the COVID-19 restrictions on businesses, at their brewery on 10th Street on Monday, Jan. 11, 2020 in Snohomish, Washington.  (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

It took some Audacity to open this new Snohomish brewery

The COVID-19 pandemic hit just as Matt and Jill Wurst were getting the business off the ground.

Matt and Jill Wurst opened Audacity Brewing in December 2020 and are now managing to stay open, with the COVID-19 restrictions on businesses, at their brewery on 10th Street on Monday, Jan. 11, 2020 in Snohomish, Washington.  (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Mead maker Jeremy Kyncl pours a tasting glass of Hawthorn Tulsi Mead, a blend of hawthorn berry and holy basil, in the new Whidbey tasting room of Hierophant Meadery. Photo by Kira Erickson/South Whidbey Record

Whidbey Island meadery off to a sweet start

Jeremy Kyncl and Michelle Scandalis of Hierophant Meadery in Freeland brew their mead with local honey.

Mead maker Jeremy Kyncl pours a tasting glass of Hawthorn Tulsi Mead, a blend of hawthorn berry and holy basil, in the new Whidbey tasting room of Hierophant Meadery. Photo by Kira Erickson/South Whidbey Record
Winter is the time to try warming cocktails like this sweet Peppermint Pattie. (Hillary Levin/St. Louis Post-Dispatch/TNS)

6 cocktail recipes to snuggle up with this winter

When you can see a frosty landscape out the window, you’ll want a drink with the flavors of winter.

Winter is the time to try warming cocktails like this sweet Peppermint Pattie. (Hillary Levin/St. Louis Post-Dispatch/TNS)
Rob Mercer, the Honorary Grower for the 2020 Auction of Washington Wines, capped the year with news that the Mercer Bros. 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon made Wine Spectator magazine’s Top 100 Wines for 2020. (Auction of Washington Wines)

Oregon and Washington combine for 10 on Spectator’s Top 100

The Northwest is responsible for 10% of the list. A year ago, the region placed a total of seven wines.

Rob Mercer, the Honorary Grower for the 2020 Auction of Washington Wines, capped the year with news that the Mercer Bros. 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon made Wine Spectator magazine’s Top 100 Wines for 2020. (Auction of Washington Wines)
Greg Krsak, owner and operator of Scrappy Punk Brewery pours samples Saturday afternoon during the inaugural Soho Brew Tour in Snohomish on June 24, 2017.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Last call at Scrappy Punk falls on brewery’s 4th anniversary

The owner of the Snohomish brewery is ready to say goodbye — and it has nothing to do with COVID-19.

Greg Krsak, owner and operator of Scrappy Punk Brewery pours samples Saturday afternoon during the inaugural Soho Brew Tour in Snohomish on June 24, 2017.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Misfit Island Cider Co.'s Sunny Days, Mahalo and Cider Hoppins dry ciders are available in bottles. (Kira Erickson / South Whidbey Record)

Dry British ciders inspire Whidbey deejay to create his own

After deejaying in London, a Langley cider maker is branching out with Misfit Island Cider Co.

Misfit Island Cider Co.'s Sunny Days, Mahalo and Cider Hoppins dry ciders are available in bottles. (Kira Erickson / South Whidbey Record)
John Spadam owner, at Spada Farmhouse Brewery in Snohomish. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Spada ready to show off new bar and restaurant in Snohomish

During the pandemic, the Spada family has been busy renovating an old building on First Street.

John Spadam owner, at Spada Farmhouse Brewery in Snohomish. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Precept Wine, the largest privately-owned wine company in Washington, recruited Seattle native Sarah Cabot to take over its pinot noir production in Oregon’s Willamette Valley in 2014. (Precept Wine)

Six examples of award-winning pinot noir in the Northwest

The Willamette Valley of Oregon has a reputation for the red wine, but there are other success stories in the area.

Precept Wine, the largest privately-owned wine company in Washington, recruited Seattle native Sarah Cabot to take over its pinot noir production in Oregon’s Willamette Valley in 2014. (Precept Wine)
Ryan Harms and his blue heeler, Luke, walk the rows at historic Amity Vineyard. Harms and Union Wine Co., purchased the property from Oregon iconoclast Myron Redford in 2014. Redford made his first wine — which he dubbed Pinot Noir Nouveau — in 1976. (Union Wine Co.)

Add these Northwest wines to your holiday dinner table

Buy a few bottles during “cyber week” and have them shipped to loved ones as a delicious seasonal greeting.

Ryan Harms and his blue heeler, Luke, walk the rows at historic Amity Vineyard. Harms and Union Wine Co., purchased the property from Oregon iconoclast Myron Redford in 2014. Redford made his first wine — which he dubbed Pinot Noir Nouveau — in 1976. (Union Wine Co.)
USA, Washington, Walla Walla. Harvest 2019, Armstrong Family Winery.

Syrah by Armstrong winery in Woodinville tops Invite contest

The 2016 The Scotsman Syrah was named Best of Show at the Great Northwest Invitational Wine Competition.

USA, Washington, Walla Walla. Harvest 2019, Armstrong Family Winery.
Katie Nelson is the senior director of winemaking for Columbia Crest and head winemaker for H3 Wines in Paterson, Wash. (Ste. Michelle Wine Estates)

A $15 cab finishes atop Washington State Wine Competition

It should be easy to track down a bottle of Columbia Crest 2016 H3 Cabernet Sauvignon and judge for yourself.

Katie Nelson is the senior director of winemaking for Columbia Crest and head winemaker for H3 Wines in Paterson, Wash. (Ste. Michelle Wine Estates)
Métier Brewing Co. the only Black-owned brewery in Washington

Métier Brewing Co. the only Black-owned brewery in Washington

Owner Rodney Hines, brewing in Woodinville since 2018, pushes boundaries and puts social purpose on tap

Métier Brewing Co. the only Black-owned brewery in Washington
The Washington State Wine Commission is using August, known for decades as Washington Wine Month, to promote the Drink For WA campaign. The commission estimates it will generate 12 million impressions through advertising and social media channels. (Photo courtesy Washington State Wine Commission)

Washington wine commission rolls out Drink for WA campaign

Share an image of your special occasion along with tags of #DrinkForWA and #EatForWA.

The Washington State Wine Commission is using August, known for decades as Washington Wine Month, to promote the Drink For WA campaign. The commission estimates it will generate 12 million impressions through advertising and social media channels. (Photo courtesy Washington State Wine Commission)
USA, Washington, Royal Slope. Glamping at Stillwater Creek vineyard

Northwest’s sauvignon blanc offers summertime refreshment

This white wine is ideal alongside grilled chicken, sushi or poached white fish, lentils and green vegetables.

USA, Washington, Royal Slope. Glamping at Stillwater Creek vineyard
The field of Northwest rose grows with delicious variety

The field of Northwest rose grows with delicious variety

Increased thirst for this style of wine has prompted winemakers to offer multiple expressions from the same vintage.

The field of Northwest rose grows with delicious variety