Hops and Sips

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
Nassima Rothacker St. Clement’s Punch is an alcohol-free cocktail made with orange and pink grapefruit juice and Monin Triple Sec Curacao syrup.

These ‘mocktails’ taste like the real thing — but there’s no booze

For your next Zoom happy hour, here are five recipes from Fiona Beckett’s “How to Drink Without Drinking.”

Nassima Rothacker St. Clement’s Punch is an alcohol-free cocktail made with orange and pink grapefruit juice and Monin Triple Sec Curacao syrup.
Lone Star Vineyard is a 112-acre site established in 1996 in the Eola-Amity Hills by Argyle Winery, a historic producer in Dundee, Ore. (Photo courtesy of Argyle Winery)

Oregon’s Eola-Amity Hills continues its rise with pinot noir

The AVA’s key features include cool ocean breezes that blow through a slot in the Coast Range.

Lone Star Vineyard is a 112-acre site established in 1996 in the Eola-Amity Hills by Argyle Winery, a historic producer in Dundee, Ore. (Photo courtesy of Argyle Winery)
Create your own simple syrup for the best summer drinks

Create your own simple syrup for the best summer drinks

Try two drink recipes — a sparkling lemonade and a margarita — that call for chile lemon simple syrup.

Create your own simple syrup for the best summer drinks
Pinot gris continues to merit gold medals for Northwest wine

Pinot gris continues to merit gold medals for Northwest wine

The Cascadia wine competition proves the Burgundy white grape is just as worthy of attention as ever.

Pinot gris continues to merit gold medals for Northwest wine
Arlington brewery celebrates Super Saturday, community benefits

Arlington brewery celebrates Super Saturday, community benefits

In The Shadows Brewing in Arlington opens its taproom for fundraisers to benefit the Arlington Community Food Bank and other charities.

Arlington brewery celebrates Super Saturday, community benefits
Wild Goose in British Columbia tops Cascadia judging again

Wild Goose in British Columbia tops Cascadia judging again

It’s the third time in four years that the winery topped the annual showcase of Pacific Northwest wines.

Wild Goose in British Columbia tops Cascadia judging again
Northwest Wine: Dobbes Family Estate continues tradition of excellence

Northwest Wine: Dobbes Family Estate continues tradition of excellence

His name is still on the bottle, as well as many cans, and because Joe Dobbes placed the right people in charge, the winery and… Continue reading

Northwest Wine: Dobbes Family Estate continues tradition of excellence
Columbia Valley wineries look back on ‘St. Helens Vintage’

Columbia Valley wineries look back on ‘St. Helens Vintage’

Growers Mike Sauer and Dick Boushey and winemaker Rob Griffin shared their recollections of the eruption.

Columbia Valley wineries look back on ‘St. Helens Vintage’
Rob Mercer adds to his family’s legacy as honorary grower

Rob Mercer adds to his family’s legacy as honorary grower

The president of Mercer Estates Winery has been recognized by the Auction of Washington Wines.

Rob Mercer adds to his family’s legacy as honorary grower
Willamette Valley rallies around #WinesForTheFrontlines

Willamette Valley rallies around #WinesForTheFrontlines

More than 1,400 cases of wine and 268 cases of sparkling grape juice have been donated to health-care workers.

Willamette Valley rallies around #WinesForTheFrontlines
Reach for a Northwest rose during this time of quarantine

Reach for a Northwest rose during this time of quarantine

The shelter-in-place concept is embraced by wine lovers because of its abbreviation — S.I.P.

Reach for a Northwest rose during this time of quarantine